Face The Facts USA - Fact Feed

Fact: Annual $1 billion-plus natural disasters have tripled since 1980

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

This week saw a tornado rip through central Oklahoma, killing at least 24 and injuring over 300. As the people of the Sooner State start to rebuild, we take a look at the natural disasters that are hitting us more frequently than in the past.

The annual number of billion-dollar disasters in the United States – earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes and more – has tripled since the 1980s, from two to about six per year. And 2011 was a barn-burner, with 14 separate $1 billion-plus weather events. That’s like buying 4,500 new homes at the median price for every major hurricane, tornado outburst, flood and drought. Losses from U.S. natural disasters in 2011 topped $60 billion. The trend continued into 2012, with Hurricane Sandy flooding signifigant portions of the east coast. Preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center shows a total of 11 disasters topping $1 billion last year, with an even higher level of monetary losses than 2011.

We’ve got an animated infographic for you that maps some of the trouble. Be sure to click around and see everything. And as you probably know, the debate over causes and culprits is as fierce as the climate itself. Dig into “What Do Others Say?” for a cross-section of ideas, then join the discussion below. What do you think accounts for this trend?

IRS Faces Growing Tax Collection Gap

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The IRS is in hot water after the revelation that certain conservative groups were inappropriately targeted for review of their tax-exempt statuses. President Obama has called the targeting "intolerable" with the IRS blaming the inappropriate auditing on "rogue" employees. Here's the real rub, though - the IRS already has too much completely appropriate auditing to do in the first place.

A growing number of Americans are failing to pay their federal tax bills. The difference in the total amount of taxes owed to the IRS and the total amount collected – known as the tax gap – amounted to $400 billion in 2012. It is estimated about 15 percent of eligible taxpayers don’t pay up.

Underreporting of income is the biggest problem. In 2006, the IRS said filers failed to report $376 billion in taxable income.

There are also concerns about a growing “international tax gap” – taxes owed on cross-border income but unpaid.

Check out our infographic for more on the tax gap and efforts at tax enforcement. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What more can or should the IRS do to track down these scofflaws and make them square up, and how much of their time should they be spending doing these kinds of audits?

Trade deficit with China expands

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Chinese businesses are moving into Detroit, establishing a new stake in the auto industry and perhaps paving the way for the sale of Chinese cars in the US. Despite an overall drop the the US goods and services trade deficit as of March, the U.S. continues to import far more than it exports. No gap is greater than the one between the U.S. and China, even with smaller-than-expected gains for Chinese manufacturing.

Our trade deficit with China was $295 billion in 2011. That’s nearly triple what it was 10 years ago – and represents about 40 percent of the entire U.S. trade deficit. No other country even comes close. The second biggest annual trade deficit is with Mexico – and it’s $64 billion.

Check out our infographic for more on U.S. trade and its significance in the economy. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views on the U.S. trade deficit, then add your voice to the discussion below. How can we improve our balance of trade with China? What’s at stake if we can’t?

Increased Embassy Security and an Increased Price Tag

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

It's been eight months since a terrorist attack rocked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, and legislators are still trying to figure out what went wrong and who to blame. Yesterday, hearings were held in the House of Representatives that featured testimony from an official on the ground at the time.

The renewed focus begs the question, are we doing enough to protect our embassies? Yes or no, we're certainly spending more to do so.

Protecting U.S. embassies abroad is getting more costly with each passing year. Back in fiscal 1998, the budget for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security was $200 million. By fiscal 2012, that figure was up to $2.6 billion. That’s an increase of more than 1,000 percent.

During that time the number of federal security specialists doubled, new security measures were put in place, and the government hired more outside contractors to protect its people and property worldwide.

Even so, between 1998 and 2009 there were 39 attacks on U.S. embassies or mission personnel abroad. The Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

Check out our photo gallery for more on diplomatic security and its costs. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How can we best protect U.S. diplomats abroad? Do we need to spend more?

US military and economic aid investments in the Middle East still can't buy peace

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The Middle Eastern country of Syria is rapidly becoming a flashpoint as sectarian strife continues, the use of chemical weapons is alleged and possible Israeli involvment is condemned as an act of war. The region is, at the moment, anything but peaceful - all this despite long-term US efforts to secure peace through pocketbook diplomacy.

Over the last six decades, the U.S. has invested $299 billion in military and economic aid for Middle East and Central Asian countries currently in turmoil. Egypt tops a list of 10 nations, receiving $114 billion since the end of World War II. Iraq comes in second, getting nearly $60 billion from the U.S. (over and above war costs).

Far outpacing those ten countries is Israel, an ally that got another $185 billion in U.S. aid in the same period. Its close neighbor Syria is near the low end of the aid spectrum, but is certainly taking center stage in world affairs today.

What did all that money buy the U.S.? Neither regional stability nor automatic support. In fact, some lawmakers want to pull back U.S. aid. Check out our infographic for more on where the money went. See “What Do Others Say” for more opinions on U.S. aid abroad, then add yours to the discussion below. How much should we be giving to troubled countries? What should we expect in return?

Annual U.S. gun manufacture volume rose 86% in decade to nearly 5.5 million

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Guns are back in the news this week after the recent failure of the latest gun control measures in Congress and the latest in a series of fatal accidental shootings involving children. It's an issue Americans are increasingly tuned in to, partially because we have so many guns on hand.

The number of guns manufactured each year in the U.S. grew from 2.9 million in 2001 to nearly 5.5 million in 2010, which was one of the highest-volume years in history. Another 2.84 million foreign-made guns were imported in 2010.

The government estimated there were 310 million firearms in civilian hands in 2009 - nearly as many weapons as American citizens.

More than 30,000 firearm fatalities occur in America each year. About one-half are suicides, one-third criminal homicides.

Click through today's photo gallery to learn more, then take your turn in the discussion thread below. Why do you think firearms are growing more common? How do you feel about the trend?

Fastest rising jobs that don't require a diploma

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Wednesday is May Day, a day when people all around the world celebrate workers of all types. Here in the US, we're seeing a growing trend among some of the fastest-growing types of work, and in these fields it's not always about the money. Sometimes it’s just about having a job.

Government studies show many of the hottest jobs for the decade ahead don’t require a four-year college degree or even a high school diploma. But they also come with lower salaries. Personal care aides and home health aides are expected to see the largest jumps in employment. But their pay – in the $19,000-20,000 range – is below the national median of $33,840.

Only two of the 10 fastest growing occupations require a bachelor’s degree or higher: biomedical engineers and event planners. See the full Bureau of Labor Statistics list here.

Click through our photo gallery for more on today’s high demand fields. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you concerned about the pay these hot jobs offer? What does that mean for our economy moving forward?

FACT: 93% of U.S. trains, planes and motor vehicles depend on oil. 71% of our oil supply goes to transport

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

As Earth Week 2013 continues we turn to one of the root causes of a central environmental issue, carbon dioxide emissions, and the biggest factor in boosting them - transportation.

America’s planes, trains and motor vehicles consume 13.6 million barrels of oil each day. Despite rising interest in alternative fuels, 93 percent of American transport still depends on petroleum. In fact, transportation is more oil-reliant than any other U.S. economic sector; 71 percent of our oil supply powers various types of transport.

What does this mean for our C02 emission levels? Play today’s video to find out.

Then consider: how important do you think it is to develop alternative fuels for transport? “What do Others Say?” helps you get dialed in. Then help propel today’s discussion thread.

Most US Children Still Live With Air Pollution, Asthma On The Rise

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

As Earth Week 2013 continues we take a look at the air we breathe.

While there has been some progress in reducing U.S. air pollution in recent years, as recently as 2010, two-thirds of American children lived in counties where at least some pollutants exceeded federal standards.

Pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter can cause respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma in children. Asthma cases have been rising for years, with more than 10 million children diagnosed in 2010.

Authorities say children are more vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs are still developing, and they eat, drink and breathe more in proportion to their body size.

Check out our infographic for more on the air pollution-asthma connection. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Do you think the rise in asthma is linked to air pollution?

Americans use more water per person than citizens of any other country

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

It's Earth Week and we're taking a good look around our planet. A good deal of it is covered by water, but most of it isn't the fresh water we need.

The U.S. likes – and most of us take for granted - ready access to fresh water. Americans use more water per person than citizens of any other country – 457,018 gallons per head per year.

The government estimates each American uses about 100 gallons daily, but only 8.5 percent is what we use at home for cooking, cleaning or bating. More than 40 percent is used to produce electrical power. 37 percent irrigates cropland.

While the world’s population has doubled in the last 40 years, its use of fresh water has quadrupled. Forty percent of countries could experience severe freshwater scarcity by 2020.

