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(AP)   Public-health expert notes that poor folks in the US have lower life expectancies than middle- or upper-class folks. Then he says he has no idea why this is and asks Congress to explain   (hosted.ap.org) divider line
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    More: Dumbass  
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2404 clicks; posted to Main » and Politics » on 12 Sep 2006 at 8:11 PM (16 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



105 Comments     (+0 »)


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UberDave [OhFark]
2006-09-12 6:37:01 PM  
I hear the upper-class folks have their own clones for spare body parts....
 
bboy
2006-09-12 6:41:26 PM  
Treating McDonald's as something that's okay to eat every single day?
 
FLMountainMan
2006-09-12 6:45:59 PM  
Wealthy people are generallymore intelligent and more prone to making better decisions. Having access to better health care is a plus, too, but note the poor northern whites with long lifespans in the study.
Having lived in North Dakota/Montana for a few years; those people eat and live right. Having lived in the South for the rest of my life; we eat crap.

I expect many poverty apologists to dispute this, that's totally expected.
 
sugarpop
2006-09-12 6:56:01 PM  
Murray was surprised to find that lack of health insurance explained only a small portion of those gaps. Instead, differences in alcohol and tobacco use, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity seemed to drive death rates.

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but isn't it possible that lack of health insurance leads to fewer doctor visits? And less contact with doctors means a lower chance of having someone advise and/or pressure you to quit smoking, drinking, and eating crap and to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked?
 
FLMountainMan
2006-09-12 7:14:53 PM  
Oh, right, because people have to be told that smoking, drinking, and eating crap are bad for them.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 7:24:44 PM  
sugarpop: Murray was surprised to find that lack of health insurance explained only a small portion of those gaps. Instead, differences in alcohol and tobacco use, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity seemed to drive death rates.

Me, I would be surprised if this Murray guy could find his own ass with both hands and a flashlight.
 
mediaho
2006-09-12 7:51:43 PM  
I saw one of those Life in the ER-type shows and this guy came in with a knife sticking out of his back. He was literally fighting off the doctors who wanted to treat him because he was uninsured and couldn't afford it. They managed to subdue and sedate him long enough to perform the operation and he snuck out of the hospital when he came to.

We have a major problem here.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 7:56:49 PM  
mediaho: He was literally fighting off the doctors who wanted to treat him because he was uninsured and couldn't afford it.

I blame Bush.
 
mediaho
2006-09-12 8:00:05 PM  
The CraneMeister: I blame Bush.

Cute threadjack attempt.
 
Dubya's_Coke_Dealer
2006-09-12 8:16:21 PM  
Congress can't explain squat. We could have scientists look into it, but that's Satan-worhip and Liberal Elitism.
 
NeverDrunk23
2006-09-12 8:16:29 PM  
Look up in the sky!
Its a duh!
Its a no shi--, Sherlock!
Its Captain Obvious!!

Save us, Captain Obvious, from the stupidity of the world!
 
Jesda
2006-09-12 8:17:40 PM  
I blame GERALD FORD!
 
Evil Twin Skippy [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2006-09-12 8:18:24 PM  
It's called paying medical care out of pocket generally leads to only seeking medical advise after acute illnesses manifest.
 
NutWrench
2006-09-12 8:18:33 PM  
submitter: Then he says he has no idea why this is and asks Congress to explain

Because poor folks are obviously being punished by the Divine Order of the Universe. DUH!

/Sarcaatic slashy!
 
bh_jodokast
2006-09-12 8:19:33 PM  
Dumbass tag « Republicans
Good Guys « Democrats
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:19:37 PM  
mediaho: Cute threadjack attempt.

You do realize I'm one of the few conservatives here?

Not a threadjack attempt; a joke about how people like this Murray asshat tend to blame everyone but the person responsible with issues like this.
 
Irascible [OhFark]
2006-09-12 8:20:24 PM  
mediaho -We have a major problem here.

"Reality" television?
 
olddinosaur
2006-09-12 8:20:53 PM  
I spent much of my life working with hairy-chested rugged he-men in the petroleum industry, and after a while I noticed something: They tend to die off young, usually in the 55-60 age range.

They didn't grow old gracefully, when they felt the first chill of winter's frost, they kicked in the afterburners and kept on truckin'.

Meanwhile, I'm still here---------and everyone who ever told me hard work never killed anyone is now dead.

