Which American Cities Have The Cleanest and Dirtiest Air?

 

 

The American Lung Association has issued its annual 'State of the Air' report. Combining the three different segments for both the cleanest and dirtiest cities, the site 24/7 Wall Street has come up with America's best and worst!

Interestingly, eight of the worst cities for clean air are in California and six of the best are in the Rockies!

Here are the cleanest cities:

1. Cheyenne, Wyo.
2. St. George, Utah
2. Santa Fe-Espanola, N.M.
4. Prescott, Ariz.
5. Farmington, N.M.
6. Pocatello, Idaho
7. Redding, Calif.
8. Tucson, Ariz.
9. Flagstaff, Ariz.
9. Rapid City, S.D.
9. Colorado Springs, Colo.
9. Albuquerque, N.M.
13. Salinas, Calif.

Here are the dirtiest cities:

1. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
1. Merced, Calif.
3. Fresno-Madera, Calif.
4. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
6. Modesto, Calif.
7. Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
8. Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.
9. El Centro, Calif.
10. Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL REPORT......

Code: Red is worst then yellow, green and finally blue is best

The Best Green Cars of 2013!

 

 

 

What can you do to help stop climate change?

How about getting a 'green car'. Automobiles are choking citizens around the world. If we are able to shift Americans to environmentally sound vehicles it will literally change our world.

Kelley Blue Books put together a list of the "Ten Best Green Cars of 2013 ", The site 24/7 Wall Street has published the list. 24/7 reports:

In preparation for Earth Day, research firm Kelley Blue Book put together a list of the Ten Best Green Cars of 2013. Some of these, like the Nissan Leaf, are well known. One is exotic — the Tesla Model S — a hyperfast, sports car. Others are hybrid engine versions of existing model lines like the Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The KBB list is a combination of all-electric and traditional hybrid cars.

On completion of the testing, Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, said, “A growing number of eco-conscious drivers are going ‘Green’ when it comes to the new car they choose to drive, and auto manufacturers have primed the pump with the widest array of offerings in the ‘Green Car’ segment than ever before. After driving and testing nearly every new vehicle on the market today, our editors compiled a 10 Best Green Cars list that provides a roadmap for consumers looking to get more miles from each gallon of gasoline or to eliminate gasoline altogether.”

24/7 Wall St. reviewed Kelley Blue Book’s list of the 10 best green cars, which takes into consideration fuel efficiency, value, and quality of hybrid, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. In addition to the data provided by KBB, which included fuel efficiency and 2011 and 2012 sales, we looked at manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the base models, as well as for comparable non-hybrid or electric versions of these models. We also used publicly available data from the Environmental Protection Agency for those fuel efficiency and driving range figures not supplied by Kelley Blue Book. We also considered reviews of these models from groups such as auto data site Edmunds.com.

1. 2013 Leaf (Photograph Above) 

- Make: Nissan
- Price: $21,300
- Fuel efficiency: 116 MPG equivalent
- 2012 U.S. sales: 9,512

Since it first debuted in December, 2010, sales of the first zero-emissions have been improving. March was likely the best month for sales in the model’s history. In 2012, sales of the leaf were up by approximately 5%. According to the Detroit News, despite the positive signs, sales growth has not been what Nissan had hoped for, as Nissan hoped to double 2011 sales in 2012. In January company CEO Carlos Ghosn, reiterated long-term sales targets for the leaf, but called recent figures “a disappointment.” According to Edmund’s, while several other 100% electric models have moved into the market, the Leaf remains the most established, and is a safe bet for someone looking to buy an EV model.

2. 2013 Model S

- Make: Tesla
- Price: $62,400
- Fuel efficiency: 89 MPG equivalent
- 2012 U.S. sales: 2,052

The Tesla Model S is not cheap, with even the lowest-end model costing $62,400 after the $7,500 tax credit buyers receive. However, few cars have been as celebrated as the Model S., which was unanimously voted Motor Trends’ 2013 Car of the Year. But the Model S became subject to controversy when a New York Times reporter noted in his review that the car ran out of battery during his drive. Tesla CEO Elon Musk then accused the reviewer of intentionally trying to flunk the car on his test. The controversy did not prevent Tesla from turning its first profit in its most recent quarter.

