Clipmarks | dmegivern's 'u.s.' clips

Parts of the United States As Poor as Third World

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:24:47 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Parts of the United States are as poor as the Third World, according to a shocking United Nations report on global inequality.

The annual Human Development Report normally concerns itself with the Third World, but the 2005 edition scrutinises inequalities in health provision inside the US as part of a survey of how inequality worldwide is retarding the eradication of poverty.

It reveals that the infant mortality rate has been rising in the US for the past five years - and is now the same as Malaysia. America's black children are twice as likely as whites to die before their first birthday.

Although the US leads the world in healthcare spending - per head of population it spends twice what other rich OECD nations spend on average, 13 per cent of its national income - this high level goes disproportionately on the care of white Americans. It has not been targeted to eradicate large disparities in infant death rates based on race, wealth and state of residence.

Tags: inequality, poverty, u.s.

No Poverty in the U.S.?

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:37:26 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: No poverty in the U.S. That is what some have had the nerve to suggest. Read the details of poverty at this web blog and decide for yourself.

Clip Source: thewisdomgoldenmean.blogspot.com

Evidence of Poverty in the U.S.

Once again, some know-it-all has stated stupidly that there is no poverty in America. As someone who went to foster care as a result of poverty, I find this infuriating. So, today, I post just some of the evidence our family has of the detriment of American poverty.

Tags: poverty, u.s.

Corruption in U.S. Government

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:22:23 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Federal Lawmakers From Coast to Coast Are Under Investigation

Among members of Congress, Mr. Doolittle is far from alone in feeling heat from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department. More than a dozen current and former lawmakers are under scrutiny in cases involving their work on Capitol Hill.

Jan Baran, a Republican lawyer who specializes in ethics law, said he could not recall a time when so many members of Congress had been caught up in so many financial scandals drawing the attention of the Justice Department.

Mr. Baran said it was not surprising that most of the lawmakers under scrutiny were Republicans, given that their party controlled Congress until this year and “money follows power: those that don’t hold power are less susceptible to corruption, because they don’t have anything to sell.”

Tags: corruption, government, u.s.

W.H.O. Ranks U.S. 37th in Health Care

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:23:42 GMT

clipped by: thedoorway
clipper's remarks: Does it make you feel "proud to be an American" when the world's wealthiest country, the U.S., ranks behind little countries like Dominica and Costa Rica in healthcare? Is that the kind of country we want to leave our kids and grandkids? We spend more money on healthcare than any other country, but our dollars only buy us 37th place worldwide? Something's dramatically wrong with that picture. Call it GREED! Maybe it's time everyone went to see Michael Moore's "Sicko" movie when it opens on June 29th.

Clip Source: www.photius.com

The World Health Organization's ranking
of the world's health systems.
Source: WHO World Health Report - See also Spreadsheet Details (731kb)

Rank Country

1 France 2 Italy 3 San Marino 4 Andorra 5 Malta 6 Singapore 7 Spain 8 Oman 9 Austria 10 Japan

30 Canada 31 Finland 32 Australia 33 Chile 34 Denmark 35 Dominica 36 Costa Rica 37 United States of America 38 Slovenia 39 Cuba 40 Brunei

Tags: w.h.o., u.s., healthcare, greed, healthcare industry, health