We have a special video today on water usage. Check it out, read “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. What do you think about America’s rate of water use? Are you worried about future supplies?

July 2012 was hottest month ever recorded in continental US. The heat is on #climatechange

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

It's Earth Day, a time when Americans take a step back and look at the state of their world - and if you look at the numbers, it's a world that's losing its cool. We've had 28 straight years of warmer average temperatures, and July 2012 was the hottest month ever recorded in the continental US, with an average temp of 77.6F – 3.3 degrees above the 20^th century average for July. Eleven of the twelve hottest years on record since 1880 were the most recent – 2001 to 2011.

Today’s infographic shows what other factors are observable along with higher temps worldwide. Dig into the range of views on climate change we’ve set up for you in “What Do Others Say?” Then get busy in the comment thread below. What do you think is going on?

Unpaid Taxes Total Over $370 Billion

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Like the majority of Americans, you probably filed your taxes by April 15 or applied for an extension. If you owed money, you wrote out a check and sent it along to the IRS. But for a portion of the population, no checks were written, and the IRS is having an increasingly difficult time collecting.

More than 16 million individuals and businesses owed the IRS $373 billion in unpaid federal taxes in 2011.

2.9 million businesses accounted for $115 billion of this outstanding debt. 13.5 million individual filers owed the rest.

Some of the payment-due bills were small, under $5,000 – but most debts were over $25,000. At the high end, 24 individuals and 57 businesses each had unpaid federal tax bills topping $1 million.

The IRS uses substantial resources to collect these debts, but admits it can’t recover all the money. In 2011, the IRS wrote off $117 billion as uncollectible.

Check out our infographic for more on tax scofflaws. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Are you surprised by today’s fact? Did you know there were so many tax cheats costing the government that much money?

American Tax System's Complexity Burns Billions of Hours

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Today is Tax Day - Americans have until midnight tonight to get their forms mailed, checks written or refunds calculated, or they will have to apply for an extension. That means a big final push for the more than a million tax preparers navigating the complex tax code - and a whole lot of time devoted to adding things up.

Going it alone or with an accountant, Americans spend long hours preparing their tax returns. Add them up, in fact, and the total tops 6.1 billion hours annually.

Contributing to the challenge: the steady addition of tax code changes – 4,680 since 2001. That’s more than one a day.

If tax compliance were a single industry, it would rank among the largest in the U.S. The field employs the equivalent of 3 million full-time workers. The IRS has another 90,000 workers.

Check out our infographic for more on tax complexity. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How much time do you burn doing your taxes? Would you support a simplified system?

The Facts Behind The Facts

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Over eight months, from July 30, 2012 to March 30, 2013, Face the Facts USA released 204 “fresh, hot facts” to help you look at America’s biggest policy challenges in new ways. We launched Face the Facts USA 100 days before Election Day 2012.

In the eight months that followed:

We provided ten categories of facts, including 22 facts about Debt and Deficit; 38 facts about Jobs & Economy; 22 facts about National Security; and 33 facts on Life in America.

We found our most popular fact is Tax Code Complexity. As of March 30 it’s received 119 comments, 763 Facebook “likes,” and 359 Twitter shares.

We collaborated with Arizona State University and the University of Southern California. We’re grateful to the 20 George Washington University students who contributed to facts and videos.

Check out our infographic and video for more facts about our facts. And as thousands already have, share your thoughts in the discussion below. How do you think we did?

One of every six federal dollars goes to programs for poor

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Ten federal programs that mostly benefit the poor have exploded in cost – up more than 1000 percent since 1972.

The support services provided by these programs cost taxpayers $55 billion back in 1972. In 2012, they cost $588 billion—one-sixth of all federal spending. They include Medicaid, which cost $251 billion in 2012; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (a/k/a food stamps), $80 billion; and Supplemental Security Income for the disabled poor, at $50 billion.

Most of these programs are “means-tested,” meaning beneficiaries can’t exceed certain income limits. But some serve a broad mix of Americans, like the Pell Grant program for college students, costing $34 billion.

Check out our infographic for more on the rising cost of these social programs. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What do you think of these programs? Should we be trying to get their costs under control?

Income gap between rich, middle class, and poor widens

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

While the income gap between rich and poor has widened astronomically since 1967, the gap between the rich and the middle class has widened the most.

In 1967, those in the lowest percentile of American earners made a median salary of $9,300. By 2010, that was up to $11,900, a 28 percent increase (measured in 2010 dollars).

The richest Americans, those in the 90th percentile, went from making a median of $85,800 in 1967 to $138,900 – a 62 percent increase. Median income households saw real earnings go from $40,800 in 1967 to $49,400, just a 21 percent increase.

Check out our infographic for more on the income disparity among the classes. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What do you think about income disparity? Does it have you discouraged? Or are you still trying to make it into the upper echelons of income?

Homeownership more likely when immigrants to U.S. stay longer

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The longer they stay, the more likely immigrants to America are to enjoy homeownership – long considered a benchmark of the American dream. In fact, immigrants who’ve been in the U.S. for at least a generation are more likely to own homes than native-born Americans.

Here’s the breakdown. Just over half our foreign-born residents – 52 percent – owned their homes in 2011. Look only at immigrants who’ve remained for several years and taken U.S. citizenship, though, and the homeownership rate climbs to 66 percent – the same as for native-born Americans. Immigrant households where there owner came to the U.S. before 1980 had a homeownership rate of 75 percent, beating the natives.

Check out our infographic for more on immigrant homeownership. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Does today’s fact surprise you? Does it affect your views on immigration policy?

More Wives Earning More Than Their Husbands

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

More married women are out-earning their husbands. In 2011, 28 percent of wives in two-income U.S. households made more their husbands. That’s up from 24 percent in 2001. In fact, top-earning wives have increased 65 percent since 1987.

Add families in which only the wife earns income, and overall, the percentage of wives out-earning husbands went up to 37.6 in 2011 – from 30.7 percent in 2001.

Watch our video for more on married women’s pay. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Does today’s fact affect your views on pay equality? What’s the impact of women breadwinners on the American family?

Government IT Spending Is Wide-Reaching, But So Is Waste

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The United States government spends more on information technology than any other country, but one quarter of IT programs are said to have “serious management issues,” including duplication and cost overruns.

The Office of Management and Budget estimates government IT spending at $74 billion, not counting the legislative or judicial branches -- or dozens of independent executive branch agencies.

OMB says one quarter of the government's major IT programs (representing 32% of budgeted dollars) are in serious management trouble. $54 billion goes to operations and maintenance, $20 billion to development and acquisition.

Check out our infographic for more on government IT spending. See "What Do Others Say?" for more views, then add to the discussion below. Does new information technology lead to more efficient government? Should government invest in the latest tech trends?

How much is government spending increasing the federal deficit?

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

How fast is the federal deficit rising? In every second of 2011, the government spent $114,253 while taking in only $73,043 in revenue. That means in each second, the federal government spent $41,210 that it didn’t have. Divided among every man, woman and child in the US, the 2011 deficit amounted to $4,158.

Did you know? The US has more professional tax preparers than law enforcement officers & firefighters combined

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Up to 1.2 million tax preparers make a living deciphering the labyrinth U.S. tax code for taxpayers. We have more professional tax preparers in the United States than law enforcement officers (765,000) and professional firefighters (310,400) combined.

Watch the video for more – and see what’s happened to the size of the federal tax code. Then give us your views below: are taxes too complex to be fair? Or are we all special interests getting special breaks? Chime in!

US Maintains High Immigration Totals But Slips Down Per Capita List

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

More immigrants come to the United States each year than any other nation. But the impact on our overall population is comparatively small. A per capita ranking of countries finds the U.S. only 26th in its number of immigrants. In 2012, we had 3.62 immigrants for every 1,000 people in the U.S. Qatar ranks first with more than 40 immigrants per 1,000 population.

Qatar’s booming economy gets the credit, luring migrants in search of jobs. And most find work; immigrant unemployment in Qatar is 0.3 percent, though working conditions can be poor amid the prosperity.

See our infographic for more on immigration’s relative impact, here and around the world. See “What Do Others Say?” Then add to the discussion below. Does today’s fact surprise you? Does it make you think any differently about immigration?

Family and Medical Leave Act Use Rates Stabilize, But Many Still Uncovered

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Twenty years after Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, data shows 13 percent of workers took leave in 2012 for a qualifying cause. That’s the same rate as in 2000.

But many workers remain uncovered. Private organizations with less than 50 employees are exempt from having to offer FMLA leave. Only about 10 percent of workplaces surveyed in 2012 were bigger, and at those covered businesses, only 59 percent of employees met qualification criteria.

Most FMLA leave is taken for an employee’s own illness, followed by pregnancy or a new child. Most employees say they received at least partial pay during the leave—mainly from their own banked vacation and sick time.

