Friday, October 5, 2012

A Report Card for America

"Surf Study" by Rufus Coes
It's odd that the relative health of our nation is continually measured by such standards as the number of housing starts, the rate of unemployment and the amount of retail sales at malls across America. Are those indicators really the best way to determine the success or failure of a society?

Today President Obama, eager to erase his dismal debate performance of two nights ago from 67 million minds, is celebrating a dip in the number of jobless since last month. (Never mind the fact that it's partly due to many people giving up looking for work, since fudging the truth is de riguer for politicians, whatever their party affiliation.) What he doesn't say is that the incidence of suicide has risen steadily since 2008, just about the start of his administration. What he also doesn't say is that obesity among adults and children continues to increase, leading some experts to suggest that by 2050, an enormous percentage of Americans — perhaps approaching 100% — will be overweight or obese. What about heart disease and diabetes since Obama took office--up or down? How many children have been abducted, how many random shooting sprees have killed how many people? When will those facts be discussed by our esteemed Leader of the Free World? Seems to me the health of any nation should be determined by the mental and physical health of its citizens, not by how much money they take in or shell out.

Nevertheless, in the interest of stimulating the economy and making one particular artist happier and one gallery owner that much closer to meeting her monthly expenses, my husband and I have done our part by purchasing the beautiful painting shown above. It's not fattening, yet quite delicious.

1 comment:

  1. I was offended by Romney's remarks, "I would like to choose which health care insurance I want".....how can he not see that MANY people cannot afford ANY of the choices that he has. If Obama would get less oppostition he could make MORE health care reform to offer the American people the right to health care. I like the idea of government helping out in this area. Prisons are NOT good substitutes for Mental Health facilities.

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