{"id":101425,"date":"2013-12-27T09:43:19","date_gmt":"2013-12-27T09:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/state-of-the-nation-2013\/"},"modified":"2013-12-27T09:43:19","modified_gmt":"2013-12-27T09:43:19","slug":"state-of-the-nation-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/state-of-the-nation-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"State of the Nation, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Year season is a good time to reflect on one’s life and the U.S.’s true standing in the world. If you are honest with yourself, you known something fundemenal is taking place in early-21st<\/sup> century America. The nation is being restructured, yet again transformed.<\/p>\n

On July 4th<\/sup>, Memorial Day, election day and other patriotic occassions, politicians of every stripe ceaselessly repeat the well-worn clich\u00c3\u00a9s about America’s greatness, its uniqueness in the world and global prowess. They insist, whether spoken or implied, that the U.S. of A. is #1! But is it?<\/p>\n

Politicians, pundits and plutocrats shamelessly invoke the grandeur that was once \u2014 allegedly \u2014 America. These are the well-worn lies \u2013 shared social fictions \u2014 that legitimize the failed overreach of those in power. Truthfully, no one really believes them. Whether orchestrated by the military-industrial complex, the bankers’ financial plunder or simply historical exhaustion, the U.S. is being remade and the world order is \u2014 yet again \u2013 changing.<\/p>\n

The following \u201csnapshots\u201d are 2-dimensional representations of 50 subject areas of change. Each statistical profile (i) compares the U.S.’s standing to other nations and (ii) compares the U.S of the mid-2000s to today (or the latest available data). Together, they suggest a profile, an outline, of what change \u2014 if any \u2014 has occurred in the wake of the Great Recession. The U.S. remains the country with the greatest number of billionaires \u2014 422 \u2013 and the highest current account imbalance \u2014 a debt of $378 billion.<\/p>\n

The 50 individual snapshots are grouped into eight broad categories: (i) national economy, (ii) security state, (iii) technology & telecommunications, (iv) environmental impact, (v) national wellness, (vi) domestic life, (vii) educational attainment and (viii) happiness. These categories, and the individual subject areas that they include, are critical domains of human existence, experience<\/i>, that shape our lives and constitute history.<\/p>\n

They reveal areas in which the U.S. leads and lags. It’s ranked #1 is Military Expenditure, Incarceration, Medical Expenditures, Cosmetic Surgical Procedures and Billionaires. It lags in everything else, including GDP, Income Inequality, Competitivenss, Life Expectancy, Education, Gender Gap and Happiness. Welcome to 21st<\/sup> century America.<\/p>\n

Please circulate and suggest additional categories. An earlier version<\/a> of this article appeared in 2011 and some additional subject areas have been added.<\/p>\n

The individual subjects areas are not the real lived lives of ordinary Americas. Rather, they are more like the DPI \u2014 dots per inch \u2014 measurement of a digital camera, smartphone or printer. The higher the DPI count, the greater the image resolution. And the greater the resolution, the more the real state of the image, the nation, is revealed. Resolution \u2013 in this socio-political sense \u2014 falls along two axes: the nation’s international standing and the everyday lives of ordinary Americans.<\/p>\n

One can only hope that as the \u201csocial DPI\u201d is revealed, the great lie of American exceptionalism will be unmasked. Hopefully, more Americans will gain a clearer \u2013 less ideologically manipulated \u2013 picture of the true state of the U.S. of A. and realize \u2026 it really is not #1.<\/p>\n

I. National Economy<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Gross Domestic Product<\/span> (by country)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = $16.2 trillion<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = $8.2 trillion<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = $14.1 trillion<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = $5.0 trillion<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: World Bank; 2009: World Bank, CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

2. Gross Domestic Product<\/span> (by territory)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 EU = $17.2 trillion (12 countries)<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = $16.2 trillion<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 EU = $14.4 trillion<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = $14.1 trillion<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: OECD; 2009: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

3. Gross Domestic Product<\/span> (per capita)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Qatar = $100,000<\/p>\n

#13 \u2013 U.S. = $51,700<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007\/2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Lichtenstein = $122,100 (2007)<\/p>\n

#11 \u2013 U.S. = $46,000 (2009)<\/p>\n

Source: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

4. Current Account Balance<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = $201.7 billion<\/p>\n

#188 \u2013 U.S. = ($378.4 billion)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = $297.1 billion<\/p>\n

#190 \u2013 U.S. = ($473.4 billion)<\/p>\n

Source: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

5. Competitive Economy<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013-14:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Switzerland<\/p>\n