Click through our photo gallery for more on FMLA. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How well do you think the law is working? Should it be expanded to cover more workers?

Rush Hour Traffic Bad For Stress Levels And Air Quality

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

There is nothing good to say about rush hour traffic, but it’s bad on many levels. Beyond what it does to drivers’ nerves, U.S. traffic congestion spewed an extra 56 billion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2012. That’s about 380 pounds per auto commuter. Traffic backups also wasted 2.9 billion gallons of gas – enough to fill up 4 New Orleans Superdomes.

Washington, DC has the worst traffic in the country – despite an extensive mass transit system including the nation’s second-most-used subway (behind New York). Both transit and personal vehicles contribute to carbon dioxide air pollution. Most transit buses use diesel fuel.

Check out our infographic for more on dirty driving. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What’s the answer? More roads, or more public transit?

Coastal Metro Areas Have Highest Concentrations of Wealth

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

If you want to find the most affluent Americans, scan the east and west coasts. Nearly 72 percent of all high-income households (those in the top 5 percent, making $191,469 or more) are in the country’s top 50 most populous metropolitan areas. And most of those are on the coasts.

The wealthiest concentration of high-income households is in the Connecticut towns of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, outside New York City. 17 percent qualified between 2006 and 2011.

Second place: the San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara area, south of San Francisco. 15.9 percent of those households are high-income.

Want to know more about the geography of wealth? Check out today’s infographic and see “What Do Others Say?” Then add to the discussion below. Is your hometown home to big money?

2,362 US millionaires collected public unemployment benefits in 2009

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

You don’t have to need the benefit to qualify: in 2009, 2,362 American millionaires collected unemployment. Nearly one million Americans reporting at least a six-figure income ($100,000+) also got jobless benefits. Such recipients accounted for 8.4 percent of all unemployment compensation filers in 2009. On the other hand, unemployment benefit recipients who earned less than $100,000 totaled about 10.3 million (10,290,362) Americans in 2009.

Check out our video for more, then look below under “What Do Others Say?” for a roundup of views on how America copes with high unemployment.

Pentagon Spending Almost 5 Billion For Contractor Pensions

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Contributing to its contractors’ pension plans is costing the Department of Defense dearly. In 2002, the Pentagon paid about $420 billion into these private pension plans. In 2011, it was almost $5 billion.

Fewer Americans have traditional pension plans, and where they still exist, it’s rarer still for a company’s customers to fund them directly. But DOD considers providing these pensions a cost of doing business with its contractors. Most of those pensions are traditional “defined benefit” plans, and when the recession hurt their investment performance, the Pentagon even covered shortfalls.

Check out our infographic for more on Pentagon contractor pensions. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Is this government expense an acceptable cost of doing business?

Health Care Costs Adding Financial Strain For Americans

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The high cost of health care adds strain in many American households. One snapshot survey from the first half of 2011 showed one-third of U.S. families spreading out medical payments over time or even giving up entirely. 10.5 percent had given up on ever being able to pay a medical bill.

The burden was heaviest on “near-poor” families: those earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to cover their medical bills or buy health insurance. The Affordable Care Act sought to address this gap by requiring the expansion of Medicaid, but the Supreme Court struck down that part of the law in 2012.

Click through our photo gallery for more on the impact of higher health care costs. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Does today’s fact affect your views on Medicaid?

Some Americans Not Using Banks To Manage Money

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Nearly half of low-income U.S. households—those making less than $15,000 a year—don’t regularly use banks. African-Americans, Hispanics and young people are also less likely to rely on banks. They’re more likely to use cash, money orders, and alternatives like payday loans and pawnshops.

In 2011, 8.2 percent of U.S. households had no bank account at all. Just over 20 percent were considered “underbanked” – meaning they held an account, but also used alternative financial providers.

Most people who don’t bank say they do not have enough money to open an account. Others say they don’t trust banks or can’t afford the service fees.

Watch our video for more on banking and those who live without it. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What positives or negatives do you see in this fact? Should Americans without bank accounts be encouraged to open them?

BRIC Nations Catching Up To US Economy

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

The United States still has the world’s top-ranked economy, but the BRIC nations are coming up fast.

Strong competition is coming from the thriving economies of the four BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China. China, now ranked third, is projected to take the top spot by 2050, knocking the U.S. down to number two. India would follow in the third slot.

Helping these nations surge ahead: cheap labor rates. A 2010 survey found the average Chinese worker earned just $1.06 an hour. Compare that to $34.74 an hour – the average paid by American employers.

Check out our infographic for more on the shifting balance of global trading power. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Are you troubled by the prospect of America as number two – or lower? What can the U.S. do to be more competitive?

More older Americans remain on the job

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400

More Americans are holding down jobs into their older years. 40.2 percent of people 55 and older remained in the workforce in 2011. That’s their highest participation rate since 1960.

In 1990 just 30.1 percent of Americans 55 and up were working – the lowest percentage on record. The upward trend since is fueled by improved health, longer life expectancy and more women in the workplace as well as economic necessity. It kept rising during the recession, despite higher levels of unemployment and longer spells of joblessness among older workers.

Government statisticians project 43 percent of Americans 55 and up will still be working in 2020.

Check out our infographic for more on older Americans at work. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion. What qualities do older workers bring to the workplace? Do you plan to work longer than you have to?

Young people hit hard by unemployment with jobless figures much higher than the national average

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

We’ve told you before about the racial disparities that exist in unemployment. Today, we’re looking at age – specifically how unemployment is particularly rough on the young.

The unemployment rate for those 20 to 24 years old stood at 14.4 percent at the end of 2011, when the national rate was 8.5 percent.

And very few of these young jobless folks collect unemployment – about 1 in 10. Many are disqualified at the state level because they are recent graduates or because they left work to attend school.

We have a video today with more on the challenges for young job hunters. Please watch it, and read “What Do Others Say?” for more views. Then add to the discussion below. Why is it so hard for young people to get jobs?

Job Growth Sectors in America Health Care, Hospitality, Professional Services amid high unemployment

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Unemployment remains historically high, but some sectors are booming. Which are healthiest? Health care added more jobs than any other sector in 2011, with 350,300. Next were food service and accommodation (273,700) and professional and technical services (246,200). The federal government expects health care to have gained a total of 5.6 million jobs by 2020.

The average annual wage nationally was $45,230 in 2011. But if you were working in the fastest-growing categories, you may have earned more: $47,550 for health care on average, $59,280 for professional services.

Where you live may have helped or hurt your employment odds, too. In 2011 33 states had unemployment rates below the national average of 8.9 percent. North Dakota was lowest at 3.5 percent; Nevada was worst off at 13.5 percent.

Today’s video is worth sharing with the jobseekers you know. Check it out, then help build today’s discussion. Do you think the average American is equipped to move into the kinds of jobs you see available? If not, what do we do about it?

Earning Power Increasing For Women, Falling For Men

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Adjust the numbers for inflation, and men today earn less, on average, than when Jimmy Carter was president.

In 1979, the median weekly wage for males 16 and up was worth $844 in today’s dollars. In 2011, that wage was $832. Young men 16 to 24 took the worst hit, going from $566 a week in 1979 to $455 in 2011.

But women made significant gains. In 1979, females 16 and up earned an inflation-adjusted median weekly wage of $526. In 2011? $684.

What’s going on here? See our infographic for more on what we all get paid. Click through “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Why do you think men’s real earnings are in decline?

401(k)s Rapidly Replacing Traditional Pensions

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The traditional pension plan is getting scarcer in corporate America. That’s the employer-sponsored plan that guarantees workers a fixed sum every month for the duration of their retirement. Replacing it is the 401(k) funded by employees themselves, though employers often match some contributions.

In 1989-1990, 42 percent of full-time private employees had traditional pension plans. In 2011 it was down to 22 percent.

In 1989-1990, 40 percent of such workers had 401(k)-type plans. By 2011, 401(k) participation grew to 50 percent – twice the workers with traditional pensions.

Check out our infographic for more on traditional pensions’ slow fade. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What kind of plan do you have? Are you satisfied?

Social Security Paid Out to Millionaires

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

You don’t have to need Social Security benefits to collect them: every eligible American can collect benefits at retirement, and that includes millionaires. In 2010, 47,535 millionaires received Social Security benefits totaling $1.438 billion. The maximum benefit is $2,533 a month, or $30,396 a year.

The median income of all SS recipients 65 or older is $26,000. 27 percent of recipients have income of less than $15,000.

People who earn higher salaries in their working years benefit more from Social Security. The higher the payroll tax contribution, the greater the benefits at retirement.

