* Corporatization refers to the homogenization resulting from large private interests (corporations) consuming and/or replacing smaller private and public interests (small businesses and governmental functions).
* Corporations have marketed themselves and their interests robustly over time. The total number of registered clients lobbying the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in 2000 was just over 14,000. In 2004 the number was over 20,000.
* In 1998, the total lobbying expenditure at the federal level was $1.43 billion. In 2004, the total was $2.16 billion.
* In 1990, General Dynamics (a major defense contractor) made nearly $400,000 in federal campaign contributions (59% to Democrats, 41% to Republicans). In 2004 the total was nearly $1.5 million (43% to Democrats, 57% to Republicans).
* The largest commercial bank in the United States, Citigroup, maintains connections through its board of directors with 25 corporations. The 153 boards of directors representing these corporations also serve with an additional 214 corporations.
* Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc, the top U.S. lobbying firm from 1998-2004, has represented over 250 states, companies, and organizations ranging from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to Wheelchairs for the World Foundation.
* From Kentucky, Brown & Williamson Tobacco spent the most money, over $35 million, in federal lobbying between 1998-2004. The eighth largest federal lobbying effort from Kentucky during the same period was from Western Kentucky University, with just under $1 million.
* In the 2003-2004 election cycle, Owensboro ($405,000) ranked fourth behind Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky in Kentucky metropolitan area donations to federal candidates, political action committees, and political parties.
* More than half of the 170 psychiatric experts who contributed to latest edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) has financial ties to the pharmaceutical companies that make the medications to treat the illnesses the DSM defines.
Showing posts with label Public Life Advocate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Life Advocate. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Public Life Advocate: The Tracker (March 2006)
* “Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Livability” is generally measured by social indicators such as health, economic indices, and subjective experiences.
* The Centers for Disease and Control measures quality of life relative to general physical health, general mental well-being, and activity limitation.
* Quality-adjusted life years, or QALYs, is a measure of the benefit of a medical intervention based on the number of years of life that would be added by the intervention.
* There are over 25 reputable resources measuring the quality of life for children, and 25 separate tools to measure quality of life during terminal and palliative care.
* It is generally accepted that measuring quality of life associated with gender equality, family life, job security, political freedom, social capital, and community life varies according to survey definitions and design.
* The Vanderford-Riley Well-Being Schedule examines per capita full time equivalent hours worked per week, the value of equity in property per person, the ratio of property owners to non-owners, and ratio of self-employment to total employment.
* A country’s well-being is often examined using the Gross National Product (GNP). GNP is the total value of final goods and services produced in a year by a country's nationals (including profits from capital held abroad).
* A country’s well-being is often examined using Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is defined as the total value of final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year, regardless of ownership.
* The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) examines well-being as a country’s economic growth in relation to the improvement of the welfare of the people of that country.
* The Gross National Happiness (GNH) index measures quality of life based on whether material and spiritual development of a society occurs simultaneously.
* The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of well-being examining poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, childbirth, and other worldwide factors.
* The Economist measures quality of life according to nine indices: material well-being, health, political stability and security, family life, community life, climate and geography, job security, political freedom, and gender equality. In 2005 the U.S. ranked 13th behind 9 European countries.
* The Centers for Disease and Control measures quality of life relative to general physical health, general mental well-being, and activity limitation.
* Quality-adjusted life years, or QALYs, is a measure of the benefit of a medical intervention based on the number of years of life that would be added by the intervention.
* There are over 25 reputable resources measuring the quality of life for children, and 25 separate tools to measure quality of life during terminal and palliative care.
* It is generally accepted that measuring quality of life associated with gender equality, family life, job security, political freedom, social capital, and community life varies according to survey definitions and design.
* The Vanderford-Riley Well-Being Schedule examines per capita full time equivalent hours worked per week, the value of equity in property per person, the ratio of property owners to non-owners, and ratio of self-employment to total employment.
