More from 'Harper's Index'

Another selection of interesting factoids from Harper's Index from the August issue of Harper's magazine.

[-Citations from the Index are in bold. My commentaries are in regular font]


Though National Guardsmen from all over the country have been forced to go to Iraq rather than defending America, some states are more "represented" in the Occupation than others.

Chances that a member of New York's Army National Guard was in Iraq in June: 1 in 4

Chances that a member of Texas' Army National Guard was: 1 in 31


Some contend that those who don't genuflect to Wal-Mart are just jealous of the corporation's success. They argue that Wal-Mart is successful because it's efficient. They claim that if small, locally owned businesses who pay decent wages and offer (gasp) benefits can't compete with Wal-Mart in the free market capitalist system, then tough luck. Fair's fair.

Minimum amount that Wal-Mart has received in subsidies from state and local governments since 1980: $625,000,000


From the land that introduced John Ashcroft to the national political scene:

State grant awarded to a Missouri police department's Youth Outreach Unit two years ago to battle Goth culture: $273,000

Amount the Unit returned to the state in April after no Goth-influenced youth could be found to aid: $132,000

Amount spent in the interim to set up the program: $141,000