Check out our infographic for more on how Social Security benefits are distributed. See “What Do Others Say?” for more opinion, then add to the discussion below. Is the current system fair? Should more affluent Americans get reduced benefits despite greater contributions to the system?

Afghanistan Withdrawal Leaves Question Of What To Do With Equipment

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

There’s a plan to have most U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but no call yet on what to do with the 750,000 pieces of major military hardware in country – hardware worth $36 billion.

Planners have three basic options. Leave the equipment—or destroy it—in Afghanistan; move it to other U.S. military locations; or transfer it to another U.S. agency or another country. The estimated cost for the latter two: $5.7 billion.

We’re talking about aircraft, trucks, armored vehicles and more, mostly controlled by the Army.

Transport is hard in landlocked, mountainous Afghanistan. But leaving it behind intact means the wrong hands could get hold of it. So is it best to torch $36 billion in U.S. assets?

Click through our photo gallery for more on this expensive dilemma. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. What do you think the military should do?

Small Banks Hit Hard During Recession

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The recession was especially unkind to small community banks. About 85 percent of banks that failed 2008-2011 were considered small, with assets below $1 billion. The majority were concentrated in ten states led by Georgia and Florida.

Smaller banks tend to have a larger portfolio of small business loans, therefore increased risk. But smaller banks also tend to get involved in local community development and philanthropy.

Check out our video for more on small banks and their special vulnerabilities. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are bigger banks better? Is there a role for smaller banks in today’s economy?

25% of the def budget pays for personnel. Active duty force up 4%, compensation up 28% since 2000

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Personnel costs consume about a quarter of the U.S. defense budget -- $153 billion in fiscal 2012. U.S. military personnel costs alone exceed the entire military budget of any other country in the world.

Salaries and health care are the two biggest elements of that $153 billion. Military pay ranges from $17,892 for the greenest private to $230,879 for a four-star general.

While the active duty force has grown only 4 percent since 2000, compensation costs are up 28 percent. The cause is mostly health care costs, which have doubled for the Pentagon since 2001.

Today’s infographic fills you in on the price of quality military personnel. Click to see it full-size, then peruse the “What Do Others Say?” section below for views and ideas on maintaining our 21^st century fighting force.

Federal Contractors profit from war on terror

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been a boon to defense contractors. Back in 2001, Defense Department contracts totaled $147.9 billion. After that, contract spending went up every year to a high of $402 billion in 2008. Add up the full decade of post-9/11 spending on defense contractors and it comes to $3.3 trillion – nearly as much as the entire federal government spent in 2012.

These contractors do everything from build ships and warplanes to serve meals to troops abroad.

There are already plans in place to cut back contractor spending, and sequestration could force even deeper cuts if Congress fails to agree on a spending plan by the end of the year.

Check out our infographic for more on contract spending and which companies are profiting. See “What Do Others Say?” for more opinions, then add to the discussion below. Do we need so many contracts? Is this money well spent?

Health Care Exchanges A State By State Proposition

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The Affordable Care Act – health care reform – says every state must offer a health care insurance exchange by January 2014. It’s intended as a marketplace where the uninsured can compare and buy insurance coverage from private companies. Plans must meet minimum standards and cover a range of services, including prescription drugs and mental health treatment.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates up to 25 million people will eventually use them. But states don’t have to run their own exchange; they can step aside and let the federal government do it.

Are you ready to shop for health insurance this way if you have to? Check out our infographic for more on health care exchanges. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Do you think the system will be ready on schedule as promised?

States Reaping Rewards of Legalizing Gambling

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The 43 states that run lotteries made $17.7 billion from the sale of tickets in 2010. That’s because Americans spent $53 billion buying lottery tickets. Casino and race track betting meant another $7 billion to states in 2011.

The lure of such cash has been too tempting for most states, despite critics who say gambling preys on the disadvantaged and addicted. Legal gambling of some sort now exists in every state but Hawaii and Utah. Four states had lottery profits top $1 billion in 2010: New York, Florida, California and Texas.

Click through our photo gallery for more on lotteries and other legalized gambling. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. How do you feel about legalized gambling? Is it an appropriate state revenue source?

Majority Of Commuters Still Driving Each Day

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Americans may hate rush-hour traffic, but not enough to give up their cars. Latest figures available show more than three-quarters of commuters drive to work alone.

Suburbanites are the most likely solo commuters -- 81.5 percent of them drive alone. Overall, 86 percent of commuters drive themselves in cars, trucks or vans. Only 5 percent use public transportation. Fewer still walk or ride bicycles.

Hispanics are most likely to carpool. 16.5 percent of them do so – compared to 9.5 percent for non-Hispanics. 11.5 percent of African-Americans use public transportation, the most of any ethnic group.

Please watch our video on rush-hour commuting. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What would it take to get more Americans to try carpools or public transportation?

Plan to retire with health insurance? Fewer employers providing post-work benefits @facefactsusa

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Companies offering health benefits to their retirees are an increasingly endangered species. In 2011, only 26 percent of large firms (200 employees or more) offered retirees health insurance. In 1988, it was 66 percent. During that 23-year period, total funds spent on health care in the US skyrocketed from $582 billion to $2.59 trillion.

In today’s infographic, see what General Motors spent on health coverage in one recent year – and what it did to the MSRPs of GM cars. In “What Do Others Say?”, dig into the range of views on this issue. Whose problem is health coverage for retirees? Former employers, retirees themselves, the government, or some other party? Weigh in below.

Fact: Pentagon health care costs triple over decade, to $53 billion in 2011.

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Health care costs for the Department of Defense have nearly tripled in the last decade, from $19 billion in 2001 to $53 billion in 2011. The cost of DOD’s health care plan, called TRICARE, exceeds the entire foreign affairs and assistance budget of the US State Department. Military personnel receive free health care; civilian DOD employees pay $250 a year. Starting in October 2012, retirees and dependents pay an annual fee of $260 for an individual, $520 for a family.

How does that compare to the average private insurance deal? Click on today’s infographic for more. Check out “What Do Others Say?’ below for views on health care costs, then add your own to our discussion thread. What should people pay toward their own coverage, in or out of uniform?

Cancer Tops Other Conditions For Federal Funding

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The federal government spends billions each year on medical research. In 2012, the National Institutes of Health budgeted $16.5 billion to study 233 medical conditions and diseases.

The largest portion was set aside for cancer research – $5.4 billion. Heart disease accounted for $1.2 billion.

Less deadly afflictions received much lower funding for research, though many affect a high number of people. Alzheimer’s disease received $498 million. Depression? $426 million. Even certain specific cancers received greater funding than some common conditions. For example, research into prostate cancer received $285 million, while autism research got just $169 million.

Check out our infographic for more on where federal dollars are going for medical research. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What’s your reaction to how the funding pie is split? Is there a better way to slice it?

Child Poverty Rates On The Rise

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The recession has hit American children hard. The percentage of U.S. children living in poverty has risen 37 percent over the past decade – to 15.6 million today. That’s more than 1 out of every 5 kids.

The numbers are worse for African-American children; 38.6 percent of them are poor. 33.7 percent of Hispanic children live in poverty. Children of single moms of any color are four times more likely than their peers to be poor.

These kids tend to have a tougher time later, displaying more behavioral difficulties and achieving less educational success.

Check out our infographic for more on childhood poverty. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Are there any good answers? What’s the effect on our country of so many poor kids?

High School Graduation Rate Improving, Cities Remain A Problem

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

High school graduation rates are up. 78.2 percent of U.S. high school students received diplomas in the 2009-2010 school year. That’s a big improvement from 2002 levels, when 71.7 percent of high school students graduated. Still, more than two in ten high school students drop out.

Looking state-by-state, Iowa posts the most impressive graduation rate – 88 percent for the 2010-2011 school year. Wisconsin and Vermont were close behind at 87 percent. Lowest graduation rates were in Nevada at 62 percent and Washington, DC, at 59 percent. Urban areas graduate a lower percentage than rural and suburban communities.

Click through our photo gallery for more on high school graduation rates. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Do the numbers surprise you? Could anything be done to improve graduation rates?

Student Debt Piles Up As College Costs Rise, Jobs Become Scarce

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

More students are borrowing to finance college degrees. Outstanding student debt hit $914 billion in 2012. That’s up nearly 280 percent since 2003. 14.4 percent of that debt is past due.

Student debt is now second only to mortgages as an overall household liability – eclipsing even credit card debt, which totals $672 billion. Student loans are also the only form of household debt that has increased since the recession. All other types have gone down.

The average 2012 college graduate owes $28,720 in student loans. Repayment is a problem for some as entry-level jobs are scarce. 53 percent of recent graduates are either unemployed or unable to find full-time work.

See and share our video on student loan debt. Check out “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Is a college degree still worth this kind of borrowing?