* A country’s well-being is often examined using the Gross National Product (GNP). GNP is the total value of final goods and services produced in a year by a country's nationals (including profits from capital held abroad).
* A country’s well-being is often examined using Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is defined as the total value of final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year, regardless of ownership.
* The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) examines well-being as a country’s economic growth in relation to the improvement of the welfare of the people of that country.
* The Gross National Happiness (GNH) index measures quality of life based on whether material and spiritual development of a society occurs simultaneously.
* The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of well-being examining poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, childbirth, and other worldwide factors.
* The Economist measures quality of life according to nine indices: material well-being, health, political stability and security, family life, community life, climate and geography, job security, political freedom, and gender equality. In 2005 the U.S. ranked 13th behind 9 European countries.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Public Life Advocate: The Tracker, Jan. 2006
* Social connectedness is a much stronger predictor of the perceived quality of life in a community than the community's income or educational level.
* Youth volunteering is up since 1995, but the gap in volunteering between children with a college-graduate mother and children with a high-school dropout mother increased by almost 50 percent since 1976.
* 82% of high school seniors volunteered in 2004, a 14% jump from 1986.
* In 2005, 42% of those volunteering became involved because they were asked by someone in the organization.
* Persons age 35 to 44 are most likely to volunteer (35%), closely followed by 45 to 54 year-olds (33%).
* Married persons volunteer at a higher rate (34%) than never-married persons (23%) and persons of other marital statuses (23%).
* Parents with children under age 18 are more likely to volunteer than persons without children of that age, 37% compared with 26%.
* Among volunteers with children under 18 years old, 45% of mothers and 36% of fathers volunteered mainly for an educational/youth service-related organization, such as a school or sports team.
* Employed persons are more likely to volunteer than the unemployed. Part-time workers participate in volunteer activities at a higher rate than full-time workers.
* In 2005, 45% of volunteers age 65 and over performed volunteer activities mainly through or for a religious organization, compared with 28% of volunteers age 16 to 24.
* Among volunteers in 2005, people with higher levels of educational attainment were more likely to provide professional or management assistance, tutor or teach, mentor youth, coach, referee, or supervise sports teams, or provide counseling, medical care, fire/EMS, or protective services. They were less likely to collect, prepare, distribute, or serve food, or be an usher, greeter, or minister.
* Participation in clubs and civic organizations has been cut by more than half over last 25 years.
* Joining one group cuts your odds of dying over the next year in half. Joining two groups cuts it by three quarters.
* Youth volunteering is up since 1995, but the gap in volunteering between children with a college-graduate mother and children with a high-school dropout mother increased by almost 50 percent since 1976.
* 82% of high school seniors volunteered in 2004, a 14% jump from 1986.
* In 2005, 42% of those volunteering became involved because they were asked by someone in the organization.
* Persons age 35 to 44 are most likely to volunteer (35%), closely followed by 45 to 54 year-olds (33%).
* Married persons volunteer at a higher rate (34%) than never-married persons (23%) and persons of other marital statuses (23%).
* Parents with children under age 18 are more likely to volunteer than persons without children of that age, 37% compared with 26%.
* Among volunteers with children under 18 years old, 45% of mothers and 36% of fathers volunteered mainly for an educational/youth service-related organization, such as a school or sports team.
* Employed persons are more likely to volunteer than the unemployed. Part-time workers participate in volunteer activities at a higher rate than full-time workers.
* In 2005, 45% of volunteers age 65 and over performed volunteer activities mainly through or for a religious organization, compared with 28% of volunteers age 16 to 24.
* Among volunteers in 2005, people with higher levels of educational attainment were more likely to provide professional or management assistance, tutor or teach, mentor youth, coach, referee, or supervise sports teams, or provide counseling, medical care, fire/EMS, or protective services. They were less likely to collect, prepare, distribute, or serve food, or be an usher, greeter, or minister.