3. 2013 Focus Electric

- Make: Ford
- Price: $39,200
- Fuel efficiency: 105 MPG equivalent
- 2012 U.S. sales: 675

The Ford Focus Electric, a fully electric vehicle with a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery system, gets an estimated equivalent of 105 combined MPG. The cost differential might be a bit much for some buyers, as the standard Focus S sedan has a base price of $16,200, while the Electric’s price tag is just short of $40,000. In a review of the 2013 Electric, Edmunds noted, “the well-rounded, well-built 2013 Ford Focus stands as one of the top choices in an increasingly competitive segment.”

4. 2013 Volt

- Make: Chevrolet
- Price: $31,645
- Fuel efficiency: 98 MPG equivalent (electric), 37 MPG (gas)
- 2012 U.S. sales: 22,823

The Chevrolet Volt was introduced to the world in 2008, when then General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner called the car a symbol of the company’s “commitment to the future.” At its release in late 2010, it became one of the first plug-in hybrid cars to hit the road. But not everything has gone smoothly for GM. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated concerns that the Volt’s battery might be susceptible to fire. This may have harmed the car’s reputation despite the investigation closing with the NHTSA determining that the Volt was not at greater risk of a battery fire than other cars. Sales of the Volt were mediocre in 2011 — the car’s first full year of sales — when just under 7,500 units were sold. However, sales tripled in 2012 to more than 22,800 vehicles sold.

5. 2013 Prius Plug-in

- Make: Toyota
- Price: $32,000
- Fuel efficiency: 95 MPG equivalent (electric), 50 MPG (gas)
- 2012 U.S. sales: 12,514

Introduced in Japan in 1997 and in the rest of the world in 2000, the Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid. It has also been by far the most successful. Several different models are now sold under the Prius brand, including the Prius, the Prius C, the Prius V, and the Prius Plug-in. On a full charge, which takes about three hours on a standard home outlet, the Plug-in can travel for roughly 11 miles in electric mode, getting an equivelent of 95 MPG. It then switches to hybrid mode, for which it is rated at a not-too-shabby 50 MPG. Another plus is that in some states the car qualifies for single-occupant carpool lanes.

SEE NUMBERS SIX THROUGH TEN BY CLICKING HERE......

Five Cities Where It Is Much Better To Buy Than Rent!

 

 

 

Want a great house that you can afford to purchase and fix up? Move to Detroit and start looking. Of course, you have to deal with the horrible job market in the city. However, if you want to be an urban pioneer and get the best house buy of your life, the Motor City is your place.

24/7 Wall Street picked the nine cities where it is so much better to buy than rent. Here are thee top five cities where home ownership costs the least compared to rent.

1. Detroit, Mich.

- Pct. savings, buying vs. renting: -70%
- Monthly cost of ownership: $338 (the lowest)
- Monthly cost of rent: $1,138 (4th lowest)
- 10-yr. employment change: -15.1%

Detroit has the lowest cost of home ownership, at just $338 per month. Home prices fell by 46.9% from peak-to-trough in the Detroit metro area during the housing crisis, one of the steepest drops in the country. As of last October, Detroit had the nation’s highest vacancy rate, at more than 12% of area homes. The next highest vacancy rate measured was just below 7%. Problems in the area extend far beyond the housing market. In January, 10.6% of workers were unemployed, among the highest rates in the nation. In order to keep the city solvent, Governor Rick Snyder recently appointed an emergency manager to force it to make deep budget cuts.