It's a warm, cozy feeling.
 
gradatim
2006-09-12 8:21:46 PM  
Maybe because medical care (and also all decent medical insurance) is too farking expensive for them to afford. Kinda hard to live a long life when you get sick and can't afford the treatments necessary to get over it.

That, and unhealthy food is cheaper than healthy food.

/might as well get the flamefest rolling at full speed
 
Villain
2006-09-12 8:22:27 PM  
Since God wants the wealthy to be so, I'd have to say it's because God hates poor people.
 
mediaho
2006-09-12 8:22:43 PM  
The CraneMeister: You do realize I'm one of the few conservatives here?

No, I know you're super conservervative, but (as you know) this isn't a problem that just popped up in the last 6 years. But then someone replies to your sarcasm, you reply back and next thing you know, we're all discussing which Party is the least horrible. Then distraction accomplished.
 
Irascible [OhFark]
2006-09-12 8:22:56 PM  
olddinosaur -I spent much of my life working with hairy-chested rugged he-men in the petroleum industry....(snip)

Stop it. You're making me hot.
 
Evil Twin Skippy [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2006-09-12 8:23:11 PM  
bh_jodokast

Dumbass tag « Republicans
Good Guys « Democrats

In all fairness the Democrats were running both houses of congress between 1980 and 1994. For 2 years they had both houses AND the presidency. And during said 2 years they ALSO had a sympathetic supreme court.

They had plenty of oppertunity to clean up the mess. They didn't.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:25:34 PM  
mediaho: Then distraction accomplished.

I submitted this headline; why would I want to threadjack its thread?

On the other hand, so what if I did?
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:27:09 PM  
Evil Twin Skippy: And during said 2 years they ALSO had a sympathetic supreme court.

Yeah. Two whole years and they could have completely solved the medical costs crisis and gotten everyone in the country to quit drinking, smoking and taking drugs and start eating healthy food. But you know, you get busy and time flies...
 
Gosling
2006-09-12 8:27:29 PM  
Life-support machines are hooked up to parking meters.

That's pretty much it.
 
Major Thomb
2006-09-12 8:28:03 PM  
Poor choices = poor health. I remember talking to a guy one night that was biatching that he couldn't afford the $80/month his retail employer (Sears I think) wanted for health coverage. Then his single night bar bill got dropped off at $35.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:29:37 PM  
sugarpop: Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but isn't it possible that lack of health insurance leads to fewer doctor visits?

Because people who drink too much, smoke and eat nothing but fried food and Twinkies would visit the doctor faithfully if only insurance was cheaper, eh?

No, it's not fair to speculate on whether they could afford to see the doctor if they quit blowing all their money on beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets. It's someone else's fault, so someone else should have to pay for it.
 
WipeHandsOnPants
2006-09-12 8:29:49 PM  
I blame Hillary.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:30:50 PM  
WipeHandsOnPants: I blame Hillary.

Eek! Threadjack!
 
mediaho
2006-09-12 8:31:12 PM  
The CraneMeister: On the other hand, so what if I did?

[image from familyguy.neoseeker.com too old to be available]

"Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?"

Whatever. It's your right. And I'll call attention to it as I see fit.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:31:38 PM  
mediaho: Whatever. It's your right. And I'll call attention to it as I see fit.

I know you are, but what am I?
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:32:33 PM  
mediaho: "Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?"

"So what if I did?" wasn't so much "Make me stop, punk" as it was "Who really cares if a thread gets jacked?"
 
Riffington
2006-09-12 8:34:19 PM  
It's *not* primarily access to medical care. Lower-middle-class people who are uninsured have difficulty obtaining medical care. Poor people, insured or not, get plentiful free medical care. They don't live longer as a result. Eating habits, exercise habits, and drug habits* all matter a great deal. Certainly more than the difference in medical care access amongst Americans.

*legal or illegal.
/MD
//of course if you were comparing Americans to Nigerians instead of Americans of different socioeconomic classes...
///but that's too tricky a study to do right.
 
burson
2006-09-12 8:34:47 PM  
Did anyone else notice the lack of a "Low-Income Urban White" category? Or do I just not exist?
 
Shut........UP
2006-09-12 8:35:08 PM  
I'd be willing to bet that if they made different lifestyle choices like not doing drugs, smoking, drinking or going to McDonald's, their life expectancy would increase dramatically even without access to a doctor.

But that would place responsibility on the individual to do something about their lives and we can't have none of that anymore...
 
