Posted by
Chris Warren on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 7:35:26 AM
After hearing of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the U.N. yesterday, I figured it was worth while to point out some differences between the U.S. and Iran.
Iran has a population of 68,688,433 . The U.S. has a population of 298,444,215.
The U.S. has a Constitution-based federal republic. Iran has a theocratic republic.
The life expectancy at birth in Iran is (total population): 70.26 years; male: 68.86 years; female: 71.74 years.
The life expectancy at birth in the U.S. is (total population): 77.85 years; male: 75.02 years; female: 80.82 years.
Iran has an unemployment rate of 11.2% compared to the U.S's 5.1%.
The % of the U.S. population living below the poverty level is 12%, compared to Iran's 40%.
I could go further. My take is this. Is American hatred by Middle Eastern Islamic countries motivated by hatred of our policies? Maybe. It is likely motivated by fear. What reasonable citizen would not rather live in a nation whose policies promoted half the unemployment rate of the other? Who wouldn't want to bring their children into a world where the could live longer and were far less likely to fall into poverty?
Iran may toot their own horn all they like, but as long as statements involving our economies start out like this "Iran's economy is marked by a bloated, inefficient state sector, over reliance on the oil sector, and statist policies that create major distortions throughout.". And start out like this for the U.S., "The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $42,000." All their posturing is meaningless.