Teachers In Minority-Heavy Classrooms Make Less On Average

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Across the country the pattern recurs: Teachers working with high-minority populations take a hit in the paycheck.

U.S. Department of Education data from 2010 shows elementary school teachers who worked in schools with the highest African-American and Hispanic enrollment earned an average $2,251 less per year than teachers in the same district with the fewest minority students.

At the high school level, the largest pay gap in 2012 was found in the Philadelphia School District, where teachers with the highest African-American and Hispanic populations were paid $14,699 less than teachers in schools with the fewest minorities.

Teachers in high-minority schools are nearly twice as likely to be in the early years of their careers, though, and on lower rungs of the salary ladder.

Check out our infographic for more on pay for teachers who serve minorities. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views. Then add to the discussion below. Is this pay gap cause for concern? Should school districts address it?

STEM degrees – which bring the highest salaries – were only 10.7 of 2009 college diplomas.

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:02:00 -0500

To what extent does a college degree mean richer paydays? The degrees associated with the highest paychecks – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or “STEM” degrees – accounted for only 10.7 percent of diplomas awarded in 2009. Whites received 57.3 percent of these promising degrees but went on to occupy 72 percent of STEM jobs; whites account for 68 percent of the U.S. workforce. Asians account for 5 percent of the U.S. workforce, but earned 9.5 percent of STEM degrees and hold 14 percent of STEM jobs. How much more of a salary do STEM degrees mean?

Click on today’s infographic to find out. Then please check out the range of opinion we’ve assembled for you under “What Do Others Say?” What do you think? What should a college education mean today – financially and otherwise?

Gender wage gap impacts female Soc Sec benefits. Avg female earns $300 less/mth than male retiree

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The average female retiree on Social Security gets a monthly benefit $300 smaller than the average male retiree. Because retirement benefits are tied to average lifetime earnings, and women have tended to earn less than men, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $1,023 for women, $1,323 for men. The difference -- $300 – is about what the average American household spends on groceries per month.

Women accounted for 56 percent of Social Security beneficiaries in 2010.

Today’s infographic lays out some of the gender-gap issues facing retirees, and in “What Do Others Say?” you’ll find diverse views on the retirement, fairness, and poverty. Chip into today’s discussion thread: is the benefits gap in today’s fact surprising to you? Do you think anything should be done about it?

Only Minority Of Farm Bill Money Goes To Farms

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The federal government has a long history of helping farmers, subsidizing those who agree to grow certain crops and helping to cover losses during bad years. It’s been going on since the heyday of FDR’s New Deal in 1933.

But the most recent Farm Bill shows the bulk of its $96.2 billion cost went elsewhere. $77.6 billion in 2011 went to the food stamp program known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Just $13.44 billion went to programs for farmers.

Current funding has been extended through the end of 2013, while Congress considers a new Farm Bill. Budget concerns have legislators again taking aim at the farm bill and the programs it funds. There’ a move in the Senate to completely eliminate farm subsidies.

Check out today's slideshow for more on Farm Bill politics. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How do you feel about agriculture subsidies? Is the Farm Bill still worthy of the name?

Marriage, Despite Small Decline, Still Popular In US

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The tradition of marriage is alive and well in the United States, though the numbers are slightly down.

2.1 million couples exchanged vows in 2010. That’s 5,750 weddings each day. Back in 2000, there were 2.3 million marriages.

Both women and men are waiting slightly longer to marry. In 2011, the median age for women tying the knot was 26.9. Back in 2008, it was 26.2. The median age for men in 2011 was 28.9, up from 28 in 2008.

Breakups are also a constant. In 2009, the Census Bureau found that 9.2 of every 1,000 men got a divorce. 9.7 of every 1,000 women got a divorce that year.

Click through our photo gallery for more on marriage in America. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. How do you like these trends?

Duplicate Spending By Pentagon Costs Billions

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

In this era of deficit debates and possible automatic budget cuts, a federal watchdog agency has identified billions of Pentagon dollars wasted through overlapping programs.

Examples from a 2012 Government Accountability Office report include parallel research and development by the various military branches on thwarting improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The GAO says this overlap cost more than $58 billion through 2011.

Aerial drone systems were also cited. Each of the four services adopts unique unmanned aircraft systems rather than sharing technology. These parallel systems are costing $37.5 billion from 2012 to 2016 – much of it wasted, according to the GAO.

Check out our infographic for more on DOD spending. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Might the threat of automatic budget cuts alter Pentagon practices?

How The State of The Union Evolved As A Tradition

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Barack Obama delivers another State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 12, 2013. Technically, though, he could just fire off an email. The Constitution mandates that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the State of the Union,” but not how or when. Our first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, delivered speeches. Thomas Jefferson stopped the practice, thinking it looked too much like something a king would do.

For more than 100 years after Jefferson presidents sent written messages to Congress – until Woodrow Wilson revived the live speech in 1913.

The longest SOTU message was William Howard Taft’s 1910 written report totaling 27,651 words. The shortest was George Washington’s 1790 speech: at 1,089 words.

Our photo gallery gives more fun facts on presidential State of the Union messages. Have a look, then add to the discussion below. What’s the value of this yearly tradition? Do you think a good speech leads to the success of a president’s agenda?

More Americans Facing Debt Collectors

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Despite the recession’s end and an improving economy, more Americans are facing debt collectors.

In 2012, 14 percent of Americans owed past-due debt that had been referred to collection agencies. The amount owed averaged $1,546. Compare that to 2003, when 9 percent of Americans owed overdue debt averaging just under $1,000.

More individuals fell behind even though overall household debt is falling nationwide.

See our infographic to see more about who owes what. See “What Do Others Say?” for more on the topic, then add to the discussion below. Are you surprised? Why do you think delinquent debt is going up?

The US Postal Service operates the largest civilian fleet on earth, but is on track to lose $14.1b

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

See that little white truck out front by the mailboxes? There’s more where it came from. In fact, the United States Postal Service operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet on earth. 213,881 vehicles were driven 4 million miles per day in 2011 to deliver 554 million pieces of mail. But mail volume and revenue have been in decline since 2006 and the Post Office, which gets no government subsidies, is on track to lose $14.1 billion in fiscal 2012.

The Postal Service had 546,000 employees in 2011, the same staffing level it reported in 1983, and operated nearly 32,000 retail offices. At 45 cents, a first-class postage stamp remains a bargain compared to some other countries: in Denmark, equivalent postage costs $1.46.

Roll today’s video for more on the dilemmas facing the 21^st century Postal Service. In a world where e-everything replaces more paper each day, what’s the future of a national postal service? What, if anything, should be done at a policy level to keep our millions of non-Internet users “connected”? Deliver your opinions below.

Fact: US Dept of Defense is the world’s biggest landlord: 5k sites in 41 countries, 2 mil work!

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Move over, Donald Trump and Ted Turner. The Department of Defense is the world’s top property owner with holdings around the world – a fact relevant amid election-year debate about the size and role of our military.

In the United States alone, DOD occupies 1.9 billion square feet of office space – about three times the floor space of all the nation’s Walmart stores, or 10 times the office space in all of Los Angeles. Worldwide, DOD has more than 2 million people working on 5,000 sites in 41 countries. (Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, has 1.4 million workers.)

Today’s video has more on the world’s biggest landlord. Take a look, share it with a friend in uniform, then consider the size and scope of today’s military in our discussion thread below.

Some Dietary Supplements May Be Making Questionable Health Claims

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Dietary supplements are big business – a $20 billion+ industry in the United States. Tens of thousands of products line the shelves of grocery, drug and health food stores – with about 1,000 new choices introduced each year.

But the US government says up to a fifth of supplements make questionable claims – and it’s identified some 300 diet products as outright fraudulent.

We have a special video today on dietary supplements. Watch it, share it, see “What Do Others Say?” for more on the diet industry, then add to the discussion below. What do you think? Is more regulation needed, or are market forces enough?

Billions in Tax Dollars Lost Through Payment Mistakes

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Mistakes can add up. Improper payments by the federal government amounted to $115 billion in 2011. That’s down slightly from 2010, but up nearly threefold from the $45 billion lost in 2004.

The increase also comes despite several legislative attempts to clamp down on payments made in error and even get them returned.

Two of the programs most prone to payment error are Medicare and unemployment insurance.

Check out our infographic for more on federal overpayments. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. What is the answer to so much federal waste?

State Budgets In Trouble With Federal Aid Cuts Approaching

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Since the recession, states coping with sagging tax revenue have become increasingly reliant on federal funds. Back in 2008, federal dollars accounted for 26.3 percent of total state budgets. By 2011, it was up to 34.1 percent.

