FX.co ★ Disinformation in Russian style, or Five Myths about the United States

Talks about the social consequences of the Great Depression

Many believe that during the Great Depression, about two million US residents died because of famine. Political scientists claim that this is a myth. Experts explain that, at the time, on the contrary, the production of products in the United States showed an increase of 12%, and life expectancy increased from 56.9 to 61.3 years.

In support of their rightness, scientists state that in case of total extinction of citizens millions of US residents would try to emigrate.

The US lives at the expense of other states

Many argue that the United States of America produces only 20% of world GDP, while consumes 40% of it. Experts cite the figures for imports and exports of the US for 2014. Thus, the US GDP was $17.4 trillion (23.3% of world GDP). The negative balance of trade in goods in 2014 reached 6.2% of GDP, which indicates that the States can not live at the expense of other states. Experts believed that in 2014, the US produced 22.3% of world GDP while consuming 23.7%.

America has printed a lot of dollars

Some believe that the US printed 1.4 quadrillion dollars, which exceeds the world GDP. Experts note that at the time of the appearance of the myth, the money supply of the States was $8.2 trillion - this figure is indicated on the Fed's website.

Unimaginably large US debt

Some are throwing stones at the US garden, claiming that America has a huge debt financed by other states. Someone is convinced that in case of termination of its financing the state will default, as it will not be able to service its obligations ($19.1 trillion). However, after analyzing all the data, you can see that the external debt of the United States by January 1, 2016, was only $6.2 trillion (35% of GDP). For example, the Russia's external debt is $530 billion (47% of GDP). It is also worth considering the fact that the States borrows in their own currency.

The US spends a lot on military expenses

Today, the United States spends about half of the total amount invested by other states in this sphere for military needs. However, America's spending on arms, the army and military campaigns are not in the first place in the list of public investment - most of the funds the States invest in health and social welfare unlike other countries.