Interesting Facts about US Consumption

[houston]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Keep it nice, laughing or not.

what I do? she's the one with a chip on her shoulder. everyone has a problem with her... the thread was a personal attack... laughing was a personal attack... AND now she's bowing out with "didn't mean to offend" KRAP.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by citizen

...and yet:

•Americans constitute 5% of the world's population but consume 24% of the world's energy.
•On average, one American consumes as much energy as
o 2 Japanese
o 6 Mexicans
o 13 Chinese
o 31 Indians
o 128 Bangladeshis
o 307 Tanzanians
o 370 Ethiopians
•The population is projected to increase by nearly 130 million people - the equivalent of adding another four states the size of California - by the year 2050.
•Forty percent of births are unintended.
•Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day - that's roughly 200 billion more than needed - enough to feed 80 million people.
•Americans throw out 200,000 tons of edible food daily.
•The average American generates 52 tons of garbage by age 75.
•The average individual daily consumption of water is 159 gallons, while more than half the world's population lives on 25 gallons.
•Fifty percent of the wetlands, 90% of the northwestern old-growth forests, and 99% of the tall-grass prairie have been destroyed in the last 200 years.
•Eighty percent of the corn grown and 95% of the oats are fed to livestock.
•Fifty-six percent of available farmland is used for beef production.
•Every day an estimated nine square miles of rural land are lost to development.
•There are more shopping malls than high schools.

Reducing consumption without reducing use is a costly delusion. If undeveloped countries consumed at the same rate as the US, four complete planets the size of the Earth would be required. People who think that they have a right to such a life are quite mistaken.

Americans eat 200 billion more calories per day than necessary -- enough to feed 80 million people.

While millions of people around the world starve to death, Americans spend $30 billion a year on diet programs. One-third of the U.S. population is significantly overweight.

My point is this Christian nation is consuming too much in all kinds of ways. And now its affecting our health and wallets.

Not disputing the numbers and stats but......

America also feeds the world. Yes, we are a nation of overweight buffet eating slobs, but the economic freedom of this nation produces so much more than we consume. It is NOT a zero sum gain -we produce what we use. We would use so much more of our own oil and natural gas if we were only allowed to drill for it and could completely ween ourselves off of coal if more nuclear reactors were allowed to be built.

Also, more and more corn is being used for fuel in a ridiculously inefficient process for the sole purpose of symbolism. Who is responsible for that? The greenies. (I personally think that the technology that will satisfy our needs for oil based fuel will be algae..... But that is a little ways in the future.)

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

America also feeds the world. Yes, we are a nation of overweight buffet eating slobs, but the economic freedom of this nation produces so much more than we consume. It is NOT a zero sum gain -we produce what we use. We would use so much more of our own oil and natural gas if we were only allowed to drill for it and could completely ween ourselves off of coal if more nuclear reactors were allowed to be built.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I was an extreme example, but one I actually experienced. It does prove that no one has to literally starve. It may not be prime rib, but there is always something to eat for very little money.

And when someone is complaining about $800 a month not being enough they are most assuredly talking about restaurant and alcohol (and cigs).

When my husband and I were first married we ate very cheaply out of necessity. And I was sick all the time.

[Azzan]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Not disputing the numbers and stats but......

America also feeds the world. Yes, we are a nation of overweight buffet eating slobs, but the economic freedom of this nation produces so much more than we consume. It is NOT a zero sum gain -we produce what we use. We would use so much more of our own oil and natural gas if we were only allowed to drill for it and could completely ween ourselves off of coal if more nuclear reactors were allowed to be built.

Also, more and more corn is being used for fuel in a ridiculously inefficient process for the sole purpose of symbolism. Who is responsible for that? The greenies. (I personally think that the technology that will satisfy our needs for oil based fuel will be algae..... But that is a little ways in the future.)

Thought of this phrase and thread when I read this article today.

[houston]

I do not eat at buffets. It's cheap and all-u-can-eat for a reason.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by houston

I do not eat at buffets. It's cheap and all-u-can-eat for a reason.

Some are better than others but not matter how good one is all it takes is having the Krumps sit at the table next to me to lose my appetite.

Then there is the kid who sneezes all over the <name a dish in the line>.

And then there is the ice cream which is so watered down that it is half melted in the time it takes to pour it and walk back to your seat.