Birth Rate:
We rank 72nd. Site: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2054rank.html
Capital Punishment:
The US is notoriously bad. We are the only western nation with capital punishment and execute far and away the most people. The abuses of the system are mammoth, from defense lawyers sleeping through trials to judges refusing to admit potentially exonerating DNA evidence. In executing persons under 18, we are in an elite league with states like Malaysia and Iran. In California we spend over $200 million/year on our CP system, primarily due to extensive legal costs. We have executed 13 in the last 30 years.
Charitable Giving
The US is first, with the UK and Canada running next. See Graph below, page 3.
http://www.cafonline.org/pdf/International%20Comparisons%20of%20Charitable%20Giving.pdf
Education:
Among adults age 25 to 34, the U.S. is ninth among industrialized nations in the share of its population that has at least a high school degree. In the same age group, the United States ranks seventh, with Belgium, in the share of people who hold a college degree.
By both measures, the United States was first in the world as recently as 20 years ago, said Barry McGaw, director of education for the Paris-based Organization for Cooperation and Development. The 30-nation organization develops the yearly rankings as a way for countries to evaluate their education systems and determine whether to change their policies.
Energy Usage:
The United States is the largest energy consumer in terms of total use, using 100 quadrillion BTUs (105 exajoules, or 29000 TWh) in 2005. The U.S. ranks seventh in energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries.[1][2] The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels: in 2005, it was estimated that 40% of the nation's energy came from petroleum, 23% from coal, and 23% from natural gas. The remaining 14% was supplied by nuclear power, hydroelectric dams, and miscellaneous renewable energy sources.[3]
Environmental Performance:
We are 39th. WHO site: http://www.photius.com/rankings/environmental_performance_index_2008.html
Foreign Aid
As a percentage of GNI(gross national income) we are .16% or 22nd, with Norway being the most generous at .95%. All the Scandinavian countries are at the top. They also have a quasi-Socialized Economy making them more comfortable with sharing.
http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/us-and-foreign-aid-assistance#Aidmoneyisactuallywaybelowwhathasbeenpromised
Gender Inclusion:
GDP per Capita:
We are 9th. Site: http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_per_capita_2008_0.html
Happiness Index:
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on interviews of more than 100,000 people so far, shows that 47% of Americans are struggling and 4% are suffering. Forty-nine percent of respondents are reported to be thriving based on a personal assessment of how they feel about their lives at the time of the survey, and where they think they'll be in five years. Just as the U.S. is not No. 1 when it comes to health measures, it also is not No. 1 in well-being, he said. For example, 83% of the residents of Denmark are classified as thriving versus 1% who are suffering. The US is tied for 16th place,. Site: http://rankingamerica.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/chart-of-life-satisfaction.jpg
Health Care:
A first-ever comparison of healthcare quality could give more impetus to change the US private-public system. Americans spend twice as much on healthcare as other countries, but it turns out that they're not getting twice the quality for the price when they go to the doctor or hospital. The US is the only one of the five countries studied that doesn't have some kind of government-sponsored universal healthcare system. Instead, the US has a mix of private and public insurance programs, with private companies providing the bulk of care. The World Health Organization ranks the US 37th. For the top minority of Americans the quality of health care is one of the best in the world. Unfortunately overall we are sub-standard in our ability to provide adequate and cost effective health care.
Infant Mortality:
We are 41st. Singapore having the lowest. Site: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2091rank.html
Longevity:
US is 24th amongst developed nations. See WHO: www.photius.com/rankings/healthy_life_table2.html
Mental Health:
Nutrition:
Obesity:
The U.S. weighs in at No. 9, with 74.1% of those over 15 years old considered overweight. Mississippi has the greatest degree of obesity, poverty, and poorest education of any state.
Site: http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat.html
Penal System & Justice:
Poverty:
12% of our population is under the poverty line level. Most European countries have levels below the US.
Public Transportation:
Racism:
With the exception of Switzerland, the US is one of the most racist countries relative to other modern developed nations. Site: UN
Sanitation:
A new international ranking of environmental performance puts the United States at the bottom of the Group of 8 industrialized nations and 39th among the 149 countries on the list. European nations dominate the top places in the ranking, which evaluates sanitation, greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural policies, air pollution and 20 other measures to formulate an overall score, with 100 the best possible.
Sexual Health:
War and Peace:
We are 97th in our ability to be a peaceful nation. The US in 08’ spent 713,100,000,000 (48%) out of total 1,470,000,000,000 in total world expenditures. We have 705 military bases in 130 countries around the world. We spend approximately 5% of GDP on defense. Site:www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/results/rankings.php
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Functioning Democracy and Ignorance
The amount of ignorance that is held by certain factions of the masses continues to baffle me. Be it: Sex Education, Literal Bible Beliefs, Financial Issues, Superstition, Conflict Resolution, Political Manipulation, etc. This knowledge void will always be a challenge to democracy and people realizing where their self interest really lies.