* Participation in clubs and civic organizations has been cut by more than half over last 25 years.
* Joining one group cuts your odds of dying over the next year in half. Joining two groups cuts it by three quarters.
Monday, November 28, 2005
The Tracker: November 2005
* Kentucky ranks in the top ten poorest states in the United States.
* Rates of smoking are highest in states with higher poverty.
* Medicaid recipients have approximately 50% greater smoking prevalence than the overall U.S. population. In 2002, Kentucky was 1 of 15 states which did not include medication coverage for tobacco dependence treatment under Medicaid.
* In 2004, Kentucky had the highest adult smoking rate in the country at 28%.
* The local adult smoking rate (18 and older) is 26%. The local youth smoking rate (8th-12th graders) is 24%.
* From 2001-2003, the percent of adults that tried to quit smoking in Owensboro-Daviess County was 56%. The state percentage was 48%.
* In 2004, the number of local manufacturers offering smoking cessation programs to their employees was 52%. The state percentage was 48%.
* According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, during 1997-2001, cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke resulted in approximately 438,000 premature deaths in the United States, 5.5 million total years of potential life lost, and $92 billion of annual losses in worker productivity.
* In 2003, the percentage of local schools banning smoking on school grounds was 64%. The state percentage was 42%.
* In 2003, the percentage of local restaurants that were smoke free was 57%. The state percentage was 45%.
* In 2002, Kentucky had the fifth highest age-adjusted death rate in the United States. Out of 50 states, citizens in 45 live healthier and longer than Kentuckians.
* The four leading indicators of death in the Kentucky are 1) heart disease; 2) cancer; 3) stroke; and 4) chronic lower respiratory disease.
* Cigarette smoking is the single most common preventable cause of death for the four leading indicators of death.
* Rates of smoking are highest in states with higher poverty.
* Medicaid recipients have approximately 50% greater smoking prevalence than the overall U.S. population. In 2002, Kentucky was 1 of 15 states which did not include medication coverage for tobacco dependence treatment under Medicaid.
* In 2004, Kentucky had the highest adult smoking rate in the country at 28%.
* The local adult smoking rate (18 and older) is 26%. The local youth smoking rate (8th-12th graders) is 24%.
* From 2001-2003, the percent of adults that tried to quit smoking in Owensboro-Daviess County was 56%. The state percentage was 48%.
* In 2004, the number of local manufacturers offering smoking cessation programs to their employees was 52%. The state percentage was 48%.
* According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, during 1997-2001, cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke resulted in approximately 438,000 premature deaths in the United States, 5.5 million total years of potential life lost, and $92 billion of annual losses in worker productivity.
* In 2003, the percentage of local schools banning smoking on school grounds was 64%. The state percentage was 42%.
* In 2003, the percentage of local restaurants that were smoke free was 57%. The state percentage was 45%.
* In 2002, Kentucky had the fifth highest age-adjusted death rate in the United States. Out of 50 states, citizens in 45 live healthier and longer than Kentuckians.
* The four leading indicators of death in the Kentucky are 1) heart disease; 2) cancer; 3) stroke; and 4) chronic lower respiratory disease.
* Cigarette smoking is the single most common preventable cause of death for the four leading indicators of death.
Friday, September 16, 2005
The Tracker: September 2005
This edition's Tracker can be found by clicking here.
This edition of The Tracker will provide comparative data related to Global Economic Development. As Owensboro-Daviess County continues to weigh economic development approaches and strategies, data indicators are presented to give local citizens insight into the challenges of our world.
* In 2002-2003, the under five mortality rate for the United States was 8 per 1,000. The same rate in Israel was 6, and in the West Bank-Gaza the rate was 24.
* Using the nutritional status of children under five years of age in the United States as the baseline in 2002-2003, 47% of children in Ethiopia were considered malnourished, 35% in Pakistan, 34% in Vietnam, 10% in Nicaragua, 0% in Germany, and 0% in France.
