Numbers don't lie

The US Census Bureau has released its 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States, and the results (as reported by the NY Times) are, alternatively:

-surprising:

More Americans were born in 2004 than in any years except 1960 and 1990.

-heartening:

As recently as 1980, only 12 percent of doctors were women; by 2004, 27 percent were. In 1970, 33,000 men and 2,000 women earned professional degrees; in 2004, the numbers were 42,000 men and 41,000 women.

-depressing:

...a shift in what college freshmen described as their primary personal objectives. In 1970, 79 percent said their goal was developing a meaningful philosophy of life. By 2005, 75 percent said their primary objective was to be financially very well off.

-bizarre:

More people are injured by wheelchairs than by lawnmowers, the abstract reports. Bicycles are involved in more accidents than any other consumer product, but beds rank a close second.

-shitty:

One thing Americans produce more of is solid waste — 4.4 pounds per day, up from 3.7 pounds in 1980.