The suppression of Free Press and Uncensored Thought is a constant threat to our civilization. With no thanks to the "Far Right" and extreme religious believers.
The suppression of Free Press and Uncensored Thought is a constant threat to our civilization. With no thanks to the "Far Right" and extreme religious believers.
Those who refute man made Global Warming effects.
The majority of scientists and even CEO’s of “Big Energy Companies” believe, based on much acquired evidence that there is a “Man Made” global warming effect.
On the other hand those on the “Far Right” who have basically a Political Agenda to discredit the “Progressives, Critical Thinkers, and so called “Liberals” will grasp at any miniscule grain of evidence, or miscommunication to create doubt in the minds of “John Q Public”. The “Far Right” glees at the thought of disclosing a liberal getting a “Blow Job” in the oval office. Over $100 million dollars was spent on the potential impeachment of Bill Clinton, while only $14 million was spent on investigating “9/11”. The “9/11” commission was appointed by the “Foxes in the Henhouse”, so how can one expect a thorough investigation and unbiased report.
In addition, those whose primary income is derived from coal and oil would not benefit economically if their carbon based energy sources were replaced by clean and renewable energy. Big coal and oil primarily support the “Right Wing” agenda. What more do you need to know.
So we can see there are people who are in high financial and political places who stand to loose big time if society embraces the destructive forces of Global Warming.
It’s a simple “Connect the Dots” game.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7279/full/463269a.html
On the other hand those on the “Far Right” who have basically a Political Agenda to discredit the “Progressives, Critical Thinkers, and so called “Liberals” will grasp at any miniscule grain of evidence, or miscommunication to create doubt in the minds of “John Q Public”. The “Far Right” glees at the thought of disclosing a liberal getting a “Blow Job” in the oval office. Over $100 million dollars was spent on the potential impeachment of Bill Clinton, while only $14 million was spent on investigating “9/11”. The “9/11” commission was appointed by the “Foxes in the Henhouse”, so how can one expect a thorough investigation and unbiased report.
In addition, those whose primary income is derived from coal and oil would not benefit economically if their carbon based energy sources were replaced by clean and renewable energy. Big coal and oil primarily support the “Right Wing” agenda. What more do you need to know.
So we can see there are people who are in high financial and political places who stand to loose big time if society embraces the destructive forces of Global Warming.
It’s a simple “Connect the Dots” game.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7279/full/463269a.html
The Far Right and Health Care
The Far Right is using scare tactics like “Socialized Medicine”. Only the UK has Socialized Medicine, most of the other developed nations such as France and Germany who have the most successful single payer programs have “Socialized Health Insurance”. The UK is the only country that does not use private doctors. In addition, Europeans are able to purchase additional insurance through private carriers. Keep treatment decisions in the hands of private doctors not insurance companies. The “Far Right” has a major concern for any government program being successful as they know that once a program is successful the American people will embrace it, which will further erode the “Far Rights” power base. The real losers if health reform is passed will be Wall Street, Health Insurance Carriers, and the Drug Companies. If health reform is passed Americans will have less costly health care. The administrative costs for a private carrier is 22-25%, while Medicare’s admin. costs are just 2%. Before people make a judgment about single payer health care they should talk to Europeans and not listen to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and the “Big Fear Spin” by the private health insurance industry. We already have socialized medical care it’s called: Medicare, Medical, Medicaid, VA Hospital, City and State sponsored programs. Lets just extend it to all people, squeeze the big profits out of the present system and benefit the majority of Americans. We are now paying out 15 to 16% of our GDP in health care, it’s time to Streamline the process, create uniformity and efficiency and get the “Fat Cats” out of health care. Do not renew the Bush tax cuts for the top 1%, which will give us the revenue needed for health care reform.
In the late 1940’s Harry Truman proposed health care reform and it was defeated by the AMA lobby and Southern Democrats who were concerned that a government program would require race integration in hospitals. Actually the FDR “New Deal” was a positive benefit to southerners as they were subsidized by the more affluent areas of the country. The Southerners have been so traditionally hung up on the race issue that the middle class has actually voted against its own self interest. The middle class American of today is still voting against their own self interest. It’s the tax payers in the top 1% of wealth who are the real winners in this “Right Wing” game to hoodwink the masses. The real purchasing power of the average American has decreased in the last 30 years primarily due to the successful PR Spin of the Far Right.
Starting with Reagan in the early 70’s the “Far Right” has been using “White Backlash”, homosexuality, union busting, abortion, and religious influence as a way of enticing the middle class away from its traditional progressive base and actually voting against its own self interest.