2. Cleveland, Ohio

- Pct. savings, buying vs. renting: -63% (tied for 2nd lowest)
- Monthly cost of ownership: $541 (12th lowest)
- Monthly cost of rent: $1,462 (48th highest)
- 10-yr. employment change: -6.3%

Cleveland ranks as one of the least expensive places to own a home, at an estimated average of just $541 a month. Despite this, the metro area ranks in the top half of all areas analyzed by Trulia for the cost of renting. The area’s economy has struggled in recent years. Its GDP has risen just 2.7% since bottoming out in the third quarter of 2009, among the lowest recoveries in the nation. Manufacturing, still a major part of Cleveland’s economy, has shed jobs throughout the past decade. Area manufacturing employment fell from more than 157,000 jobs in January 2003 to less than 122,000 jobs in January 2013.

3. Dayton, Ohio

- Pct. savings, buying vs. renting: -63% (tied for 2nd lowest)
- Monthly cost of ownership: $469 (3rd lowest)
- Monthly cost of rent: $1,278 (28th lowest)
- 10-yr. employment change: -8.0%

Home ownership in Dayton, Ohio, costs just $469 a month — the third lowest figure in the nation. This is despite the fact that home prices fell by just 26.2% peak-to-trough during the recession, a slightly smaller decline than the United States as a whole, at 28.4%. Like many cities in the Rust Belt, Dayton’s manufacturing sector has declined a great deal in recent years. Between January of 2003 and January of 2013, the number of manufacturing jobs in the area declined from more than 64,000 to just slightly more than 40,000.

4. Gary, Ind.

- Pct. savings, buying vs. renting: -63% (tied for 2nd lowest)
- Monthly cost of ownership: $560 (14th lowest)
- Monthly cost of rent: $1,518 (45th highest)
- 10-yr. employment change: -5.0%

Homeowners in Gary are estimated to save $958 a month by owning rather than renting,the eighth largest dollar difference in the nation. Home ownership costs an estimated $560 a month, among the lowest figures in the nation. In addition to long-term population declines, Gary has lost 5% of its jobs in the past 10 years. Founded by U.S. Steel in 1906, Gary is a shell of the manufacturing sector it was even 10 years ago; the area had 41,000 manufacturing workers in January 2003, versus just 36,300 in January 2013.

5. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.

- Pct. savings, buying vs. renting: -63% (tied for 2nd lowest)
- Monthly cost of ownership: $567 (17th lowest)
- Monthly cost of rent: $1,522 (44th highest)
- 10-yr. employment change: -11.8%

Despite its close proximity to Detroit, renters in the Warren area pay considerably more per month than those who rent in the Motor City. A typical rent in the area costs an estimated $1,522 a month, in the top half of all metro areas surveyed. By comparison, a typical rent in the Detroit area cost just $1,138 per month, the fourth lowest in the country. Owning a home in the area is also considerably cheaper than renting. A typical homeowner saves an estimated $955 per month versus renting — a larger dollar amount than in all but eight metropolitan areas.

SEE THE REST OF THE LIST HERE....

The Best Countries For Tourism

 

 

 

The United States doesn't make the top five. Increasingly tourism is becoming an essential part of a countries GDP. Jamaica counts on tourism for 15% of its national GDP while for the United States it is just 1.3% of our GDP.

The World Economic Forum reviewed 140 countries. The site 24/7 Wall Street reported on their criteria:

"Instead, these 10 countries are diverse, powerful, business-friendly economies. Evidence of this is their high GDP per capita. Only 25 of the 140 countries reviewed by the WEF have a GDP per capita of $35,000 or more. Of the 10 best countries for tourism, nine have a GDP per capita of at least $35,000 . In the majority, it is at least $40,000. These wealthy economies are able to develop the kind of infrastructures that make them attractive to tourists and to travelers.