* The incidence of tuberculosis per 100,000 in 2003 in the United States was 5. In Spain the rate was 27, in Somalia 411, in Sweden 4, in Iraq 157, in Costa Rica 15, and 102 in China.
* Life expectancy at birth in 2003 for the United States was 77 years of age. In the United Kingdom, the expectancy was 77, in Singapore 78, in Rwanda 39, in Peru 70, 77 in Cuba, 42 in Burundi, and 69 in Brazil.
* In 2002-2003, the ratio of female to male enrollments in primary and secondary school in the United States was 100:100. In Venezuela the ratio was 104:100, in India 80:100, in Niger 69:100, and in the United Kingdom 116:100.
* The percent of total seats in national parliaments filled by females in 2004 was 14% in the United States, 25% in Uganda, 45% in Sweden, 7% in Nigeria, 23% in Mexico, 7% in Kenya, and 12% in Italy.
* The unemployment rate for ages 15-24 in 2002 in the United States was 12%. In Argentina the rate was 32%, 36% in Colombia, 5% Austria, 26% in Greece, 29% in Panama, and 44% in South Africa.
* In 2003, the net percent of gross national income attributed to assistance in the developing world by the United States was .1%. The percent of giving by Denmark was .8%. Canada, Japan, Portugal, and New Zealand, portioned .2% of their gross national income to the developing world.
This edition of The Tracker will provide comparative data related to Global Economic Development. As Owensboro-Daviess County continues to weigh economic development approaches and strategies, data indicators are presented to give local citizens insight into the challenges of our world.
* In 2002-2003, the under five mortality rate for the United States was 8 per 1,000. The same rate in Israel was 6, and in the West Bank-Gaza the rate was 24.
* Using the nutritional status of children under five years of age in the United States as the baseline in 2002-2003, 47% of children in Ethiopia were considered malnourished, 35% in Pakistan, 34% in Vietnam, 10% in Nicaragua, 0% in Germany, and 0% in France.
* The incidence of tuberculosis per 100,000 in 2003 in the United States was 5. In Spain the rate was 27, in Somalia 411, in Sweden 4, in Iraq 157, in Costa Rica 15, and 102 in China.
* Life expectancy at birth in 2003 for the United States was 77 years of age. In the United Kingdom, the expectancy was 77, in Singapore 78, in Rwanda 39, in Peru 70, 77 in Cuba, 42 in Burundi, and 69 in Brazil.
* In 2002-2003, the ratio of female to male enrollments in primary and secondary school in the United States was 100:100. In Venezuela the ratio was 104:100, in India 80:100, in Niger 69:100, and in the United Kingdom 116:100.
* The percent of total seats in national parliaments filled by females in 2004 was 14% in the United States, 25% in Uganda, 45% in Sweden, 7% in Nigeria, 23% in Mexico, 7% in Kenya, and 12% in Italy.
* The unemployment rate for ages 15-24 in 2002 in the United States was 12%. In Argentina the rate was 32%, 36% in Colombia, 5% Austria, 26% in Greece, 29% in Panama, and 44% in South Africa.
* In 2003, the net percent of gross national income attributed to assistance in the developing world by the United States was .1%. The percent of giving by Denmark was .8%. Canada, Japan, Portugal, and New Zealand, portioned .2% of their gross national income to the developing world.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Public Life Advocate: The Tracker (May 2005)
This edition of The Tracker can be found in print publication of the Public Life Advocate at the website of the Public Life Foundation. Sources for this edition's Tracker can be found at the end of this post. Check back for additional information on an ongoing basis.
* Each year 32,000 older adults suffer from hip fractures—contributing to more than 1,500 deaths—attributable to drug-induced falls.
* Two million older Americans are addicted or at risk of addiction to minor tranquilizers or sleeping pills because they have used them daily for at least one year.