FLMountainMan
2006-09-12 8:36:07 PM  
You exist, but no one cares about you. See Tyler Durden.
 
jimb213
2006-09-12 8:36:47 PM  
Major Thomb: Poor choices = poor health. I remember talking to a guy one night that was biatching that he couldn't afford the $80/month his retail employer (Sears I think) wanted for health coverage. Then his single night bar bill got dropped off at $35.


well how else is he going to deal with working retail? Most of the heaviest drinking I ever did was with my retail coworkers.

/of course, I was in college at the time, too...
//they also did the hardest drugs
 
Lizsavage
2006-09-12 8:37:40 PM  
Health insurance is freaking insanely expensive, the CHEAPEST I could find for just me, was 300 a month with $100 co pay for everything, doesnt cover prescriptions, glasses or the dentist.

I havent had health insurance for 10 years (well i didn once but apparently it meant nothing to my primary physician I chose, and still would have had to pay full price)

When your poor, you drink/smoke more to try and solve your depression from not having money. Trust me as a bartender my best customers were usually the poorest.
 
NakedApe
2006-09-12 8:37:43 PM  
The study also highlights that the complicated tapestry of local and cultural customs may be more important than income in driving health disparities...

Y'all hold my beer and watch this!
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:37:45 PM  
FLMountainMan: See Tyler Durden.

Who dat?
 
mediaho
2006-09-12 8:40:02 PM  
Lizsavage: When your poor, you drink/smoke more to try and solve your depression from not having money. Trust me as a bartender my best customers were usually the poorest.

Exactly. The poor will tend to self-medicate for all sorts of things when they can't afford maintenance drugs.
 
weemonkey
2006-09-12 8:40:07 PM  
Oh no, the governement is planning to give health care to those damn Canine Americans thats why. I pay for my own Canine Americans healthcare, so don't blame me.
 
Uncle Karl
2006-09-12 8:40:57 PM  
Riffington
While the poor in some states do receive free healthcare (or federally through medicaid). How often do they go? Can they afford the time off of work? And what is the quality of this care?

I have known people who had to use free healthcare, she was pregnant and lost her job. The doctors told her she was a poor slut, that she would be back in a year and would always be poor.The nurses said her baby would be a welfare queen as well, she was not even on welfare. This girl was a college student. She has since had this child and is now making 6 figures. If your doctor or nurses acted this way would you go to see them?
 
Evil Twin Skippy [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2006-09-12 8:41:28 PM  
The CraneMeister

Evil Twin Skippy: And during said 2 years they ALSO had a sympathetic supreme court.

Yeah. Two whole years and they could have completely solved the medical costs crisis and gotten everyone in the country to quit drinking, smoking and taking drugs and start eating healthy food. But you know, you get busy and time flies...

Dude the legislature is where laws are made. They controlled the legislature for the 12 years while things went completely whacky with the HMOs. They bent over backwards for Reagans war against the poor, while passing budget over budget that heaped money into defense projects like coal into a fire.

I hate the Republicans with a passion. But I have zero respect for the Democrats. None. Nada. Zip.
 
Riffington
2006-09-12 8:42:12 PM  
Lizsavage
Sure it isn't the other way around? Perhaps the people willing to waste lots of money on drink/smokes are the ones who are bad at saving money? And who then end up poorest?
 
Shocktopus
2006-09-12 8:43:32 PM  
I submitted this with a better headline. This one SUCKS.

"Scientists say where you live determines your life expectancy. Still no cure for correlation."


/grumble
 
Uncle Karl
2006-09-12 8:45:27 PM  
Riffington
I am not rich but I have a decent savings(3 months income) and no debt other than college debt, yet I "waste" on booze and smokes and all kinds of other recreation. I put waste in quotes as it is not a waste it is a form of recreation, and yes at times self medication. Just because you can afford your life, does not mean everyone has the same advantages as you.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:46:00 PM  
mediaho: The poor will tend to self-medicate for all sorts of things when they can't afford maintenance drugs.

Oh, puh-LEESE.

It's simple: If you have enough money to get blasted at a bar three or four times a week, you have enough money to buy some insurance. Even a lousy, overly expensive policy would be cheaper per month than an $80 a week bar tab.

On the other hand, if you can't afford both and you're stupid enough to choose the bar tab over health insurance, why should I foot the bill?
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2006-09-12 8:47:11 PM  
Uncle Karl: I am not rich but I have a decent savings(3 months income) and no debt other than college debt, yet I "waste" on booze and smokes and all kinds of other recreation.

I would say you're wasting the money only if you spend it INSTEAD OF buying yourself halfway decent medical care.
 
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