Thanks mate,
Incidentally, the increase in TV purchases will be (perhaps at least initially) prompted by the US switching from analogue to digital signal. The curious thing is whether or not the US government timed the ‘economic stimulus’ to coincide with this switch (as it just happens to)…
-d-

Good post, mate. We are facing a global food crisis… a crisis of monumental proportions that could probably be solved with a figure a lot less than this and Americans are being encouraged to buy new TV’s etc.

Cheers, Damian.
A good dream.
I’m perplexed by it all.
Helpless people who cannot protect themselves need to be protected by others. Those with the power to protect them should do so. Power (even military power) can be a good thing…
But the current use of military power around the globe (on ALL sides) is far from a good thing… (with several exceptions, thankfully!)
These issues are always so darn clouded.

I dream of a world where nations don’t feel the need to waste their resources on weapons.

Thanks for the stats, BC.
simply staggering…
murder AND suicide indeed.

Consider the global priorities in spending ($US billions) in 1998

Cosmetics in the United States 8
Ice cream in Europe 11
Perfumes in Europe and the United States 12
Pet foods in Europe and the United States 17
Business entertainment in Japan 35
Cigarettes in Europe 50
Alcoholic drinks in Europe 105
Narcotic drugs in the world 400
Military spending in the world 780

And compare that to what was estimated as additional costs to achieve universal access to basic social services in all developing countries:

Basic education for all 6
Water and sanitation for all 9
Reproductive health for all women 12
Basic health and nutrition 13

Need we say more . . . yes we do . . and do more with less . . .