Nearly all these countries have advantages over other countries’ tourism sectors because of their natural and cultural resources. Countries like Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom are full of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites, fairs and exhibitions, and sports stadiums that draw people to travel there. The United States averaged 790 international fairs and exhibitions per year between 2009 and 2011, almost 200 more than the next-highest country

The U.S. has more natural heritage sites than every country, other than Australia and China. However, unlike most countries in the top 10, the United States ranked very low for efforts at sustaining its natural resources. All but two of the top 10 countries for travel and tourism were in the top 25 for long-term environmental sustainability. The U.S. ranked 112th._

1. Switzerland

- Travel and tourism competitiveness score: 5.66
- Travel and tourism industry’s share of employment: 3.3%
- Travel and tourism economy’s share of GDP: 8.6%
- GDP per capita: $44,452
- Unemployment rate: 4.4%

No country has a stronger travel and tourism industry than Switzerland, according to the WEF. Switzerland had the second best safety and security measures in place of all countries. In addition, the country ranked second-highest in terms of environmental stability, receiving high marks for both the stringency of its regulations and enforcement. The country ranked the highest in terms of human resources. For instance, the school system, the availability of specialized research and training, and staff training in general were considered the best of all countries, allowing the workers to have the qualified skills to help maintain a robust tourism industry.

2. Germany

- Travel and tourism competitiveness score: 5.39 (tied for 2nd highest)
- Travel and tourism industry’s share of employment: 1.8%
- Travel and tourism economy’s share of GDP: 4.5%
- GDP per capita: $38,077
- Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Germany has the world’s most stringent environmental regulations, as well as some of its most vigorous enforcement, according to the a WEF. Because of this, Germany is one of the top performing nations for environmental sustainability in the world. Germany also scored well for air and ground transportation infrastructure, due in part to its top-rated international air transport network and its railroad system. The nation is a leader in guiding the eurozone through the sovereign debt crisis. In January, Germany’s unemployment rate was 5.3%, versus 11.9% for the eurozone as a whole.

3. Austria

- Travel and tourism competitiveness score: 5.39 (tied for 2nd highest)
- Travel and tourism industry’s share of employment: 5.2%
- Travel and tourism economy’s share of GDP: 13.7%
- GDP per capita: $41,556
- Unemployment rate: 4.9%

Austria is one of the most pro-tourism regulators in the world, promoting environmental sustainability, safety and security, as well as health and hygiene. According to the WEF, residents rated their government’s environmental regulations as among the most stringent. However, no country rated the quality of its natural environment better. Travelers are unlikely to have difficulty finding a doctor in an emergency; there were 4.9 physicians per 1,000 people in Austria as of the most recent count. The country has nine UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites, as many as the United States. Among these are the centers of the cities of Graz, Salzburg and Vienna, as well as the former residence of the Habsburg emperors.

4. Spain

- Travel and tourism competitiveness score: 5.38 (tied for 4th highest)
- Travel and tourism industry’s share of employment: 2.7%
- Travel and tourism economy’s share of GDP: 14.7%
- GDP per capita: $30,478
- Unemployment rate: 26.2%

No country scored higher than Spain for its cultural resources. There are 53 World Heritage cultural sites in the country, more than all but China. In addition, Spain is among the 10 best countries in terms of both air and ground transportation, along with the country’s prioritization of the tourism industry. Tourism comprises 14.7% of the country’s GDP, compared with 8.6% in the United States. The Spanish economy has been in dire straights in recent years, with unemployment in the country hovering around 26%. Although tourism declined in the latter years of the past decade, tourism has rebounded and the country had 1 million more visitors in 2012 compared to 2011.

5. United Kingdom

- Travel and tourism competitiveness score: 5.38 (tied for 4th highest)
- Travel and tourism industry’s share of employment: 3.1%
- Travel and tourism economy’s share of GDP: 6.7%
- GDP per capita: $36,522
- Unemployment rate: 7.7%

The United Kingdom ranked among the top 10 countries in six of the 14 pillars measured by the WEF’s travel and tourism report. It was ranked fifth in terms of air transport infrastructure. The U.K. was second only to the U.S. in international airline kilometers per week, while more airlines operated in the U.K. than all but three other countries worldwide. As of 2010, London had the busiest airspace in the entire world in terms of passenger traffic. The country’s best rank was in cultural resources, scoring higher than all but two other countries. The U.K. had an average of 449 international fairs and exhibitions a year between 2009 and 2011, more than all but three other countries.

CLICK HERE TO SEE NUMBER 6 THROUGH 10......

Seven States Soon Will Run Out Of Water!

