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freedom
March 2009 
Is the US rapidly going down?
Mushin
Spending billions for warfare (on terror and whatever) the US seem to be going down as the leading 'open society' that once was a light to much of the world. Now it has become more like the bully of the world...
So here the results of some research. The US Ranks worst, or next to worst in all of the following categories (thanks to the Sustainable Wealth blog):
Overall Child Welfare (UNICEF)
Health Care System Ranking (WHO)
Poverty Rate (OECD)
Income inequality - rich/poor gap (OECD)
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (UNHDI)
Ecological Footprint (Global Footprint Network)
Personal Savings Rate (OECD)
Income and pension security (OECD)
Balance of payments (OECD)
Municipal waste per capita (UNHDI)
Development Assistance to poor countries per capita
Longevity (OECD)
Infant Mortality (OECD)
Child Abuse (Every Child Matters)
Depression (WHO, AMA)
Anxiety (WHO, AMA)
Obesity (OECD)
Murder Rate (nationmaster.com)
Incarceration Rate (OECD)
Motor vehicle fatalities per capita (OECD)
Vacation Time (CEPR)
Paid Family Leave (GWF)
Paid sick leave (GWF)
The size of the middle class by percent (UNHDI)
Voting Rate (IDEA)
Press freedom (freedomhouse.org)
personal freedom (World Liberty Project)
Sources:
WHO - World Health Organization, OECD - Organization for Ecoconomic Cooperation and Development, UNHDI - United Nations Human Development Index, AMA - American Medical Association, CEPR - Center for Economic and Policy Research, GWF - Global Working Families Study, IDEA - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
Access: Public
But they created Zaadz:):) should give US some Karma Points:) or?
Yes, definetly, that's credit worthy - and actually I do think that the US still does have a chance to return to a more wholesome path… and they absolutely NEED to as we Europeans and our dream is not yet powerful enough to fill the gap that the US is now leaving (and hopefully filling again).
World leadership is needed if we're going to make it to a flourishing planet with open societies, and the US still have enough credit left in the world karma bank - I believe - that a next administration could again start to build with. But they would have to turn around very much. And I can even say what its topmost priorities need to be (they can always hire me as an advisor :-))
1. Replace the idiotic “war on terror” by good international politics.
2. Create a program for Universal Healthcare.
3. Stabilize the Middle Class (close the rich/poor gap)
4. A state program that fosters housing insulation
Just my 2 cents…
Amen to that:):) now I will post an animated piece from US Journlaist Roger Cohen who is announcing to adopt Brazilian Karma for 2008:):)perhaps he needs a lightful atmosphere for opening to new perspectives:):)
Slowly we might be coming to set the world agenda :))))
Hehe:):)
A friend just supplied me with a link that seems to explain a bit why what I wrote above is so - it’s called “The American Tapeworm“
It does not surprise me at all that the United States ranks so low on so many things, because there is always the constant reassurance, from people who have never left this country, that this is the best country in the world. Ignorance is not bliss; it is misery, thus the closed minded attitude that so many people in the United States have results in so much violence and pain for many people.
Now, is there a way to change this? Yes, of course, but it seems that many find it much more effective to sit and complain about their situation.
I, on the other hand, believe that knowledge is the key to so much. '
Life is Fair
Yes, dearest Abagail, I also believe that knowledge is an important key… abnd then to act upon that knowledge and turning it into wise living…
The view towards the US from here (Berlin & formerly in the Czech Rep.) is that a) they are the most powerful nation on the planet - and thus their influence is major, be it good or bad or grey… and therefor we would love to encourage all US-Americans to at least vote for intelligent people that want to help turn the American Dream into a dream worth having again…
Yes total agree that the US has lost focus of what they stood for. They now neglectthe factors that made them so great in the first place. Theyignore the sick, poor need in their own nation, and antagonize other nations for their freedom of beliefs or practices. They Are a great nation, but they are a nation of “Freedom”. Why do they dictate to others what and how to be. They are dictating what is right or wrong. I feel that they are misusing their power and credibility.
They need to sit back and focus on their own problems for a while . They would have less national problems that way.
For me the US stands for democracy, freedom and the American Dream (from rags to richness)… they have helped keep the city where I live free (Berlin, Germany) when there was a lot at stake (Cuba crisis 1962)! For that they have a lot of credit with many here!
Its mostly the recent Bush era that has thrown away the karmic capital they had amassed right after 9/11 when the largest majority of the world really felt with them….
And you're right, Khaleel, focussing on the three most pressing problem at home (universal healthcare, closing the gap between rich & poor, and environmental issues) would give them back some of the social capital they've lost.
Still they are world leaders, for better or for worse, wether they want or not, and so let's encourage all Americans we know to take a stand and make their voices be heard.