When Americans were asked in a Gallup Poll how many cents of every tax dollar that goes to the federal government is wasted, their average estimate: 49.7 cents

How much of every tax dollar that goes to their state government is wasted, according to Americans: 41.9 cents

How much of every tax dollar that goes to their local government they think is wasted: 36.6 cents

MONEY HONEY

Percentage of men who would prefer to be in a relationship with a corporate ladder climber who could significantly contribute financially to the household, according to a survey by date.com: 88.9%

Percentage of men who say they'd be proud to be married to a woman more successful than them: 85.7%

Percentage who say they wouldn't want a relationship with a woman who is professionally more successful than they are: 10.3%

EXPENSIVE HAWAI'I

Percentage drop in the average price of a hotel room in the U.S. in the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, according to http://www.hotels.com's Hotel Price Index: 17%

Average cost of a U.S. hotel room: $115 (down from $139 in 2008)

Ranks of New York, Hawai'i, Massachusetts and Wyoming (where ski tourism helped boost area hotel prices) as the most expensive U.S. destinations: 1, 2, 3, 4

OH, SO FAB

Percentage of Americans who say their favorite lad from Liverpool is Paul, according to a Zogby poll: 27%

John: 16%

George: 10%

Ringo: 9%

RETIRE? NOT ME

Percentage of workers age 65 and older who say the main reason they work is that they want to, according to the Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends: 54%

Percentage who say the main reason is need for the paycheck: 17%

Percentage who are working past the median retirement age of 62 who say they have delayed their retirement because of the recession: 40%

BONUS PAY

In 2009, percentage of businesses that offer a performance bonus to recruit and retain, according to ExecuNet: 71% (down from 80% in 2008)

IDLE THOUGHT

"In my youth I thought of writing a satire on mankind; but now in my age I think I should write an apology for them."

— Horace Walpole

Contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.