 

 

 

This week 'World Water Day' took place and the situation around the world is getting more and more serious when it comes to our precious water. Often this Blog has covered potential water wars that may take place in the future. Over two hundred rivers cross international boundaries making this issue ripe for intrigue between nations.

In the United States, 24/7 Wall Street proclaims that there are seven states that could have a crisis surrounding water supply. They are simply running out of water!

Here are the seven:

1. Nebraska

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 100%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 96.1% (the highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 76.4% (the highest)

Nebraska is unique among all states in that all areas are experiencing at least a severe drought. Worse, extreme drought conditions persist in more than 96% of the state, with a stunning 76% of the state experiencing exceptional drought. In the next worst-hit state, Kansas, just 21.4% of all area suffers from exceptional drought. Drought has hurt much of the state’s winter wheat crop, 50% of which was in poor or very poor condition at the end of February, up from just 6% last year. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center estimates that the drought in Nebraska will last — with some improvement in conditions — through at least the end of May.

2. Kansas

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 96.4%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 64.6% (3rd highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.4% (2nd highest)

Severe drought conditions persist in more than 96% of Kansas. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of the state is experiencing extreme drought, while more than one-fifth is experiencing exceptional drought. The good news for Kansas is that rain in March has eased the drought, although National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Kleinsasser told the Associated Press earlier this week that the state is still experiencing “precipitation deficits” of as much as 20 inches in many parts of the state. Kansas produces about 20% of the nation’s wheat, more than any other state. Wheat production was up 38% in 2012 compared to 2011, although the drought affecting the state probably will make this level of production unsustainable for 2013.

3. New Mexico

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.9%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 49.9% (6th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 4.3% (8th highest)

As of early March, normal weather conditions persist in only about 0.21% of New Mexico — the highest percentage in nearly a year. However, for most of the state problems remain. Last July, the USDA designated Cibola County as a primary disaster area due to drought. Six counties bordering Cibola, including Bernalillo County where Albuquerque is located, also qualified for natural disaster assistance. In late February, Albuquerque’s water board announced a “drought watch,” which raised fines for wasting water to $40 for first offenders.

4. Colorado

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.0%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 48.1% (7th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.2% (3rd highest)

Colorado is one of five states where all of its area is considered to be in moderate drought, with nearly 90% of the state experiencing severe drought. With the exception of the Northeast corner of the state, the drought is expected to either persist or get worse over the next several months. Yet even most the Northeast corner is experiencing either extreme or exceptional drought. Due to the ongoing problems, several of Colorado’s largest municipal water providers are considering restricting spring and summer lawn-watering, potentially limiting landowners to watering their grass just twice a week. Crop production declined significantly in 2012 compared to 2011, with wheat production falling 9.3%, while corn production falling a whopping 29%.

5. South Dakota

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 86.3%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 67.5% (2nd highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 20.1% (4th highest)

More than two-thirds of South Dakota suffers from extreme drought, the second highest portion of any state. Additionally, South Dakota is one of just four states where more than 20% of its area faces exceptional drought. As with many other states, much of South Dakota’s winter wheat crop was hurt by the lack of precipitation. According to the USDA, at the end of February, 66% of winter wheat crop was considered to be in poor or very poor condition, up from 31% in February 2012

6. Wyoming

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.7%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 54.7% (5th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 10.1% (5th highest)

Wyoming is one of the driest states in the country, a condition not likely to improve in the near future. According to the National Weather Service, the drought is expected to persist or worsen in most of the state over the next few months. The most critical drought problems are taking place in the eastern portion of the state. In the summer of 2012, Governor Matt Mead had to ask the federal government for disaster relief due to the drought. During the year before the request, ranchers working on non-irrigated land had lost about half their pasture grass and hay production because of the drought, a state agriculture official told Reuters. 

