Jack Lessenberry writes about the Center for Economic and Policy Research's study comparing life in the United States with life in Europea study.

He writes:

Teenagers in the Slovak Republic do better in math than ours do. People in Spain can expect to live three years longer than we can --though we spend twice as much on health care per person.

He continues:

Here's the center's conclusion: "The U.S. economic and social model is associated with substantial levels of social exclusion, including high levels of income inequality, poverty rates, poor and unequal educational outcomes, poor health outcomes, and high rates of crime and incarceration. And not surprisingly, it adds "the United States, therefore, stands as a poor model for Europe."

If you aren't shocked, you aren't conscious. But all this doesn't mean we are doomed. That doesn't even mean we can't catch up and pass Europe again, as we did in the past. It does mean we have to change our policies and our thinking. But not in the way we constantly hear from the cranks on Fox News.

Read or listen to Essay: The Unequal Future - 8/4/06
Also read or listen to the companion Interview: Ben Zipperer - 8/4/06