In the song “Mathematics” Mos Def gives various statistics as a way of bringing attention to social concerns. You can read its lyrics here.
Of particular intrest is “40% of Americans own a cell phone.” According to my calculation, that means 108,000,000 people own cell phone owners! This can’t be right, can it?
You’re absolutely correct. That can’t possibly be right. The 13th Amendment clearly prohibits Americans from owning cell phone owners.
Seriously, what’s the problem with the idea that 108,000,000 people in the U.S. own cell phones? Even more people than that own non-cell phones. Or cars. Or televisions.
At any rate, this April, 2000 Gallup poll indicates that half of all Americans own cell phones. Which would actually be more than 108,000,000 people, I reckon.
I would think that means they have access to. Not all of them own one.