Startling statistics

Here are some statistics about which I do NOT feel pride:

• Percentage tax rate that Goldman Sachs paid on its profits for year 2008: 0.6
• Chance that a child in the United States will be on food stamps at some point during his or her upbringing: 1 in 2
• Percentage of Republican voters who say they would seriously consider voting for Palin for President: 65
• Percentage who think she is qualified for the job: 58
• Ratio of the minimum number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles to the number of Starbucks: 4:1
• Percentage of Americans who think that women are more "intelligent" and "honest" than men, respectively: 38, 50
• Percentage who think they make better political leaders: 6 </ul>

  (Selections from the Harper's Index for February (not yet on-line)