Unfortunately a lot of Americans are not that astute and can be influenced by: Fear, Sophisticated Public Relations, “Buzz Words”, and Advertising to make decisions that are not in their best interests. The Nazi’s were a consummate example of how brilliant “PR” can be used to fool the masses. The slogan “Things go better with Coke” are a good example of mass stupidity. Coke has relatively no food value and causes: tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and digestive tract cancer. The purchase of cigarettes by the foolish public is another example of human ignorance. Fortunately through education the national smoking rate has dropped from 75 to 22%. Selling the “Sexiness” of clothing and automobiles to increase purchasing is another example of the “Sheeple Publics” gullibility and ignorance. The shrewd bankers have seductively enticed the guidable masses to take on credit card and mortgage debt that has created massive foreclosures and personal bankruptcies. How many people actually do the detailed homework to “Fact Find”, instead of listening to media sources that are not objective news, but are special interest “Spin Doctors” such Fox News, “Fair and Balanced”. People actually believe “Fair and Balanced”, and Rupert Murdoch is laughing all the way to the bank. George Carlin would probably say that “Fox News” is “Bullshit” at its finest.
In the late 1940’s Harry Truman proposed health care reform and it was defeated by the AMA lobby and Southern Democrats who were concerned that a government program would require race integration in hospitals. Actually the FDR “New Deal” was a positive benefit to southerners as they were subsidized by the more affluent areas of the country. The Southerners have been so traditionally hung up on the race issue that the middle class has actually voted against its own self interest. The middle class American of today is still voting against their own self interest. It’s the tax payers in the top 1% of wealth who are the real winners in this “Right Wing” game to hoodwink the masses. The real purchasing power of the average American has decreased in the last 30 years primarily due to the successful PR Spin of the Far Right.
Starting with Reagan in the early 70’s the “Far Right” has been using “White Backlash”, homosexuality, union busting, abortion, and religious influence as a way of enticing the middle class away from its traditional progressive base and actually voting against its own self interest.
Unfortunately a lot of Americans are not that astute and can be influenced by: Fear, Sophisticated Public Relations, “Buzz Words”, and Advertising to make decisions that are not in their best interests. The Nazi’s were a consummate example of how brilliant “PR” can be used to fool the masses. The slogan “Things go better with Coke” are a good example of mass stupidity. Coke has relatively no food value and causes: tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and digestive tract cancer. The purchase of cigarettes by the foolish public is another example of human ignorance. Fortunately through education the national smoking rate has dropped from 75 to 22%. Selling the “Sexiness” of clothing and automobiles to increase purchasing is another example of the “Sheeple Publics” gullibility and ignorance. The shrewd bankers have seductively enticed the guidable masses to take on credit card and mortgage debt that has created massive foreclosures and personal bankruptcies. How many people actually do the detailed homework to “Fact Find”, instead of listening to media sources that are not objective news, but are special interest “Spin Doctors” such Fox News, “Fair and Balanced”. People actually believe “Fair and Balanced”, and Rupert Murdoch is laughing all the way to the bank. George Carlin would probably say that “Fox News” is “Bullshit” at its finest.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Afro-American's for "Prop 8"
Beside the Catholic and Mormon church members, many Afro-Americans are being cited for being anti-gay. Many "A-A's" are also deeply religious, which may account for their somewhat intolerant views about certain social behaviors. I don't really believe that Afro-Americans tempered with equal demographic and educational levels are not on a par with any other ethnic group relating to their tolerance or lack there of. As a group, due to decades of segregation and lack of equal educational oportunities, some "A-A" may be homophobic, just as uneducated whites may be homophobic. In making a judgment about an ethnic group such as "A-A's" view of a social concept, one should draw conclusions based on equal measures of religiosity, education, urbanization, and familiarity so that enterpetation of the data can be objectively evaluated.
Film about Mormon Church & Prop 8
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/11/state/n113517S56.DTL&tsp=1
Most people are aware that the Mormon church and its followers had a pivotal role in getting “Prop 8” passed. The church claims that the movie has many inaccuracies, but has refused any interviews to talk about what they believe to be inaccurate. Could one conclude: (a) that the “Church” has no facts to refute what they say is inaccurate, (b) is arrogant and does not really care what people think, (c) does not want to be put in the “Limelight” even further about their egregious homophobia and secrecy.
Most people are aware that the Mormon church and its followers had a pivotal role in getting “Prop 8” passed. The church claims that the movie has many inaccuracies, but has refused any interviews to talk about what they believe to be inaccurate. Could one conclude: (a) that the “Church” has no facts to refute what they say is inaccurate, (b) is arrogant and does not really care what people think, (c) does not want to be put in the “Limelight” even further about their egregious homophobia and secrecy.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
What Makes Us Think and Do?