#4 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Switzerland<\/p>\n

#4 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

Source: World Economic Forum<\/p>\n

6. Income Inequality<\/span> (least)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2014 Sweden = 0.23<\/p>\n

#32 \u2014 U.S. = 0.45<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

Source: OECD<\/p>\n

7. Poverty Index<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012 (lowest):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Norway = 0.955<\/p>\n

#3 \u2013 U.S. = 0.937<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007-08:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Sweden = 6.3<\/p>\n

#17 \u2013 U.S. = 15.4<\/p>\n

Source: Human Development Index<\/p>\n

8. Billionaires<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

world total: 1,426<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 422<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = 122<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

world total = 1,125<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 469<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Russia = 87<\/p>\n

Source: Forbes<\/p>\n

9. Corruption Perception Index<\/span> (least)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Denmark = 91<\/p>\n

#19 \u2013 U.S. = 73<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 New Zealand = 9.4<\/p>\n

#19 \u2013 U.S. = 7.5<\/p>\n

Source: Transparency International<\/p>\n

II. Security State<\/p>\n

10. Military Expenditures<\/span> (total)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = $682 billion<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = $166 billion<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = $663.2 billion<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = $98.8 billion<\/p>\n

Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI); Military Expenditure Database<\/p>\n

11. Military Expenditure<\/span> (per GDP)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Omar = 8.6 percent<\/p>\n

#19 \u2013 U.S. = 4.2 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2005:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Omar = 11.4 percent<\/p>\n

#25 \u2013 U.S. = 4.2 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: World Bank; 2005: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

12. Incarceration Rate<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 2,292,133<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 China = 1,650,000<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009\/2006:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 1,613,740 (2009)<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Russia = 86,9814 (2006)<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: King’s College London International Centre for Prison Studies: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics; no reliable data available for North Korea<\/p>\n

13. Prison Population<\/span> (per 100,000)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 716<\/p>\n

#216 \u2013 India = 30<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006\/2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 756 (2009)<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Russia = 629 (2006)<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: Source: World Prision Brief; International Centre for Prision Studies; 2006\/9: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics<\/p>\n

III. Technology & Telecommuniations<\/b><\/p>\n

14. Information Technology<\/span> (innovation<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Sweden = 6.7<\/p>\n

#14 \u2013 U.S. = 6.3<\/p>\n

Source: World Economic Forum<\/p>\n

15. Information Technology<\/span> (venture capital)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Qatar = 4.7<\/p>\n

#10 \u2013 U.S. = 4.1<\/p>\n

Source: World Economic Forum<\/p>\n

16. Internet Users<\/span> (total)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = 568.2 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = 254.3 million<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = 298 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = 231 million<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: ITU; 2008: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

17. Internet Users<\/span> (adoption)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Iceland = 96 percent<\/p>\n

#24 \u2013 U.S. = 81 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Netherlands = 90.1 percent<\/p>\n

#10 \u2013 U.S. = 72.3 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: ITU; 2008: CIA Factbook<\/p>\n

18. Fixed Broadband<\/span> (adoption)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010 (per 100 inhabitants):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Switzerland = 41.9.<\/p>\n

#20 \u2013 U.S. = 28.0<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010 (per 100 inhabitants):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Netherlands = 37.8<\/p>\n

#14 \u2013 U.S. = 27.1<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: ITU; 2010: OCED<\/p>\n

19. Mobile Broadband<\/span> (total)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 4G:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 62.5 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 Japan = 26.1 million<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 3G:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2014 China = 325.5 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 U.S. = 225.0 million<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Korea = 146.3 million<\/p>\n

#9 \u2013 U.S. = 136.3 milion<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: mobiThink; 2010: OCED<\/p>\n

20. Mobile Broadband<\/span> (adoption)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 4G:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 South Korea = 47.2 percent<\/p>\n

#4 \u2014 U.S. = 19.6 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 3G:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2014 Italy = 90.5 percent<\/p>\n

#3 \u2014 U.S. = 70.6 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 South Korea = 95.0 percent<\/p>\n

#9 \u2013 U.S. = 44.4 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: mobiThink; 2010: OCED<\/p>\n

21. Broadband Data Rate<\/span> (downsteam)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Hong Kong = 68.7 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

#32 \u2013 U.S. = 20.8 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 South Korea = 36.9 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

#31 \u2013 U.S. = 9.9 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

Source: Ookla Speedtest<\/p>\n

22. Broadband Data Rate<\/span> (upsteam)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Hong Kong = 56.6 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

#48 \u2013 U.S. = 6.3 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 South Korea = 20.3 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

