One of my favorite reads every month is Harper’s Magazine, and in particular, “Harper’s Index.” The Index is a collection of data that is legitimate, sourced, and sometimes so strange that it will make you think you’ve stumbled upon a special insert from The Onion.
I found the May edition particularly useful in laying out the American economic and political landscape, just as the next gaggle of Presidential hopefuls begins to assemble.
Just Another Reason Ayn Rand Wouldn’t Be Elected President Right Now:
Percentage of Americans in 2009 who believed the free market “is the best system on which to base the future of the world”: 74
Percentage of Americans who believe so today: 59
Percentage of Chinese who do: 67
Why a Republican May Not Be Elected President, Either:
Percentage of Republicans who said in March that they fear that ACORN will steal the 2012 election for Obama: 25
Date on which ACORN shut down: 11/2/10
Why Ira Glass May Have a Tough Uphill Battle:
Amount of federal money that went to National Public Radio in 2010: $2.7M
To Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University: $466M
Why Tim Pawlenty (age 50) May Believe He Can Win:
Average age at which women consider themselves old: 29
At which men do: 58
Why We May Want Someone With A Little Foreign Policy Experience:
Estimated value of arms sent by NATO countries to Qaddafi since 1969: $10 BILLION
And Some Finance Experience:
Date on which Standard and Poor’s revised its U.S. debt outlook to “negative”: 4/18/2011
Number of times it has previously been anything other than “stable”: 0
Not to Mention Some Housing Experience:
Number of applications received by a U.S. advertising firm offering to pay the mortgage in exchange for converting the home into a billboard: 11,575
Thanks, Harpers! It sure is going to be an entertaining election season.
0 Response to "“Harper’s Index” Explains the Presidential Election"
Post a Comment