USA FACTS is a not for profit organization created by Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft. As I have written in a prior blog, this is like Joe Friday “just the facts, Maam.” Here is how Mr. Ballmer describes his efforts:
“If you’re interested in gaining insight on government by the numbers, look no further. In this year’s annual report, we’ve summarized the most recent data on government finances, outcomes of government activities, and population trends. USAFacts is a not-for-profit, non-partisan resource built for people like you. Red or blue, left or right, or anywhere in between, it doesn’t matter. We believe understanding the numbers is the cornerstone to a healthy and productive democracy. Our goal is to help inform active citizenship and fact-based debate.”
I turned to the 2018 Annual Report (https://usafacts.org/reports/annual/2018) to look at a number of topics where Ballmer’s numbers are contradicted by fake news, lobbyists,political infighting or downright deception. When I read his report I see much more progress and feel so much more hopeful l than I do when I read or hear the news from mainstream media. Ballmer organizes his Annual Report into four missions of the US Government as laid out in the preamble to the US Constitution:
- Establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility:
- Provide for the common defense:
- Promote the general welfare:
- Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity:
ESTABLISH JUSTICE AND ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
More people are living alone, and there are fewer married couples with children. There are huge changes in lifestyles as shown by the 327% increase in other households and a decline in married parents.
Since 1980, increases in government spending have come primarily from payments to individuals and subsidies.
There have been more suicide gun deaths than homicide gun deaths every year since 1981 and 1/3 the number of firearm fatalities from legal intervention.
Of 23.3 million government workers, 83% are state and local employees. Nearly half are in education.
After decreasing until 2011, transportation crashes and fatalities are now increasing.
PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE
Military spending has declined since the height of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010.
Border apprehensions and drug seizures are declining.
PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE
Most of the growth in spending by federal, state and local governments has been transfer payments to citizens.
Infrastructure can impact productivity: Workers in urban areas spend 42 hours in traffic each year
Average spendable income, by income group. The biggest percentage increase is the bottom 20% and the worst is the middle class.
Two thirds of the US Population is overweight or obese.
SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OUR SELVES AND OUR POSTERITY
66% of 8th graders are not proficient in math; 64% are not proficient in reading even though the teacher to student ratio has improved. The number of teachers has increased 44% while students have increased by only 19%.
Poverty rate for the elderly (65+)
How different are key life experiences, by race? The American Indians and African Americans had about the same arrest rate in 1980 but today the African American rate is almost double.