The stimulus package was behind much of the increase, but that federal largesse is ending. State funding is further threatened by possible federal “fiscal cliff” cuts.

Some states rely more than others on government spending. The economies of West Virginia, Alaska, Wyoming and Mississippi are most reliant on government money. Nevada, Texas, Illinois and Connecticut are least reliant.

Check out our infographic for more on how states depend on federal funds. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you worried about your state taking care of itself?

Some Government Spending Exempt From Sequester

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The threat of “sequestration” – automatic spending reductions that kick in unless a budget deal is struck – hovers over Washington. But it’s worth pointing out that several high-cost programs are exempt.

$54.7 billion would come out of Pentagon spending for 2013. But members of the military need not worry about their income. Military pay is exempt from sequestration.

Another $54.7 billion must be cut from other discretionary programs. But you won’t see it come from Social Security or Medicaid; both are protected. Veterans’ benefits and food stamps are also exempt.

Check out our infographic for more programs that are exempt or get only limited sequestration cuts. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Do you agree these programs should be exempt? Is it fair to shift the cuts to other programs?

Mandatory Spending: More than 55 percent of all federal spending occurs without congressional debate or vote

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

More than half of all federal spending occurs automatically, without any congressional debate or vote. 55.5 percent of the federal budget, about $2 trillion, is so-called “mandatory” spending – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. Actual spending levels are determined by the number of people who qualify for benefits, not Congressional action. “Discretionary” spending – programs actually approved by Congress each year, from defense to education to Amtrak – accounts for less than 45 percent of the budget.

Our infographic has more stats. Check it out, then dig into how federal spending really works by browsing “What Do Others Say?” And add to the discussion below: how do you feel about the hands-off “mandatory” spending mechanism?

US Auto Industry Is Back But Jobs Are Not

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500

No doubt about it, the U.S. auto industry is back – producing more cars and posting profits – three and a half years after an $80 billion government bailout. What’s missing from the resurgence is substantial growth in assembly-line jobs.

At its peak point of employment in October 2004, the U.S. auto industry counted more than one million workers. During the recession, employment slipped and by 2009, it had dropped to 622,700 workers.

Since that low point, output has increased significantly, but employment only slightly. The most recent data from 2011 shows 700,900 workers employed.

Check out our photo gallery for more on employment in the auto industry. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What do you think accounts for this lag in job growth?

One Gun Per Capita In The United States

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Politics and controversy aside, it is clear guns occupy a deep and generally accepted role in the social fabric of the United States.

The number of guns in the U.S. has increased by more than 60 percent since 1994. Latest figures show there are 310 million guns in this country of 307 million people. That’s more than one gun per person.

But that doesn’t mean most people have guns. More than half of all households say they do not own guns. Most households with weapons own multiple guns.

Check out our special video today for more on gun ownership in America. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. What do you think about today’s fact? Do Americans have a healthy relationship with guns?

Gun Sale Background Checks Rarely Denied For Mental Illness

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Mandatory background checks on would-be gun purchasers have identified relatively few with histories of mental illness – perhaps owing in part to lack of data.

Between 1998 and 2009, 95 million potential buyers’ records were scanned. Just 0.03 percent were denied a gun over mental illness concerns.

An inadequate database might explain the slim findings. Money is one issue. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) struggles with dwindling funding.

Lax state participation is another issue. About half the states have not supplied their records, though participation increased following the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. After that incident, with more data to review, NICS files flagged for mental concerns increased from 175,000 to 400,000. By 2010, the number was up to 859,000. Since the recent shootings in Newtown, Connecticut background checks have skyrocketed.

Check out our infographic for more on the challenges of identifying mental illness in background checks. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How can we make a system already in place work more effectively?

Gun Murders In Decline Overall Despite Mass Shootings

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

While many horrified Americans reacted to recent high-profile shooting massacres with calls for new gun controls, gun-related homicides have declined recently.

Gun-related homicides went down from 6.6 per 100,000 Americans in 1993, to 3.6 per 100,000 in 2000, to 3.2 per 100,000 in 2011. The downward trend continued without any new federal gun control laws.

Gun suicides far outnumber gun homicides. In 2009, there were 18,735 suicides and 11,493 murders using firearms.

Check out our infographic for more on gun-related killings. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to our discussion below. Are you surprised by today’s fact? Do you think more gun laws would mean fewer homicides?

Illegal Immigration Concentrated In Specific States

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

In the decade ending in 2011, an estimated three million new illegal immigrants joined the U.S. population. That brought the nation’s illegal immigrant total to 11.5 million.

California, Texas and Florida continue to have the largest concentrations of illegal immigrants, but other states are experiencing rapid growth. Georgia saw a 95 percent increase in unauthorized immigrants. North Carolina’s illegal population grew 53 percent.

Florida experienced an 8 percent decline in illegals during the decade but still ranks third overall.

Our infographic on illegal immigration has more, including the top ten states where illegals reside. See “What Do Others Say?” for a range of views, then add to the discussion below. What do you make of the shifts in immigrant population? Does the U.S. need comprehensive immigration reform?

One in ten of America’s 605,000 bridges were structurally deficient in 2011.

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

More than one in ten of America’s 605,000 bridges were classified as “structurally deficient” in 2011. 67,000 spans were restricted to light vehicles, in need of immediate repair, or outright closed. The federal government put $27.5 billion in stimulus money towards transportation infrastructure upgrades, but wait till you see how far it went… or didn’t.

Click on the infographic to see the full story – and how the Federal Highway Administration estimates the current critical need.

You can check on the state of bridges that you drive by using Transportation for America’s lookup by zipcode or address: http://t4america.org/resources/bridges/

Americans drive twice as much, spend twice as much time in traffic than they did in 1980.

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Americans drive nearly twice as many miles as they did in 1980, but miles of public roads have barely increased (6 percent). Simply maintaining those roads in their current state costs $101 billion a year. Drivers log an average of 13,476 miles per year, or 37 miles a day. The number of Americans with driver’s licenses increased 45 percent, from 145 million in 1980 to 210 million in 2010. We spend more than twice as much time in traffic congestion – 14 hours per year in 1982 to 34 per year in 2010.

15 Percent of US Households Are Food Insecure

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

We’ve addressed the recession’s impact on poverty. Hunger is directly related. Nearly 15 percent of U.S. households were defined as “food insecure” in 2011. That means they skipped meals, cut back on the quality and quantity of food, or relied on emergency sources. Food insecurity spiked as the recession took hold in 2007 and has not receded.

Minority households were more than twice as likely to be food insecure as white families.

57 percent of food insecure households said they relied on at least one of the three biggest federal food programs – SNAP (food stamps), WIC (aid to low-income women, infants and children), and reduced-cost or free school lunches.

Check out our infographic for more details. See “What Do Others Say?” for more on hunger in America, then add to the discussion below. What do you think the government’s role should be in addressing this issue? How do you feel about the funding assigned to food programs?

Made in America Clothing Declines

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Go look through your closet. Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia… it’s getting harder and harder to find clothing with “Made in America” labels. Blame cheaper offshore labor. Between 2005 and 2011, employment in the U.S. textile and apparel industry fell by 40 percent. 643,601 workers dwindled to just 388,864. 565 U.S. textile mills were shuttered.

Apparel imports 2005-2011 grew from 73 percent to nearly 88 percent of the U.S. market.

International trade agreements opened up markets across the globe. Most countries can manufacture clothing more cheaply than the U.S. Average hourly compensation in the U.S. in 2010 was $34.74 per hour. In China: $1.06 per hour.

Check out our video for more on the decline of the U.S. textile and apparel industry. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Can America compete on a global scale? Is the “Made in America” label destined for obsolescence?

The Differences Between Federal and Private Pay

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The latest figures show the federal government pays its workers 2 percent more, on average, than workers in the private sector. But comparing education levels tells the full story.

Turns out workers with a high school diploma or less do far better with Uncle Sam, earning 21 percent higher pay than counterparts in the private sector. Factor in benefits, and the total compensation package is 36 percent higher.

It’s a different story, though, for workers with professional or doctorate degrees. The private sector pays them 23 percent more than the federal government. Consider the value of benefits and the private sector still pays these educated workers more – by 18 percent.

See our infographic for more on federal vs. private sector pay. Read “What Do Others Say?” for extra perspective, then add to the discussion below. What do you think about the disparities?

The Unpredictable History Of Presidential Inaugurations

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Jan. 21, 2013: The inauguration of President Barack Obama. Jan. 20 is the traditional day to take the oath, but it fell on a Sunday. Obama joined six other presidents in having the ceremony pushed forward one day to Monday.

The U.S. Capitol is the traditional venue, but it wasn’t always. When George Washington was sworn in, the Capitol building didn’t exist; nor did the city of Washington. Thomas Jefferson was the first president to take the oath at a still-incomplete U.S. Capitol in 1801.