#33 \u2013 U.S. = 2.5 Mb\/s<\/p>\n

Source: Ookla Speedtest<\/p>\n

IV. Environmental Impact<\/p>\n

23. Renewable Energy<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012 (million tons oil equivalent):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 50.7<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 China = 31.9<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2014 U.S. = 29.5<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 Germany = 15.2<\/p>\n

Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy<\/p>\n

24. Renewable Electricity Production<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2011 (TW\u00b7h\/year; terawatt-hours per year):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = 797.4<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 U.S. = 520.1<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = 682.1<\/p>\n

#3 \u2013 U.S. = 413.2<\/p>\n

Source: 2011: EIA; 2009: BP Statistical Review of World Energy<\/p>\n

25. Environmental Impact<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Switzerland = 76.4<\/p>\n

#49 \u2013 U.S. = 56.6<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 New Zealand = 88.0<\/p>\n

#28 \u2013 U.S. = 78.5<\/p>\n

Source: Environmental Performance Index<\/p>\n

26. Climate Change<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#4 \u2013 Denmark = 72.6<\/p>\n

#43 \u2013 U.S. = 53.5<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Sweeden = 65.6<\/p>\n

#55 \u2013 U.S. = 33.4<\/p>\n

Source: Germanwatch, Climate Change Performance Index<\/p>\n

V. National Wellness<\/b><\/p>\n

27. Life Expectancy<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Monaco = 89.6 years<\/p>\n

#51 \u2014 U.S. = 78.6 years<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Japan = 82.6 years<\/p>\n

#38 \u2013 U.S. = 78.2 years<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: UN Population Division; 2009: CIA Factorbook<\/p>\n

28. Infant Mortality<\/span> (per 1,000 live births)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 (lowest to highest):<\/p>\n

#224 \u2013 Monoco = 1.8<\/p>\n

#174 \u2013 U.S. = 5.4<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Iceland = 2.9<\/p>\n

#33 \u2013 U.S. = 6.3<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: UN Population Division; 2009: CIA Factorbook<\/p>\n

29. National Health Systems<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 (efficiency rating):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Hong Kong = 92.6<\/p>\n

#46 \u2013 U.S. = 30.8<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2000:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 France<\/p>\n

#37 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: Bloomberg; 2000: WHO<\/p>\n

30. Health Care Expenditures<\/span> (percent of GDP):<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2011:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 17.7 percent<\/p>\n

#2 \u2014 Netherlands = 11.9 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006 (EU to US):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 France = 11.0 percent<\/p>\n

#37 \u2013 U.S. = 15.8 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2011: Bloomberg; 2006: OECD<\/p>\n

31. Health Care Expenditures<\/span> (per capital)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S = $8,5083<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Norway = $5,669<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009 (EU to US):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = $7,990<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Switzerland = $7,184<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: World Bank; 2009: OECD<\/p>\n

32. Overweight Rate<\/span> (body mass index, BMI 25-plus)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010 or later:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Mexico = 69.5 percent<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = 69.2 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006\/2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Mexico = 70 percent (2006)<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = 68 percent (2008)<\/p>\n

Source: OECD<\/p>\n

33.<\/span> Obesity Rate<\/span> (body mass index, BMI 30-plus)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Mexico = 32.8 percent<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 U.S. = 31.8 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006\/2008<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 34 percent (2008)<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Mexico = 30 percent (2006)<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: UNFAO; 2008: OECD<\/p>\n

34. Cosmetic Surgical Procedures<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 3.1 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Brazil = 1.4 million<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 1.5 million<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Brazil = 1.0 million<\/p>\n

Source: ISAPS<\/p>\n

VI. Domestic Life<\/p>\n

35. Marriage Rate<\/span> (\u201ccrude,\u201d per 1,000):<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 6.8<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007 (\u201ccrude,\u201d per 1,000):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 U.S. = 7.4<\/p>\n

#7 \u2013 Denmark = 6.7<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: Statistic Brain; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center<\/p>\n

36. Divorce Rate<\/span> (per 1,000)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Belarus = 4.1<\/p>\n

# \u2013 U.S. = 3.4<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2002:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Sweden = 54.9 percent<\/p>\n

#7 \u2013 U.S. = 45.7 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2012: UN Demographics; 2002: Americans for Divorce Reform<\/p>\n

37. Cohabitation Rate<\/span> (20 year-old)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010 vs 2002 (US):<\/p>\n

2002 = 43.1 percent<\/p>\n

2010 = 47.9 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 France = 14.4 percent<\/p>\n