* According to the Fortune 500 in 2002, the drug industry ranked second among all business sectors in return on shareholder equity, with a rate more than two-and-a-half times the 2002 Fortune 500 median (27.6% compared with 10.2%).
* In the 1990s, the drug industry’s profitability grew to almost four times the Fortune 500 median.
* Vioxx (arthritis medication now off the market) was more heavily advertised in 2000 than Budweiser and Pepsi.
* Pfizer (maker of Benadryl, Celebrex, Cortizone, Lipitor, Neosporin, Rolaids, Sudafed, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyrtec, and other medications) had more profits in 2001 than all of the Fortune 500 homebuilding, apparel, railroad and publishing companies combined.
* Of the 50 most popular drugs discovered, 45 were discovered with taxpayer-funded research.
* Compared to all other industries, the federal tax burden on the drug industry is 40% lower.
* According to the National Institute of Health, taxpayer-funded scientists conducted 55 percent of the research projects that led to the discovery and development of the top five selling drugs in 1995.
Sources:
Public Citizen: "Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts."
* Each year 32,000 older adults suffer from hip fractures—contributing to more than 1,500 deaths—attributable to drug-induced falls.
* Two million older Americans are addicted or at risk of addiction to minor tranquilizers or sleeping pills because they have used them daily for at least one year.
* According to the Fortune 500 in 2002, the drug industry ranked second among all business sectors in return on shareholder equity, with a rate more than two-and-a-half times the 2002 Fortune 500 median (27.6% compared with 10.2%).
* In the 1990s, the drug industry’s profitability grew to almost four times the Fortune 500 median.
* Vioxx (arthritis medication now off the market) was more heavily advertised in 2000 than Budweiser and Pepsi.
* Pfizer (maker of Benadryl, Celebrex, Cortizone, Lipitor, Neosporin, Rolaids, Sudafed, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyrtec, and other medications) had more profits in 2001 than all of the Fortune 500 homebuilding, apparel, railroad and publishing companies combined.
* Of the 50 most popular drugs discovered, 45 were discovered with taxpayer-funded research.
* Compared to all other industries, the federal tax burden on the drug industry is 40% lower.
* According to the National Institute of Health, taxpayer-funded scientists conducted 55 percent of the research projects that led to the discovery and development of the top five selling drugs in 1995.
Sources:
Public Citizen: "Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts."
Monday, March 14, 2005
Public Life Advocate: The Tracker (March 2005)
This edition of The Tracker can be found in print publication of the Public Life Advocate at the website of the Public Life Foundation.
* Kentucky’s median malpractice payout in 2002 was only half what it was in
1995.
* The total dollar amount of malpractice payouts in Kentucky declined 4.1% from 1995 to 2002.
* In Kentucky, there were five medical malpractice payouts exceeding $1 million in 2002, compared with six payouts in 1995. The average number of payouts of $1 million or more during the past eight years has been 3.2 annually.
* According to the Kentucky Medical Association, 819 doctors left the state during 2001 and 2002.
* The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure reports a decrease of 19 doctors for that two-year period.
* Of the 1,273 physicians who left Kentucky as of 2003, 31% went to neighboring states such as Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, where insurance premiums are, on average, lower.
* Eighty-two of Kentucky’s 100 counties have no obstetricians – or just one
* Medical malpractice costs have risen an average of 11.6% a year since 1975 in contrast to an average annual increase of 9.4% for overall tort costs.
* A poll conducted by the Courier Journal in early 2004 found that 68% of Kentuckians favor a limit on malpractice awards.
* 78% of responders from Northern Kentucky favored limits; 77% in South central Kentucky; 70% in Western Kentucky and the Bluegrass area; 67% in Louisville and 56% in Eastern Kentucky.
* Kentucky’s ratio of doctors-to-residents has grown at a rate exceeding that of Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee – including some states that impose malpractice caps.
