So a while ago I wrote a bit on how the idea about how the average American worker is one of the most hardest working people and experience fewer benefits that other countries of similar stature (read it here: http://stavingoffsleep.blogspot.com/2010/02/strawmen-are-flimsy.html). I figured I'd do something similar and do what the internet does best, which is throw a bunch of information at you in another post.
A look at the entire 2011 budget:
http://www.wallstats.com/deathandtaxes
Trimming the Fat?:
More on the overworked American:
- 1/3rd of Americans feel overworked
- 39% worked 44 hours or more a week in 2009
- 1 in 5 report doing work from home on a daily basis
- 86% of executives report their company demands more time from their workers
- 36% of employees don't plan on using any vacation
- 37% plan to take a 7 day or less vacation (out of 52 weeks in a year)
- 20% of reported overworked employees stated they make a lot of errors at work
- 39% experience anger towards other employees
- 34% resent their coworkers who work less
Idiocracy:
See: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/31/138862695/north-carolina-cuts-squeeze-education-programs
North Carolina is one of many states who, in an attempt to balance their checkbooks, cut the easiest option which happens to be education. As a result, they've hit 49th in the nation for education funding. While funding isn't the end all and be all of education (far from it) it's hard to get close to that mythical 1 to 1 student/teacher ratio by firing teachers.
Also, enjoy these graphics detailing several interesting patterns in politics.
http://realityliberationfront.com/politics-in-the-american-south-the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room/
Reagan: Making all the wrong choices:
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/06/the-disastrous-legacy-of-ronald-reagan-in-charts/
Suggestions:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/balance-federal-budget-101310
