Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Harper's Index: the Bush Years


Harper's Magazine has an index at the front of eash monthly issue with stats about the world around us -- here's Harper's Index for the Bush years, including these outstanding selections:

Number of members of the rock band Anthrax who said they hoarded Cipro so as to avoid an “ironic death”: 1

Total amount the Bush campaign paid Enron and Halliburton for use of corporate jets during the 2000 recount: $15,400

Minimum number of laws that Bush signing statements have exempted his administration from following: 1,069

Minimum number of close-up photographs of Bush’s hands owned by his current chief of staff, Josh Bolten: 4

Minimum amount that religious groups received in congressional earmarks from 2003 to 2006: $209,000,000

Amount such groups received during the previous fourteen years: $107,000,000

Percentage of the amendments in the Bill of Rights that are violated by the USA PATRIOT Act, according to the ACLU: 50

Average percentage of Americans who approved of the job Bush was doing during his second term: 37

Percentage of Russians today who approve of the direction their country took under Stalin: 37


(Hat tip to Boing Boing.)

No comments: