Hermes Index
(With apologies to Harpers Magazine)
1. Number of staff for Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Great Britain: 30.
2. Approximate number of staff for Bill Clinton: 300
3. Percentage of dental hygenists who are women: 99
4. Percentage of auto mechanics who are women: 0.8
5. Percentage of secretaries who are women: 99
6. Percentage of women legislators worldwide: 11
7. Percentage of US senators who are women: 9
8. Percentage of Cuban legislators who are women: 22.7
9. Percentage of Iraqi legislators who are women: 10.8
10. Percentage of Kuwaiti legislators who are women: 0
11. Per capita income in Marin County CA, the richest county in the US: $28,381
12. Percentage of white residents in Marin County: 84.6
13. Per capita income in Shannon County SD: $3,417
14. Percentage of Sioux residents in Shannon County: 94.7
15. Per capita income in Starr County TX: $4,152
16. Percentage of Hispanic residents in Starr County: 97.2
17. Percent growth in secret spending by CIA and NSA during the 80s: 800
18. Estimated total secret spending in 1995: $30 billion
19. Percent of US Gross Domestic Product invested in public infrastructure (1978-1990): 0.3
20. Percent of Canadian Gross Domestic Product invested in public infrastructure (1978-1990): 1.2
21. Percent of West German Gross Domestic Product invested in public infrastructure (1978-1990): 2.1
22. Percent of Italian Gross Domestic Product invested in public infrastructure (1978-1990): 3.9
23. Percent of Japanese Gross Domestic Product invested in public infrastructure (1978-1990): 4.9
24. Annual cost of housing an inmate in a Massachusetts prison: $29,600
Sources: 1-2: Economist Jan 30th-feb 7th; 3-6, 8,9: Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1993; 7: Library of Congress, 1997; 11-16: 1990 US Census, Dept of Housing, Income Statistics Branch; 17-24: Challenge the Lies Campaign Organizing Guide from CCO