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Academy Resources Glossary of Philosophical Terms Timeline of Philosophy A Timeline of American Philosophy Diagram: Development of Philosophic Thought Diagram: Divisions of Philosophy The Philosophy Resource Center The Religion Resource Center Books about Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		The Dolhenty Report A Commentary on the Human Condition by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty Now, where are the bureaucrats when you really need them?   It's time the government did more to protect people from injuring themselves. After all, the current Clinton-Nanny-State philosophy is that we Americans are too stupid to look out for ourselves and so the bureaucrats have to look out for us. So how come they haven't banned jewelry, trampolines, exercise equipment, power saws, toys, baths and showers and, above all, knives? Just look at the statistics, released by the Census Bureau in its Statistical Abstract of the United States. According to this document: 55,142 people were injured by jewelry 43,665 were injured by trampolines 95,127 were injured by exercise equipment 97,606 were injured by power saws 177,061 were injured by toys 166,327 were injured by baths and showers and a whopping 468,587 were injured by knives! Don't you think it's about time that the government did something about it? Shouldn't knives be registered? Maybe banned? How about a permit before you can take a bath or shower? (We could even have a Bath Tax for those diehards who insist on bathing, get injured, and depend on the public for medical care.) By the way, it's interesting to note that almost 17% of pregnant women smoked in 1992 and that 79% of them drank alcohol. I am sure (at least from government reports) that Joe Camel and tobacco billboards must have had something to do with pregnant women smoking, but to what do we attribute the alcohol imbibing? Also, those that think rock n' roll music is responsible for most of our social ills will be pleased to know that rock n' roll fell to 33% from 37% of recorded-music sales from 1990 to 1993. Moreover, country music sales jumped from a mere 8% to 18% during the same time period! Just so you'll know something maybe your neighbor won't, according to the Statistical Abstract, the average amount of garbage generated per day per person in 1960 was 2.7 pounds but in 1993 that figure rose to 4.4 pounds. I know you wanted to note that fact. While garbage generation per person rose to new heights, alcohol consumption has actually been dropping. In 1980, for instance, the average annual adult consumption of alcoholic beverages (or AAACAB) was 42.8 gallons. In 1993, however, that had dropped to 36.8 gallons. Now, isn't that interesting? Your government spent millions of dollars to let you know that! Now - More statistics, of course. These are from a survey by Equifax, a credit-reporting agency, and Louis Harris & Associates. Most consumers in the United States say they've lost "all control" of the personal information collected and tracked by computers and people "are seriously concerned information about them is being collected from more places and being used more widely." According to the survey, almost 80% of Americans are concerned they can't control how personal information is being used. Interestingly, 43% are concerned about marketers that collect information, but 51% are more concerned about the government collecting personal information. And still more statistics. A Newsweek poll indicates that two out of three adults (66%) say they believe in the devil, and more than one-third say he has tempted them. Among evangelical or "born again" Protestants, 85% say they believe in Satan; 59% blame the devil for crime; and 43% blame him for the gay-rights movement. Now you know! Want still more? O.K. The following data was collected by PRIDE, the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education. According to its survey, substance abuse among schoolchildren went up for the fourth straight year. For instance, one out of every five (20%) high school seniors smokes marijuana at least monthly. Annual marijuana use among junior high students went from 4.5% in 1990-91 to 9.5% in 1995; for high school students, use rose from 16.9% to 28.2%. Among high school students, the use of cocaine and hallucinogens (PCP, LSD, et al.) reached the highest levels since 1988. Cigarette use was reported by 44% of high schoolers, the highest level since 1988. In grades 6 through 12, 28% of students said they smoked at least once in the past year. It may interest you to know that, according to the report, 34% of students said their parents talked to them frequently about drug dangers, 33% said parents don't set clear rules, and 50% said they are not disciplined routinely for breaking rules. Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine... Academy Showcase Specials Main Page & Index
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