* An estimated 600 to 1,400 hospital deaths in Kentucky each year occur due to preventable medical errors – costing residents, families and communities $244 million to $416 million each year.
* The annual cost of medical malpractice insurance to Kentucky’s health care providers is $81.8 million.
* According to the federal government’s National Practitioner Data Bank, 4.7% of Kentucky’s doctors have been responsible for 49.9% of all malpractice payouts to patients.
* In Kentucky, 83.3% of doctors have not made a medical malpractice payout since
September 1990.
* As of early 2004, 12 % of Kentucky doctors (17 of 141) who made three or more malpractice payouts since 1990 were disciplined by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. Only 20 percent (11 of 55) who made four or more malpractice payouts were disciplined.
* On average, medical malpractice insurance comprises 2.8% of a Kentucky doctor’s income.
* Each year 32,000 older adults suffer from hip fractures—contributing to more than 1,500 deaths—attributable to drug-induced falls.
* Two million older Americans are addicted or at risk of addiction to minor tranquilizers or sleeping pills because they have used them daily for at least one year.
* According to the Fortune 500 in 2002, the drug industry ranked second among all business sectors in return on shareholder equity, with a rate more than two-and-a-half times the 2002 Fortune 500 median (27.6% compared with 10.2%).
* In the 1990s, the drug industry’s profitability grew to almost four times the Fortune 500 median.
* Vioxx (arthritis medication now off the market) was more heavily advertised in 2000 than Budweiser and Pepsi.
* Pfizer (maker of Benadryl, Celebrex, Cortizone, Lipitor, Neosporin, Rolaids, Sudafed, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyrtec, and other medications) had more profits in 2001 than all of the Fortune 500 homebuilding, apparel, railroad and publishing companies combined.
* Of the 50 most popular drugs discovered, 45 were discovered with taxpayer-funded research.
* Compared to all other industries, the federal tax burden on the drug industry is 40% lower.
* According to the National Institute of Health, taxpayer-funded scientists conducted 55 percent of the research projects that led to the discovery and development of the top five selling drugs in 1995.
* Kentucky’s median malpractice payout in 2002 was only half what it was in
1995.
* The total dollar amount of malpractice payouts in Kentucky declined 4.1% from 1995 to 2002.
* In Kentucky, there were five medical malpractice payouts exceeding $1 million in 2002, compared with six payouts in 1995. The average number of payouts of $1 million or more during the past eight years has been 3.2 annually.
* According to the Kentucky Medical Association, 819 doctors left the state during 2001 and 2002.
* The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure reports a decrease of 19 doctors for that two-year period.
* Of the 1,273 physicians who left Kentucky as of 2003, 31% went to neighboring states such as Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, where insurance premiums are, on average, lower.
* Eighty-two of Kentucky’s 100 counties have no obstetricians – or just one
* Medical malpractice costs have risen an average of 11.6% a year since 1975 in contrast to an average annual increase of 9.4% for overall tort costs.
* A poll conducted by the Courier Journal in early 2004 found that 68% of Kentuckians favor a limit on malpractice awards.
* 78% of responders from Northern Kentucky favored limits; 77% in South central Kentucky; 70% in Western Kentucky and the Bluegrass area; 67% in Louisville and 56% in Eastern Kentucky.
* Kentucky’s ratio of doctors-to-residents has grown at a rate exceeding that of Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee – including some states that impose malpractice caps.
* An estimated 600 to 1,400 hospital deaths in Kentucky each year occur due to preventable medical errors – costing residents, families and communities $244 million to $416 million each year.
* The annual cost of medical malpractice insurance to Kentucky’s health care providers is $81.8 million.
* According to the federal government’s National Practitioner Data Bank, 4.7% of Kentucky’s doctors have been responsible for 49.9% of all malpractice payouts to patients.
* In Kentucky, 83.3% of doctors have not made a medical malpractice payout since
September 1990.
