David McGowan (1) (1960–2015)

A sort of book-length version of Harper’s Index, this book presents quite a portrait of an America far removed from the official portrayal of peace, justice for all, and a booming economy that will go on forever. It uses quotes from sources like Amnesty International, the New York Times, and the United Nations.
Here are a few examples: the state of California, among others, does exactly the same thing that the US criticizes China for doing, that is, exporting prison-made goods. All countries in the world have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which bans juvenile executions, with two exceptions, Somalia, which has had no effective government for the last decade, and the United States. The assets of the three richest people in the world are greater than the combined GNP of the 48 least developed countries, comprising approximately 600 million people. The US has the highest death row population in the world, over 3,500 people. Between 1992 and 1993, major network evening news coverage of homicide rose 300%, while the actual homicide rate went down. During President Clinton’s first year in office, US arms sales more than doubled.
Here is a fascinating, and well documented look at an America that talks a lot about human rights elsewhere, but doesn’t deliver those same human rights here at home. It is very highly recommended.… (mehr)