It's always amazed me that so many late-developing countries have better health care, education and business opportunities. No culture can prosper unless women are healthy, valued and secure.

I would go so far as to say that any country is severely stunting its growth by oppressing any social group. Sure, lots of prosperous civilizations throughout history were built on the backs of forced slave labor, but how many of them are still around today? Think how prosperous they would have been if these people were free and working hard to support their families.

I would even venture that America is as powerful and prosperous as it is mostly because we are a nation of free people. We can work hard to achieve our dreams and will put forth the effort to make them happen. I don't think we would have the same work ethic if we were working to make someone else fat and happy, and only putting forth enough effort to keep from being beaten. I just wish more countries would come to this realization.