Criminal Justice – the US imprisons more people than any nation on earth, and poverty and race are significant factors in a person’s likelihood of arrest, charge, conviction and severity of punishment. Gun Violence – The U.S. leads the developed world in firearm-related murders, and the difference isn’t a slight gap – more like a chasm. Healthcare – A study last year found that in many American counties, especially in the deep South, life expectancy is lower than in Algeria, Nicaragua or Bangladesh. The U.S. is the only developed country that does not guarantee health care to its citizens. Education – The U.S. is among only three nations in the world that does not guarantee paid maternal leave (the other two are Papua New Guinea and Swaziland). This means many poor American mothers must choose between raising their children and keeping their jobs.The Department of Education has confirmed that schools with high concentrations of poor students have lower levels of funding. Inequality – as explored in this piece. You can read more on US inequality here. Infrastructure – The United States infrastructure is slowly crumbling apart and is in desperate need for repair. One study estimates that the nation’s infrastructure system needs a $3.6 trillion investment over the next six years. There is no sign of where this money is going to come from as the state prioritizes business-friendly policies of tax cuts and corporate subsidies, while the private sector refuses to invest outside of narrow and short term profit interests.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:28:29 +0000
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