* As of early 2004, 12 % of Kentucky doctors (17 of 141) who made three or more malpractice payouts since 1990 were disciplined by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. Only 20 percent (11 of 55) who made four or more malpractice payouts were disciplined.
* On average, medical malpractice insurance comprises 2.8% of a Kentucky doctor’s income.
* Each year 32,000 older adults suffer from hip fractures—contributing to more than 1,500 deaths—attributable to drug-induced falls.
* Two million older Americans are addicted or at risk of addiction to minor tranquilizers or sleeping pills because they have used them daily for at least one year.
* According to the Fortune 500 in 2002, the drug industry ranked second among all business sectors in return on shareholder equity, with a rate more than two-and-a-half times the 2002 Fortune 500 median (27.6% compared with 10.2%).
* In the 1990s, the drug industry’s profitability grew to almost four times the Fortune 500 median.
* Vioxx (arthritis medication now off the market) was more heavily advertised in 2000 than Budweiser and Pepsi.
* Pfizer (maker of Benadryl, Celebrex, Cortizone, Lipitor, Neosporin, Rolaids, Sudafed, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyrtec, and other medications) had more profits in 2001 than all of the Fortune 500 homebuilding, apparel, railroad and publishing companies combined.
* Of the 50 most popular drugs discovered, 45 were discovered with taxpayer-funded research.
* Compared to all other industries, the federal tax burden on the drug industry is 40% lower.
* According to the National Institute of Health, taxpayer-funded scientists conducted 55 percent of the research projects that led to the discovery and development of the top five selling drugs in 1995.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Public Life Advocate: The Tracker
Data of Interest
Compiled by Chad M. Gesser
* Finland, Denmark, and Sweden are among the nations perceived to have the most dependable public officials in the world. The United States is tied for 17th.
* 84 percent of Americans believe the Iraqi people will be better off without Saddam Hussein.
* 70 percent of Jordanians believe the Iraqi people will be worse off without Saddam Hussein.
* Holding a favorable image of the United States has plummeted 40 percent from 1999-2004 amongst residents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, and Turkey.
* 58 percent of Americans believe that community problems are too big for individuals to solve alone.
* 90 percent of United States citizens say that working with others to solve problems takes more time but gets better results in the long run.
* 74 percent of United States citizens view the quality of life in their community as excellent or good. However, whites are twice as likely as African-Americans to view their community as offering an excellent quality of life.
* 40 percent of working adults (54 million Americans) say they have gotten together with co-workers to sponsor a food-drive, walk-a-thon, or other type of community activity in the past 12 months.
* 87 percent of Republicans believe George W. Bush is a uniter.
* 81 percent of Democrats believe George W. Bush is a divider.
To read the hard copy of The Tracker, visit the Public Life Foundation and the Public Life Advocate.
Compiled by Chad M. Gesser
* Finland, Denmark, and Sweden are among the nations perceived to have the most dependable public officials in the world. The United States is tied for 17th.
* 84 percent of Americans believe the Iraqi people will be better off without Saddam Hussein.
* 70 percent of Jordanians believe the Iraqi people will be worse off without Saddam Hussein.
* Holding a favorable image of the United States has plummeted 40 percent from 1999-2004 amongst residents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, and Turkey.
* 58 percent of Americans believe that community problems are too big for individuals to solve alone.
* 90 percent of United States citizens say that working with others to solve problems takes more time but gets better results in the long run.
* 74 percent of United States citizens view the quality of life in their community as excellent or good. However, whites are twice as likely as African-Americans to view their community as offering an excellent quality of life.
* 40 percent of working adults (54 million Americans) say they have gotten together with co-workers to sponsor a food-drive, walk-a-thon, or other type of community activity in the past 12 months.
* 87 percent of Republicans believe George W. Bush is a uniter.
* 81 percent of Democrats believe George W. Bush is a divider.
To read the hard copy of The Tracker, visit the Public Life Foundation and the Public Life Advocate.
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