#6 \u2013 U.S. = 5.5 percent<\/p>\n

Source: US data (2002, 2010): CDC\/NCHS; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center<\/p>\n

38. Non-Married Childbirths<\/span> (percent of live births)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2011 (US and Europe:<\/p>\n

# \u2013 EU (28 countries) = 39.3 percent<\/p>\n

# \u2013 U.S. = 40.7 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007 (US and Europe):<\/p>\n

# \u2013 EU (28 countries) = 35.0 percent<\/p>\n

# \u2013 U.S. = 38.5 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2011: Eurostat, CDC; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center<\/p>\n

39. Motherhood Ranking<\/span> (best to worst)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Finland<\/p>\n

#25 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Norway<\/p>\n

#28 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

Source: Save the Children \u201cMothers Index\u201d<\/p>\n

40. First Sex<\/span> (oldest to youngest)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Malyasia = 23.5 years<\/p>\n

# \u2013 U.S. = 18.4 years<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2005:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 India = 19.8 years<\/p>\n

#29 \u2013 U.S. = 16.9 years<\/p>\n

Source: Durex Global Sex Survey<\/p>\n

41. Condom Use<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012 (during most recent sexual experi<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China = 78.9 percent<\/p>\n

#11 \u2013 U.S. = 65.3 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2009 (15-24 year old males)<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Guyana = 62 percent<\/p>\n

#11 \u2013 U.S. = NA<\/p>\n

Source: 2012 Durex; 2009: World Bank<\/p>\n

42. Gender Gap<\/span> (narrowest to widest)<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Iceland<\/p>\n

#23 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Sweden<\/p>\n

#23 \u2013 U.S.<\/p>\n

Source: World Economic Forum<\/p>\n

VII. Educational Attainment<\/b><\/p>\n

43. College Graduates<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013 (tertiary education):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Russian Federation = 53.5 percent<\/p>\n

#5 \u2013 U.S. = 42.5 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007 (25-34):<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Canada = 55.8 percent<\/p>\n

#12 \u2013 U.S. = 40.3 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: OECD; 2007: College Board<\/p>\n

44. Secondary School Graduates<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

# US = 75 percent<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2008:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 S. Korea = 93 percent<\/p>\n

#18 \u2013 U.S.= 73 percent<\/p>\n

Source: 2010: Education Research Center; 2008: OECD<\/p>\n

45. Reading Level<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China\/Shanghai = 570<\/p>\n

#36 \u2013 U.S. = 498<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Korea = 539<\/p>\n

#15 \u2013 U.S. = 500<\/p>\n

Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and Shanghai and Hong Kong out-performed the U.S.<\/p>\n

46. Science Level<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China\/Shanghai = 580<\/p>\n

#36 \u2013 U.S. = 514<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Finland = 554<\/p>\n

#27 \u2013 U.S. = 502<\/p>\n

Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.<\/p>\n

47. Math Level<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2012:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 China\/Shanghai = 613<\/p>\n

#36 \u2013 U.S. = 481<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2010:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Singapore = 562<\/p>\n

#28\u2013 U.S. = 487<\/p>\n

Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.<\/p>\n

VIII. Happiness<\/p>\n

48. National Happiness<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Costa Rica = 64<\/p>\n

#105\u2013 U.S. = 37.3<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006:<\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 Columbia = 67.2<\/p>\n

#115 \u2013 U.S. = 28.2<\/p>\n

Source: Happy Planet Index<\/p>\n

49. Life Satisfaction<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2013:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Japan = 10.0<\/p>\n

#15\u2013 U.S. = 9.0<\/p>\n

\u00a7 2006:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Denmark = 273.4<\/p>\n

#23 \u2013 U.S. = 246.7<\/p>\n

Source: 2013: OECD Better Life Index; 2006: Adrian White, \u201cA Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge To Positive Psychology?\u201d<\/p>\n

50. Subjective Well-Being<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7 2007:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Denmark = 4.24<\/p>\n

#16 \u2013 U.S. = 3.55<\/p>\n

Source: World Values Surveys<\/p>\n

David Rosen<\/strong> regularly contributes to AlterNet, Brooklyn Rail, Filmmaker and IndieWire; check out www.DavidRosenWrites.com<\/a>; he can be reached at drosennyc@verizon.net<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Source: Counterpunch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New Year season is a good time to reflect on one’s life and the U.S.’s true standing in the world. If you are honest with yourself, you known something fundemenal is taking place in early-21st century America. The nation is being restructured, yet again transformed. On July 4th, Memorial Day, election day and other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1213,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[487],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-101425","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-breaking-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1213"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101425\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}