Editing 79-04-B4 (section)

= Comparisons =

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=== Transcript ===
There are three so-called superpowers based on size and population in the
world; two are Communist and one is free. If you don't mind trying to follow some
figures you'll discover just how superior freedom is to the "workers paradise"
that accepted the idiocy of Karl Marx.

In size, the Soviet Union is number one with 8.6 million square miles. China
is next with 3.7, barely larger than our own country with 3.6 million square miles.
In population of course, China is way out in front with nearly one billion
people. Russia has 262 million and we number 220 million.

We only have estimates for the gross national product of the Soviet Union and
China and they are probably padded, but ours is almost twice that of Russia's and
nearly five times that of China. The percentage of our work force engaged in
agriculture is only about one-eighth that of Russia and one-twenty-sixth that of
China, yet both of them have to import food or starve.

We produce seven times as many automobiles as the USSR and more than 600 times
more than China. Those autos travel on more than three million miles of paved
road in the U.S. There are only 200,000 miles in Russia, and 161,000 in China.
We outnumber them in telephones 155 million to only 22 million in all of the
vast reaches of the Soviet Union and a mere five million in China. It makes you
wonder what teenagers over there do in their spare time. And don't say they watch
TV. We have 233 million sets to 60 million in the Soviet Union and only 700,000
in China. There are more than 11 times as many computers in use here than in
Russia and 170 times more than in China.

Now let's get down to some of the differences in daily living. The average
wage in our country is $13,400. That is about four and one-half times Russia's
$3,000 and 37 times China's $260. Perhaps you think their money goes farther than
ours. Well, not if you translate a purchase into how long you have to work at the
average wage to buy something -- say a bicycle. An American would only have to work
a day plus two hours. The Russian has to work seven full days and the Chinese
worker puts in 67 days.

When it comes to elbow room in our homes, Americans average 450 square feet
for each individual. In the Soviet Union it's 133 and in China they have a
confining 30 square feet. That is less than half the space we consider minimum
in a prison cell.

We aren't too far apart in life expectancy, but again we lead with an average
of 73 years. In Russia it's 69 and in China, 65. I'll bet it seems longer though
in those countries than it does here.

One can't help but wonder if China's number two man Teng Hsiao-ping, who was
here recently, doesn't remember some of what he saw and question whether his
country has chosen the right heroes to follow. The plain fact is, followers of
Marx and Lenin have never come close to achieving what we have and we started with
a totally undeveloped country. 

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>6-Mar[[Radio1979|1979]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan:_In_His_Own_Hand|RihoH-229]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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