I find the irrational behavior of human beings quite perplexing. What forces come into play? Is it “Nature”, “Nurture, or the combination that shape our attitudes, opinions, and choices in our lives.
Here are some choices that come to mind:
• Do we see the world as abundant or scarce?
• How much does our education shape us?
• Do we feel only comfortable with people who are mostly like ourselves?
• Are new ideas and attitudes exciting or threatening?
• How is the influence and treatment by our parents come into play?
• If we have siblings, how do they influence who we are?
• As an American do you feel superior to other nationalities?
• Racially do feel superior to other races?
• If you practice your religion, is it the only true path to god?
• Do you feel men or women are superior to one another, in what ways if so?
• Would you rather be living today, or one hundred years ago and why?
• How does the event of growing up in a city or a small town effect us?
• Do we feel comfortable about our bodies, why yes or no?
• How was our relationship with our mother?
• How was our relationship with our father?
• Did we have the unique influence of a surrogate parent?
• Do we embrace change or find it threatening?
• How did our religious upbringing affect our present views of religion and our values?
• Did our mother have a comfortable or anxious pregnancy with us?
• Did we experience unconditional love and acceptance growing up?
• Do we enjoy other cultures or find them threatening?
• Do we have sex positive or sex negative attitudes?
• Did we have positive role models for relationships?
• Are we open and transparent about our sexual identity?
• Do we find vulnerability exciting or threatening?
• Do we like to hang onto traditions and/or superstitions, or find it more comfortable to shed them?
• Was your home violent or peaceful growing up ?
• If we are parents, how is our relationship with our children?
• When you were a child did the parent of the same sex hug you?
• Were you ever sexually violated by a relative or close friend?
• Did you feel that your gender identity is absolute, fluid, or androgynous?
• Do you believe that you are comfortable and skillful in conflict resolution without using physical violence?
• Do you feel that you have a difficult time being disciplined in achieving your goals?
• Do you believe that parents, teachers, doctors, clergyman, and governments always have our best interests in mind?
• Would you say you are an optimist or pessimist?
• Are you trusting or doubting?
• If you only had two choices, would you choose to have a doctor who has a great bed side manner and of average ability, or a doctor who has a cold personality and is a superior technician?
• Would you say that who you are today is mainly a factor of “Nature”, “Nurture”, both or mainly your own determination?
• Do you feel that you are mainly a victim of your surroundings, or that you are mainly the architect of your surroundings?
Here are some choices that come to mind:
• Do we see the world as abundant or scarce?
• How much does our education shape us?
• Do we feel only comfortable with people who are mostly like ourselves?
• Are new ideas and attitudes exciting or threatening?
• How is the influence and treatment by our parents come into play?
• If we have siblings, how do they influence who we are?
• As an American do you feel superior to other nationalities?
• Racially do feel superior to other races?
• If you practice your religion, is it the only true path to god?
• Do you feel men or women are superior to one another, in what ways if so?
• Would you rather be living today, or one hundred years ago and why?
• How does the event of growing up in a city or a small town effect us?
• Do we feel comfortable about our bodies, why yes or no?
• How was our relationship with our mother?
• How was our relationship with our father?
• Did we have the unique influence of a surrogate parent?
• Do we embrace change or find it threatening?
• How did our religious upbringing affect our present views of religion and our values?
• Did our mother have a comfortable or anxious pregnancy with us?
• Did we experience unconditional love and acceptance growing up?
• Do we enjoy other cultures or find them threatening?
• Do we have sex positive or sex negative attitudes?
• Did we have positive role models for relationships?
• Are we open and transparent about our sexual identity?
• Do we find vulnerability exciting or threatening?
• Do we like to hang onto traditions and/or superstitions, or find it more comfortable to shed them?
• Was your home violent or peaceful growing up ?
• If we are parents, how is our relationship with our children?
• When you were a child did the parent of the same sex hug you?
• Were you ever sexually violated by a relative or close friend?
• Did you feel that your gender identity is absolute, fluid, or androgynous?
• Do you believe that you are comfortable and skillful in conflict resolution without using physical violence?
• Do you feel that you have a difficult time being disciplined in achieving your goals?
• Do you believe that parents, teachers, doctors, clergyman, and governments always have our best interests in mind?
• Would you say you are an optimist or pessimist?
• Are you trusting or doubting?
• If you only had two choices, would you choose to have a doctor who has a great bed side manner and of average ability, or a doctor who has a cold personality and is a superior technician?
• Would you say that who you are today is mainly a factor of “Nature”, “Nurture”, both or mainly your own determination?
• Do you feel that you are mainly a victim of your surroundings, or that you are mainly the architect of your surroundings?
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