Bad weather forced several ceremonies indoors – most recently Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985.

Unusual swearing-in ceremonies have followed presidential deaths. Lyndon Johnson took the oath aboard Air Force One at Love Field in Dallas following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Click through our photo gallery for more on inaugural ritual. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Do you value the pomp and pageantry of modern-day inaugurations?

Now hiring, but not here. Multinationals hired 3.1m overseas while eliminating 1m jobs in US

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

US-based multinational companies eliminated1 million jobs from the US workforce between 1999 and 2010 while adding 3.1 million in other countries. If those companies had kept their domestic hires working instead of laying them off, the US unemployment rate in 2010 would have been 9.0 percent instead of the actual 9.6 percent.

More details in today’s infographic. Check it out, then weigh in down below. What corporate behavior do you favor?

The U.S. has spent more reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan than it did on Germany after World War II

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The United States has invested more reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan than it did rebuilding Germany after World War II. $60.45 billion has been spent in Iraq, more than $100 billion in Afghanistan. For comparison, the U.S. spent less than $35 billion in today’s dollars in Germany from 1946 through 1952. (And Volkswagen began exporting Beetles to American in 1949).

The Iraq expenditure is more than four times the sum committed to Iraq by America’s allies. In Afghanistan stabilization is expected to cost at least $9 billion per year through 2014.

These are reconstruction costs only; the total cost to the U.S. of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts exceeds $1.4 trillion.

We have a slide show for you with more details. Take a look, then consider this question in our discussion thread: are you surprised by these reconstruction costs? What do you expect this spending to achieve?

Key Presidential Veto Power Is Rarely Used

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The presidential veto is key to the federal system of checks and balances – allowing the president to kill legislation he finds objectionable, but still giving Congress final authority if it can muster the votes to override it.

President Obama vetoed just two bills during his first term in office. That’s the fewest since Millard Fillmore held office in the early 1850s. Fillmore did not exercise the veto power at all.

Franklin D. Roosevelt far outpaced other presidents in his use of the veto pen, even considering he served four terms. His 635 vetoes is a White House record. Among more recent office-holders, Ronald Reagan stands out with 78 vetoes on the books over two terms.

Challenging Congress with a veto can be risky. Andrew Johnson vetoed the 1866 civil rights bill granting rights to freed slaves. Not only did Congress override him, it impeached him.

Check out our infographic for more on the presidential veto. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views. Then add to the discussion below. Is the veto an effective counter to legislative power?

White House Tops Public Housing

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The terms “public housing” and “glamorous” rarely appear together. But the White House is one unique example.

President Obama and his family enjoy 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms and 55,000 square feet of living space. The residence has its own swimming pool, movie theater and bowling alley. 96 full-time staffers cook, clean and serve the First Family.

It’s not the biggest house in America, but would be among the most expensive – if it ever hit the market. Real estate experts peg its value at $289 million.

Most Americans live somewhat more modestly. The average single-family home built in 2010 had about 2,400 square feet and a median market value in 2012 of $256,900.

Check out our photo gallery for more White House facts. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How do you feel about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? How important is this symbol of American power?

Presidential Pay Doesn't Stack Up To CEOs

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

It’s pretty clear that no one runs for president for the money. President Obama makes $400,000 a year. Sounds good compared to the average worker, but it’s very low compared to private sector pay for many CEOs.

Take Ford Motor Company president Alan Mulally. He received nearly $29.5 million in salary, bonuses and other perks in 2011. Walmart CEO Michael Duke’s total compensation topped $18 million in 2012.

But next to some other heads of state, President Obama does pretty well. British Prime Minister David Cameron makes about half as much, roughly $225,000 a year.

Check out our infographic for more on presidential pay, here and around the world. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective. Then add to the discussion below. What do you think of the president’s salary? Too low? Too high?

Lobbyists Have Numbers To Influence Congress

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Who speaks for you in Washington? Odds are, at least one lobbyist. For every member of Congress in 2011, there were 23 lobbyists trying to twist their arms. 12,719 of them, and they spent big money: $3.3 billion in 2011, double what they spent just 10 years before.

By far, the single biggest spender in the lobbying game was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which shelled out $66 million. A distant second was General Electric with $26 million.

Looking at whole industries, the pharmaceutical/health products sector far outspent others in 2011 – a critical year when health care reform regulations were being written. The industry spent more than $240 million.

Check out our infographic for more on lobbyists and other big spenders. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views. Then add to the discussion below. Do you think lobbyists play an appropriate role in Washington?

President Obama leads a force of 1.5 million active duty troops

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

President Obama, as commander in chief of the U.S. military, leads a force of 1.5 million active duty troops. That’s less than half the military’s post-World War II peak of 3.6 million during the Korean War in 1952.

The number of active duty service members has declined steadily since the end of the Vietnam War, which also saw an end to the draft and a transition to an all-volunteer force. This smaller force has been stretched thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Troops faced longer deployments and multiple tours of duty to compensate for fewer personnel.

Check out our video for more on the make-up of our military over the years. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to this discussion below. Do you think our current force is adequate to keep the country secure? What do you think about plans to further reduce troop numbers?

The federal government employs 600,000 fewer today than the average for the past 50 yrs

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The federal government employs 600,000 fewer workers today than the average for the past 50 years. In 2011 4.36 million worked for all branches of the federal government, civilian and military. Peak federal employment in the last half century was at the height of the Vietnam War, 1968, with 6.68 million. 2011’s federal workers drew a total of $432.6 billion in compensation. The pay is getting better: in 1964 a larger federal workforce, 5.2 million, earned just $210 billion in inflation-adjusted, 2011-value dollars. But better-educated federal employees (with some advanced professional degree) earn less than their counterparts in the private sector.

Suppose you fired all federal workers – what would the savings do for the budget deficit? Click on today’s infographic to see it full size and find out. Then join the discussion thread below. With all the rhetoric you hear about government growth, does today’s fact surprise you? Weigh in.

32% more Medicare doctors 2000-2010, but 3 out of 10 limit their exposure to Medicare patients

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

There are more Medicare doctors, but more of them are limiting their access to Medicare patients. The number of doctors billing Medicare rose 32 percent between 2000 and 2010, but three out of ten say they restrict the number of Medicare patients they see – because reimbursement rates are too low, the program is an unreliable payor, or both.

So how many Medicare beneficiaries say they have trouble finding care? Today’s full-size infographic has the story; just click above. And us our “What Do Others Say?” section below to get dialed in on the Medicare doctors’ dilemma.

Trucks represent 4.3% of highway vehicles and 10% of total miles traveled

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

There are more big trucks on the road than ever, but the fact is they represent just 4.3 percent of all highway vehicles and 10 percent of total highway miles traveled.

Not all roads are the same, however. Half of all truck miles are on the Interstate highway system. On some heavily traveled stretches, every fourth vehicle is a truck.

In 2010, trucks transported 34.2 million tons of freight around the U.S. every day. These trucks pay extra taxes to offset extra wear and tear on roadways. In 2009, these taxes amounted to $3.2 billion – 11 percent the Federal Highway Trust Fund’s total revenue.

Check out our photo gallery for more on trucking. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you surprised by today’s fact? Do you feel safe sharing the road with these big rigs?

2.5 million mile network of pipelines in US - but how safe?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

A vast 2.5 million mile network of pipelines crisscrosses the United States – transporting hazardous liquid and natural gas products between wells, processing facilities and customers. Most of our domestic energy is delivered this way.

These pipelines are considered safer than train or truck transport – and cause far fewer injuries and death. But there are safety concerns, including terrorism. Pipe ruptures, leaks and explosions in the past decade caused an average of 76 deaths and serious injuries each year. Compare that to the number of U.S. workers killed on the job in 2011: 4,609.

Two developments raise new questions: A boom in natural gas from new-technology shale extraction will add significantly to the pipeline network. And there’s the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which if completed in full would run from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Check out our photo gallery for more on U.S. pipeline safety. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Are you comfortable with these pipelines? Are they safe enough?

There are 4,425 chemical plant facilities labeled as “high risk” by DHS

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Concerns that terrorists could exploit chemical plants led the government to designate 4,425 facilities as “high risk.” High-risk plants make, store or use significant enough amounts of hazardous chemicals to warrant special federal security plans.

But the Department of Homeland Security has approved or conditionally approved new plans for just 73 of these facilities, and inspected and approved implementation for only two.

DHS estimates it needs seven years to inspect and approve them all. But congressional authority for DHS to oversee plant security expires in March 2013 unless Congress votes to fund an extension.

Check out our infographic for more on security at U.S. chemical plants. Read “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. How real is the concern surrounding these plants? Is it worth spending the money to secure them?

