Normally I don't take Bobert seriously enough to respond to, but I thoughts his questions would be a good learning tool.

The question was "how could the US have 43% of the worlds GNP" given the problems Bobert mentions.

The answer is simple.   FREEDOM.    The USA is the freest county on the planet.   The best and the brightest from other countries (Canada, India, UK, Pakistan) come to the USA because of the freedom to succeed.   Here are the specifics to the Bobert challenge.

1.   How can we rank 21 in science- teachers union prohibiting students from learning while protecting bad tearhers, and no vourchers for parents in bad school districts.   Fortunately, freedom and US ingenuity overcome this.

2. Highest murder rate- mostly limited to urban city and gang violence.    Murders rates in rural areas very low.    Most states bordering Canada have lower crime rate than in Canada.

3. 1/4 of people in poverty-   low income people in USA live better than most general populations in world.   According to study, the majority of people living in poverty in the USA have tv's, stereos, cars, houses, air conditioning, vcr's, expensive sneakers, etc.   The average low income person in USA has larger living quarters than the average person in Paris or London.   

4. 1/4 afro americans in jail-   That is an easy one.   Because they committed crimes.   The real question is why are they committing crimes.   I would contend that the 70% out of wedlock birth rate has a great deal to do with the poverty and incarceration.   That and voting democratic which should be a crime.

5. Higest incarceration rate in world-   because we put criminals in jail.   In other countries they put criminals in office and consider corruption the norm.   Were Sadaams sons ever arrested for rape and murder?

6. Upper 1% bring up the GNP- The upper 1% in USA make 20.8% of all the income and pay 37.4% of all the taxes.   Clearly they are paying too much.   We must begin to tax the poor their fair share.

In the words of Suzanna Goodfreind (wife of former CEO of Solomon Brothers on Wall Street) "it's so expensive being rich"