7. Oklahoma

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.2%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 56.7% (4th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 9.7% (6th highest)

Over half the area of Oklahoma currently suffers from extreme drought — the second worst level listed on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Oklahoma shares this distinction with just four other states. Drought conditions have actually improved since the start of the year. The percentage of the state facing exceptional drought — the worst category of drought — has fallen from 37% at the start of the year to less than 10% currently. In January, the USDA declared a large part of the winter wheat belt, spanning from Texas to North Dakota, as a disaster area due to the lack of moisture. According to the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, recent precipitation has not been enough to help the winter wheat crop in the state that had to be planted in dry soil.

Five Countries That Dislike The United States The Most

 

 

 

Bombing of Serbia

There can be no surprise that there are countries where the citizens really dislike America. Recently 24/7 Wall Street published "Ten Countries That Hate America The Most". Iran places at number six on the list with Serbia coming in at a tie for ninth.

Here are the top five:

1. Pakistan

- Pct. disapprove of U.S. leadership: 79%
- GDP per capita: $2,786
- Life expectancy: 65.2 years

Pakistan’s disapproval of U.S. leadership rose to 79% of all Gallup respondents in 2012, a 30 percentage point increase from the year before. According to the polling agency, this was due to a combination of American drone strikes and the online release of an anti-Islam film made in the United States. Diplomatic relations were tested in 2011 when the U.S. raided a house near Pakistan’s top military academy to find and kill Osama bin Laden. Pakistan had long claimed bin Laden was not in the country. In 2010, Pakistan was one of five nations with the worst rating on the political terror scale, which measures both political violence and terror within the country. The nation also was among the lowest ranked on Gallup’s social well-being index for 2011.

2. Palestinian Territories

- Pct. disapprove of U.S. leadership: 77%
- GDP per capita: n/a
- Life expectancy: n/a

Palestinians have long had hostile views toward Americans due to the U.S.’s diplomatic relationship with Israel. In late 2012, the U.N. passed a resolution recognizing Palestine as a nonmember observer state. The United States voted against the resolution, along with eight other states, including Israel. After the vote, members of Congress and the American Israel Public Affairs Commission called for the closure of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s U.S. headquarters in Washington. While President Obama has referred to his commitment to the two-state solution, many accuse the U.S. of failing to exert more influence in his first term. The president will be visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories later this month.

3. Algeria

- Pct. disapprove of U.S. leadership: 67%
- GDP per capita: $7,325
- Life expectancy: 73.1 years

About two-thirds of Algerians had a negative view of U.S. leadership, while just 30% of the country approved of its leadership. Support for U.S. leadership has been up and down within the past five years. Current support is higher than the low of 25% in 2008. However, support was at 45% back in 2009. American citizens in Algeria have been subject to violence. Three Americans were killed after terrorists seized an Algerian gas plant and held the workers hostage. A total of 38 workers from multiple countries were killed in the attack.

4. Lebanon

- Pct. disapprove of U.S. leadership: 64%
- GDP per capita: $15,523
- Life expectancy: 72.6 years

Lebanon lies in an especially volatile part of the Middle East, bordering both Syria and Israel. Syrian interests often have influenced Lebanese domestic and foreign policies. In addition, the Syrian military had a presence in the country from 1976 until 2005. Most recently, attacks orchestrated by Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militia and political party designated by the Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, led to a brief military conflict with Israel in 2006. The country was rated as “high” by the Economist Intelligence Unit for both the ease of access to weapons and for its level of internal conflict. The nation’s government also was highly indebted as of 2011, when net general government debt was equal to more than 131% of GDP, according to the IMF.

5. Egypt

- Pct. disapprove of U.S. leadership: 62%
- GDP per capita: $6,455
- Life expectancy: 73.2 years

Since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, tension between Egypt and the United States has risen. In December of 2011, Egyptian forces raided the offices of 17 nongovernmental organizations, including three U.S.-based agencies working to promote fair elections overseas. Western countries such as the U.S. argued that these crackdowns were meant to stifle the emerging democracy in the country. Since President Obama took office, Egyptian support of U.S. leadership has slowly eroded, as Egyptians increasingly oppose economic aid and believe the U.S. has encroached on its domestic affairs. In 2009, 31% of Egyptians supported the U.S. leadership, but by 2010 and 2011, only 19% did. Still, this is a marked improvement from the end of President Bush’s tenure, when support was at just 6%.