The Clean Air Act resulted in significant reductions in air pollutants

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Americans are breathing easier and living healthier lives since the Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970. The government credits the Clean Air Act with significant reductions in air pollutants. Lead is down 83 percent since 1990; sulfur dioxide, down 75 percent; and carbon monoxide, down 73 percent.

Further, the Environmental Protection Agency says the act has led to measurable health benefits for Americans, including fewer missed work days and emergency room visits.

Despite these gains, however, approximately 124 million Americans in 2010 still lived in areas where air pollution exceeded one or more federal standards.

For more on the impact of the Clean Air Act, check out our animated infographic. Make sure to click around and see all its components. Read “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Is this a case of government regulation working right?

Since '09, more than 1,100 new oil rigs have begun pumping in the US, or about 1 new rig per day.

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Since mid-2009, more than 1,100 new oil rigs have begun pumping in the United States, or about one new rig per day. Even though domestic oil production has reached its highest point since 2003, it is still less than one-third of the oil consumed by Americans. Where do we get the rest?

Today’s infographic names our top three foreign suppliers. Check it out above, then join the discussion below. Is energy independence a realistic goal? What do you want?

Annual job growth in renewable energy sector was 3.1% 2003-2010. Oil, natgas, and coal employed 10X as many

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

With gas prices spiking, energy policy is a big election-year talking point. It might surprise you that renewable energy alternatives generate interest and enthusiasm, but comparatively few jobs. From 2003 to 2010, the rate of annual job growth in renewable energy fields was 3.1 percent. Clean energy ventures – hydro power, wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, and more – employed 138,364 people in 2010, compared to 1.3 million working in the oil, natural gas, and coal industries.

Different categories within the green energy sector showed different job growth rates, of course. One healthy one was solar thermal, with 18.4 percent annual job growth. Click on today’s infographic to see it full size, check out job growth in several more categories – and learn which renewable energy category actually saw job loss.

See “What Do Others Say?” for more about why renewables haven’t taken the market by storm. Then give us your own ideas in our daily discussion, below. If the free market seems reluctant to jump into an energy revolution, should policymakers do anything?

How does US unemployment compare to the world?

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Sometimes it’s all about perspective. The U.S. unemployment rate hovered just under 8 percent as 2012 ended, down from its recession peak, but still historically high. Compare that figure to Europe, though; European Union nations averaged 10.6 percent unemployment in September.

The EU nations with the highest current unemployment are Spain at 25.8 percent – and Greece with 25.1 percent.

At the other end of the scale in the EU, the Netherlands posted 5.4 percent unemployment in September. Germany was at 5.8 percent.

Check out our infographic for more stats from around the world. Check out “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Does today’s fact make you feel any better about U.S. unemployment?

High unemployment is costly to federal and state governments

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

High unemployment is proving costly to federal and state governments. They paid out $94 billion in unemployment benefits to jobless workers in fiscal 2012. That’s a lot less than the all-time high of $150 billion in 2010 – but a lot more than the $33 billion paid out in 2007, as the recession was just starting to kick in.

Much of the increased expense came because Congress has approved benefit extensions for the long-term unemployed since the recession. With the extensions, some laid off workers could receive benefits for up to 99 weeks.

The size of the weekly payout depends on where recipients live. In 2012, benefits ranged from a high of $653 in Massachusetts to a low of $235 in Mississippi.

Check out our infographic for more on benefits by state. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Should Congress continue to extend jobless benefits?

The recession has impacted women’s employment rate more than men’s

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

The recession has impacted women’s employment rate more than men’s. 53.2 percent of women had a job in 2011. That’s the lowest level since 1983 – a time when women were much less educated.

Far more women today earn college degrees than men, a trend that began in 1982 and has continued to rise ever since. In 2010, women earned 57 percent of all bachelor’s degrees.

Despite the degree deficit, 63.9 percent of men were employed in 2011.

Women have made some strides in closing the wage gap. In 2010, women earned 81 percent of what men did – up from 62 percent in 1979.

Check out our infographic for more on women in the workforce. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What do you think accounts for the gap between male and female employment rates?

28 straight years of warmer average temperatures

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:01:00 -0500

Much controversy surrounds the topic of global warming to be sure. But this fact is clear: Global temperatures have not dipped below average since 1985. That’s more than 330 months in a row. No one younger than 28 has ever seen a month in which global temperatures were below average.

Looking just at the U.S. climate, January-October 2012 were the warmest first 10 months of any year in U.S. history, with temperatures 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20^th century average of 55 degrees.

See our photo gallery for more on temperature trends. See “What Do Others Say?” for other perspectives on climate change, then add to the discussion below. Are you concerned about rising temperatures?

Americas are spending more on alcohol, but drinking less

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:01:00 -0500

Cheers! Alcohol in America is big business. We spent $162 billion buying beer, wine and liquor in 2011. That’s in line with a generally steady incline in alcohol spending ever since Prohibition ended, though sales fell briefly during the recession.

While overall sales are on the rise, Americans as a whole are drinking less. In 1980, per person consumption was 28.5 gallons of alcohol. By 2008, that volume was down to 25.7 gallons. This decrease reflects a decline in beer and liquor consumption. Wine drinking rose during this period.

We have a special video with more on alcohol in America. Check it out, read “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. What do you think about this fact? Do Americans have a healthy relationship with alcohol?

Prescription painkiller overdoses kill more than heroin & cocaine combined! Painkiller use tripled 1991-2010

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:01:00 -0500

Prescriptions for painkilling drugs have nearly tripled in two decades, and unintentional overdose deaths from these drugs now exceed those from heroin and cocaine combined.

Back in 1991, 75.5 million painkiller prescriptions were written in the United States. In 2010 it was up to 209.5 million. That was enough to medicate the entire American adult population for one month. The pharmaceutical industry estimates painkiller spending rose from $6.7 billion in 2007 to $8.3 billion in 2011.

Methadone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone were the legal prescriptions that caused the most overdose deaths.

Today’s infographic has more details. Check it out, then drop into our discussion. Why do you think prescription painkiller use has risen so much? Should action be taken?

Raising a baby born in 2011 to age 17 will cost $234k. Not counting college! #parenting

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:05:00 -0500

It will cost a middle-income family $234,900 to raise a child born in 2011 from infancy through age 17. If mom and dad foot the bill for four years of college, add another $68,524 for a public school education and $154,356 for private college. Without college, the cost of raising a child in a middle-income family rose from $216,505 in 2001 to $234,900 in 2011, an 8.5 percent increase.

What were the biggest factors making child-raising more costly? Today’s infographic has more details. Check it out above, then join our daily discussion below. What expenses do you think are required, and what’s optional?

The foreign-born population is rising in the US

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 00:01:00 -0500

America was built by immigrants who converged from around the world looking for a better life. But today the United States is far from the world’s most diverse “melting pot.” Luxembourg takes that title, with 36.9 percent of its population being foreign-born in 2009. The U.S. ranked 13^th in 2009, with 12.7 percent of its people born elsewhere.

The foreign-born population is rising in the U.S., however, and has been growing steadily over the past two decades. 53 percent of those new residents hail from Latin America. More than 28 percent come from Asia.

Check out our infographic for more “melting pot” demographics. See “What Do Others Say?” for additional perspective, then add to the discussion below. How important is diversity? Does it matter where our immigrants come from?

A signs of recovery, Americans are dining out more

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:01:00 -0500

In another sign of our recovering economy, Americans are visiting restaurants more often. Government figures show the average household spent $2,620 dining out in 2011 – nearly as much as in the record year of 2008, when it spent $2,698.

The jobs forecast for the restaurant industry is good. Food preparation and service positions are projected to increase 12 percent by 2020.

One-third of all restaurants nationwide are franchises.

Click through our photo gallery for more on America’s fondness for dining out. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you joining the trend? Why or why not?

Will we still give to charity if the tax deductions go away?

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:01:00 -0500

Americans are historically charitable at the end of a calendar year. It’s no mystery why; those contributions are then claimed as tax deductions.

Charities took in $317 billion from all sources in 2009. Individual Americans gave $170 billion to charities in 2008. Donation levels vary widely, depending on household income and even what part of the country you live in. At the uppermost reaches of individual donors, for example, you’ll find Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who gave $372 million to charities in 2011.

This “win-win” arrangement for charities and taxpayers is under renewed scrutiny, however – as Congress seeks more revenue. Those tax deductions are estimated to save Americans about $40 billion that would otherwise go to Uncle Sam.

Check out our infographic for more on charitable giving. See “What Do Others Say?” for more perspective, then add to the discussion below. Should Congress eliminate tax breaks for charitable donations? Would Americans continue to be as generous if it does?