Monday, July 21, 2008

We're #12! We're # 12!

...in human development, that is, as measured by health, education, and income. The BBC reports on Oxfam's American Human Development Project:
  • Americans live shorter lives than citizens of almost every other developed nation.
  • The US ranked 42nd in the world for life expectancy despite spending more on health care per person than any other country.
  • Overall, the American Human Development Report ranked the world's richest country 12th for human development.
  • Of the world's richest nations, the US has the most children (15%) living in poverty.
  • Of the OECD nations, the US has the most people in prison - as a percentage and in absolute numbers.
  • 25% of 15-year-old students performed at or below the lowest level in an international math test - worse than Canada, France, Germany and Japan.
Those dirty effing hippies at Oxfam! Why don't they do something useful instead of digging up stupid America-hating facts? Incidentally, I wonder how much coverage we'll see of this study in our own national press? (Hat tip: Don M.)

1 comment:

Lee Roberts said...

Ugh. America the Beautiful, um, not.

McCain's probably happy about this. It'll reduce illegal immigration and he won't have to continue to ineptly address it in his campaign.