See numbers six through ten here.

The Worst Paying Cities In America For Women

 

 

 

In America, the struggle for women to receive equal pay for equal work has been a long one. There is no question that progress has been made over the years. Currently women make 77 cents to every dollar a man makes in the workplace. However, at the local level, the discrepancies is even more dramatic.

In the Provo-Orem, Utah area, the median income for men is a full $20,000 more than that for women! In that metropolitan area, women only make 61 cents compared to a man's dollar. 24/7 Walls Street has picked the ten worse areas for women and Utah has the top two. Here are the top five

1. Provo-Orem, Utah

- Women’s pay as pct. of men’s: 61.6%
- Median income for men: $51,692
- Median income for women: $31,846

No metropolitan area had a greater pay disparity between men and women than Provo, where the median income in 2011 for men working full time was nearly $20,000 more than the median income for women. Women who worked in personal care and service occupations earned a median of just $18,590, or 44.3% of the earnings of their male counterparts. The pay gap was still vast even in higher-wage positions. Women working in business and financial operations earned just 57.8% of what men earned in 2011, one of the largest pay gaps in that field.

2. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah

- Women’s pay as pct. of men’s: 65.2%
- Median income for men: $52,184
- Median income for women: $34,018

Ogden-Clearfield was one of just two metro areas where the median income for women was less than two-thirds of that of men’s. The median income for women was less than half the median income of men in many occupations. In the legal profession, women working full-time earned just 26.3% of what men earned, the biggest pay discrepancy of all metro areas in that field. Women working full time in personal care and service occupations earned just 40.3% of the pay that men did, again the largest pay discrepancy of all metro areas. Other jobs where women’s median income was less than half that of men’s include sales, health diagnosis and treatment, and transportation occupations.

3. Lancaster, Pennsylvania 

- Women’s pay as pct. of men’s: 68.6%
- Median income for men: $47,318
- Median income for women: $32,446

Lancaster is an industrial town. About 11.6% of all full-time, year-round jobs in the region are in the manufacturing industry, the third-highest percentage of the top 100 largest metropolitan areas. Major manufacturers in the region include Armstrong World Industries and R.R. Donnelly & Sons. The median income for women in the manufacturing industry was just 64.3% that of men’s in 2011. The gap was even worse in other fields. In the transportation industry, the median income of women was just 43% that of men’s in 2011, one of the widest pay gaps among the largest metropolitan areas in that field

4. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

- Women’s pay as pct. of men’s: 69.3%
- Median income for men: $51,037
- Median income for women: $35,362

The median income for a woman working full time in Baton Rouge was nearly $16,000 less than the median income for a man. About 7.6% of the population works in the construction and extraction industry, the second-highest percentage of all metro areas measured. Many of these people are employed in chemical extraction. Chemical companies have a significant presence in Baton Rouge, with companies such as Dow Chemical, BASF and ExxonMobil’s chemical unit among the largest employers in the region. In the construction and extraction industry, women earned just 52.4% of what men earned in 2011. Other fields where the pay gap between men and women in Baton Rouge was large include production, where the median income of women in 2011 was just 40.6% of the median income of men, and transportation, where women’s earnings were just 42.8% that of men’s.

5. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida

- Women’s pay as pct. of men’s: 69.8%
- Median income for men: $45,582
- Median income for women: $31,820

The median earnings for women in the Palm Bay metropolitan area in 2011 who worked full time was less than 70% of that for men. The pay gap in the Palm Bay area actually bucks the trend in the state as a whole. In Florida, the median income for women was 83.8% that of men’s, the sixth-smallest gap of all states. Nearly 3.7% of the population works in health support, a higher percentage than all but one other city. The pay gap in that field is very large. Women earned just over 55% the pay of men in 2011. One bright spot was in computer and mathematical occupations. Women earned a median income of more than $67,000, or approximately $3,900 more than the median wage for men.

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