Another area where we do well as Americans is volunteerism.
This can be particularly important during a recession, when there are more people in need of help but government agencies are stretched to the limit.
I remember watching a segment on German TV before that country started pulling out of their recession, encouraging more people to volunteer for that very reason and citing the U.S. as a good example.
I don't believe that the thought of rape and crime wouldn't phase someone. It's certainly an interesting chart, but CT seemed to provide a more accurate backdrop dor the scenario. Although crime and violence is undoubtedly terrible, it is blown entirely out of proportion by the media. Less than 1 percent of crime in our country is actually violent, yet the local news would have you believe it is imminent at all times. "Juicy" news like this boosts ratings. Would you be more likely to flip the channel when an armed robbery is being reported? How about an Elementary School bake sale? The focus on crime and rape in the media has contributed to an enormously unnecessary spike in the prescription of anxiety medicine. Furthermore, I wonder how many rapists never had the idea to commit such crimes until they heard about it on TV...
If crime and violence are "blown entirely out of proportion", then why do we have more prisoners than any other country? And this is true both in total numbers and per capita (#of prisoners per 100,000 people). We're either putting a lot of innocent people in prison, or we have a lot more crime than anyone else. Which is it?
One of the reasons why incarceration rates are climbing in the US is because of the growth of private prisons. In some states, these companies, with the help of ALEC, have been allowed to draft legislation that encourages harsher punishments for non-violent crime. (Violent crime rates have been dropping, in fact.) There are some stats found in this related post.
"Furthermore, I wonder how many rapists never had the idea to commit such crimes until they heard about it on TV"
I vote this statement the most ignorant, and least thought out gibberish of the century not made by G.W. Bush. I mean REALLY??? before television most of the world's potential rapists were sitting around scratching their blue balls contemplating: "how oh how do i possibly obtain sex if the other person says no?"
Wow this is just horribly wrong, so I will provide sources since the author failed to do so.
USA = #8 in total crimes http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_percap-crime-total-crimes-per-capita
USA = #9 in rapes http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_rap_percap-crime-rapes-per-capita
USA = #11 in C02 emissions http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
USA = #13 in Heart Attacks http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_hea_dis_dea-health-heart-disease-deaths
Couldn't find solid info on plastic surgery rates, but everything tends towards South Korea being number one in this category.
The author is correct about prisoners, McDonalds, divorce rate, and teen pregnancy rates. I guess batting one for three isn't bad when you know most people won't double check.
ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. And neither will racist,homophobic, or misogynistic comments. I do not mind if you disagree, but make your case in a decent manner.
Just to put this into perspective:
ReplyDeletePopulations:
New Zealand: 4,410,300
Slovakia: 5,435,273
Australia: 22,600,147
Canada: 34,440,000
South Africa: 49,991,300
United Kingdom: 62,008,048
France: 65,821,885
Germany: 81,802,000
Mexico: 112,336,538
Japan: 127,960,000
Russia: 142,905,200
Brazil: 190,732,694
U.S.: 311,290,000
(exceeded only by China with 1,339,724,852; and India with1,210,193,422, both of which are developing countries)
Of course we're going to have more of everything, good as well as bad - there are more of us than almost any other country on the list!
P.S. How did Puerto Rico make the list? Were their divorces counted twice?
So none of this bothers you at all, CT?
ReplyDeleteOf course it does. But my point is, the good old U.S. of A would be on the top of a lot of lists of good things, too.
ReplyDeleteLike charitable contributions, to name just one.
Another area where we do well as Americans is volunteerism.
ReplyDeleteThis can be particularly important during a recession, when there are more people in need of help but government agencies are stretched to the limit.
I remember watching a segment on German TV before that country started pulling out of their recession, encouraging more people to volunteer for that very reason and citing the U.S. as a good example.
I don't believe that the thought of rape and crime wouldn't phase someone. It's certainly an interesting chart, but CT seemed to provide a more accurate backdrop dor the scenario. Although crime and violence is undoubtedly terrible, it is blown entirely out of proportion by the media. Less than 1 percent of crime in our country is actually violent, yet the local news would have you believe it is imminent at all times. "Juicy" news like this boosts ratings. Would you be more likely to flip the channel when an armed robbery is being reported? How about an Elementary School bake sale? The focus on crime and rape in the media has contributed to an enormously unnecessary spike in the prescription of anxiety medicine. Furthermore, I wonder how many rapists never had the idea to commit such crimes until they heard about it on TV...
ReplyDeleteIf crime and violence are "blown entirely out of proportion", then why do we have more prisoners than any other country? And this is true both in total numbers and per capita (#of prisoners per 100,000 people). We're either putting a lot of innocent people in prison, or we have a lot more crime than anyone else. Which is it?
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons why incarceration rates are climbing in the US is because of the growth of private prisons. In some states, these companies, with the help of ALEC, have been allowed to draft legislation that encourages harsher punishments for non-violent crime. (Violent crime rates have been dropping, in fact.)
DeleteThere are some stats found in this related post.
http://nomadicpolitics.blogspot.com/2012/03/33-scandal-in-lock-down-mode-rick-perry.html
"Furthermore, I wonder how many rapists never had the idea to commit such crimes until they heard about it on TV"
ReplyDeleteI vote this statement the most ignorant, and least thought out gibberish of the century not made by G.W. Bush. I mean REALLY??? before television most of the world's potential rapists were sitting around scratching their blue balls contemplating: "how oh how do i possibly obtain sex if the other person says no?"
Wow this is just horribly wrong, so I will provide sources since the author failed to do so.
ReplyDeleteUSA = #8 in total crimes
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_percap-crime-total-crimes-per-capita
USA = #9 in rapes
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_rap_percap-crime-rapes-per-capita
USA = #11 in C02 emissions
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
USA = #13 in Heart Attacks
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_hea_dis_dea-health-heart-disease-deaths
Couldn't find solid info on plastic surgery rates, but everything tends towards South Korea being number one in this category.
The author is correct about prisoners, McDonalds, divorce rate, and teen pregnancy rates. I guess batting one for three isn't bad when you know most people won't double check.
The pic uses total numbers; nationmaster uses per capita numbers. That could explain why the numbers are different.
ReplyDeleteIt's on the internet so it must be true...