- The United States ranks 42nd in the world for life expectancy.
- The US infant mortality rate is on a par with that of Croatia, Cuba, Estonia and Poland.
- The US has a higher percentage of children living in poverty than any of the world's richest countries.
- 14% of the population - some 40 million Americans - lack the literacy skills to perform simple, everyday tasks such as understanding newspaper articles and instruction manuals.
- The US has 5% of the world's people but 24% of its prisoners
- Life span of the average American is shorter now than in 2000
- Height of the average American is less now when compared to Europeans
- Broadband access and speed is less than other countries
- Fatalities per distance driven has increased since 2000
- the population of New Orleans in 2000 was 450,000; in 2008 it was 239,124
- In 2000 spinach was safe to eat
- In 2000 the 4th Amendment meant something
- In 2000 the United States didn't torture people
- In 2000 1000 civilian contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq were safe
- In 2000 the average price of gasoline was $1.51. In 2006 it was $2.59.
- The United States now has newborn death rate that is second worst of developed countries
- Life expectancy in the United States is 38th, right behind Cuba
- Real wages were less in 2005 than in 2000 (first time average income decreased since WWII)
- More measles cases in 2008 than in 1996
- The number of incarcerated persons has swelled from 1.9 million to 2.3 million
- Fewer countries are looking to the United States for legal guidance
- The national debt was $5.7 trillion in 2000. It is over $10 trillion now
- The US economy in 2008 is worse than in 2000
January 19, 2001: 10,587.59
September 29, 2008: 10,365.45
NASDAQ Jan 19, 2001 = 2770.38
NASDAQ September 29, 2008 = 1983.73
CPI, January 19, 2001: 175
CPI, September 29, 2008: 219
Dollar exchange with Euro, January 19, 2001: 1.068
Dollar exchange with Euro, September 29, 2008: .695
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/automobiles/22SAFETY.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb0524.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/parenting/05/08/mothers.index/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/business/21tax.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080821.htm
http://blog.aclu.org/2008/09/17/the-constitutional-aches-and-pains-of-over-incarceration/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/us/18legal.html
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/09/29/the-bush-economy/
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/02/debt-10-trillion/
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS160045+10-Jul-2008+BW20080710
