Is the health care system in the United States the envy of the rest of the world? Check out the top 50 countries by life expectancy before you answer:
#1 = Macau (84.36); #2 = Andorra (82.51); #3 = Japan (82.12); #4 = Singapore (81.98); #5 = San Marino (81.97);
#6 = Hong Kong (81.86); #7 = Australia (81.63); #8 = Canada (81.23); #9 = France (80.98); #10 = Sweden (80.86).
#11 = Switzerland (80.85); #12 = Guernsey (80.77); #13 = Israel (80.73); #14 = Iceland (80.67); #15 = Anguilla (80.65);
#16 = Cayman Islands (80.44); #17 = Bermuda (80.43); #18 = New Zealand (80.36); #19 = Italy (80.20);
#20 = Gibraltar (80.19).
#21 = Monaco (80.09); #22 = Liechtenstein (80.06); #23 = Spain (80.05); #24 = Norway (79.95); #25 = Jersey (79.75);
#26 = Greece (79.66); #27 = Austria (79.50); #28 = Faroe Islands (79.44); #29 = Malta (79.44); #30 = Netherlands (79.40).
#31= Luxembourg (79.33); #32 = Germany (79.26); #33 = Belgium (79.22); #34 = Saint Pierre and Miquelon (79.07);
#35 = Virgin Islands (79.05); #36 = United Kingdom (79.01); #37 = Finland (78.97); #38 = Jordan (78.87);
#39 = Isle of Man (78.82); #40 = Korea, South (78.72).
#41 = European Union (78.67); #42 = Puerto Rico (78.53); #43 = Bosnia and Herzegovina (78.50);
#44 = Saint Helena (78.44); #45 = Cyprus (78.33); #46 = Denmark (78.30); #47 = Ireland (78.24); #48 = Portugal (78.21);
#49 = Wallis and Futuna (78.20); #50 = United States (78.11).
From where did these disturbing 2009 statistics originate? Was it some left-wing web site trying to distort the facts to fit an agenda?
Only if you put the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States into that category. click here to read more
The United States can do better. We need substantial health care reform now.
Friday, August 7, 2009
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18 comments:
This is absurd. People in these countries don't live longer because of universal healthcare. It's because they exercise and eat right. If America's health care is so horrible, why do so many of the rich, famous, and leaders of other countries even come to America when they need a good doctor or surgeon? It's because we ARE that good. The problem of the United States is that the people here can't take care of themselves BEFORE the doctors even come into play. America is the FATTEST nation on Earth and it wasn't doctors that did that. It was the people. Small is the ONLY size of drinks, hamburgers, and fries you will find in a fast food place in almost all of these you've listed outside the 'States. The produce and meat we eat in America is pumped with all kinds of preservatives or steroids that you won't find in other countries. Lousy healthcare didn't do that either.
The stats that you posted are not the end-all be-all of facts as relating to health care.
There are just too many factors associated with life expectancy.
Put a 35 year old 500 lb junk food junkie into a health clinic everyday and more than likely he (or she) probably won't see their 40th birthday; no matter how many doctors are attending him (or her) if this person does not make some radical life style changes.
I agree with Bfoxy. Alot of people come down from Canada to avail themselves to care by U.S. doctors.
Your statistics do not make a mandate for health care reform.
I notice that rich countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are below the U.S. Don't those countries supply a form of universal health care to the general populace??
I think your list merely provides gainful employment to some Dilbert number cruncher within the confines of the CIA. I bet that person has a good health care benefits package, courtesy of you the tax payer.
Bfoxy - "People in these countries don't live longer because of universal healthcare." Where did I say anything about universal health care?
You state that the "rich, famous, and leaders of other countries" come to the U.S. for doctors. Do you think that the average U.S. citizen, with an HMO or health plan administered by companies that profit from denying, rather than approving treatments, have the same access to the doctors that those rich, famous, and leaders do?
Of course it is important for people to take care of themselves. But you should not completely discount the connection between health care systems and life expectancy stats.
Isn't your statement, "Small is the ONLY size of drinks, hamburgers, and fries you will find in a fast food place in almost all of these you've listed outside the 'States." based solely upon your desire to make a point, not on specific, verifiable facts?
If your comment is true that, "The produce and meat we eat in America is pumped with all kinds of preservatives or steroids that you won't find in other countries.", then why are the businesspeople that run those industries only doing such dastardly things in the U.S.? Wouldn't you think that if such actions are profitable, they would be done in other countries as well?
Wayne in Pa - I never wrote that the stats I posted were the "end-all be-all of facts as relating to health care". But to disconnect life expectancy stats from effective health care systems does not make sense.
You comment, "I notice that rich countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are below the U.S. Don't those countries supply a form of universal health care to the general populace??" I don't know. Perhaps you could research that and get back to us, as universal health care was never mentioned in this week's blog.
What is the reason behind your distainful dismissal of these stats: "I think your list merely provides gainful employment to some Dilbert number cruncher within the confines of the CIA. I bet that person has a good health care benefits package, courtesy of you the tax payer."
Taxpayers already provide health care benefits for: all federal employees, including military personnel, both active and discharged; Medicare recipients; and Medicaid recipients.
Your comment seems to indicate you are not happy that taxpayers provide those benefits, at least to types like that "Dilbert number cruncher within the confines of the CIA." Am I right? If so, what changes would you suggest?
::Where did I say anything about universal health care?::
At the bottom of the original post you say the US needs health care reform now. From previous blogs, you've made it perfectly clear what kind of reform you want.
My statement on small sized items in fast food places IS a fact per "Supersize Me" and it makes a correlation, not a fact about the obesity situation in the country and both were to make a point.
Your two guesses about meat steroids are well founded. Meat steroids have been banned in many countries outside the US for health reasons and greedy companies have been attempting to circumvent the law.
You say I shouldn't discount this information in relation to the US's health care systems, but in your original post, you clearly are linking them as a prime reason for health care reform. Fixing just one variable isn't going to make things that much better if at all.
The second sentence of your first comment stated, "People in these countries don't live longer because of universal healthcare." It sounded like a knee-jerk talking point strawman, as my post did not say, or even imply, that universal health care was the reason for the lower life expectancy stat for the U.S.
You wrote, "My statement on small sized items ("Small is the ONLY size of drinks, hamburgers, and fries you will find in a fast food place in almost all of these you've listed outside the 'States.") in fast food places IS a fact per "Supersize Me"..."
In the movie 'Supersize Me' there is only one comment, from a French woman (tourist?), that relates to your "fact". She says, "The small size here, it's a bigger size in France. Even the small size here, I can't drink."
On the basis of that one anecdotal comment you concluded that your statement on small sized items in fast food places in almost all of the countries outside of the U.S. is a fact?
::The second sentence of your first comment stated. It sounded like a knee-jerk talking point strawman, as my post did not say, or even imply, that universal health care was the reason for the lower life expectancy stat for the U.S.::
Stop being a brick. I said before that I KNOW you're in favor of universal healthcare from previous blog entries you've made (like the one about the lady dying in the hospital waiting room). In this entry you're calling for "healthcare reform". I said before I can read between the lines and know what "reform" you're in favor of because of what you've said in the past. That's not a straw man because you yourself said it before. Are you not on board the universal healthcare bandwagon anymore? I don't know of any other way to run things other than universal and the way we're doing it right now. I'm open to looking at other ideas.
I thought Supersize Me made a big deal out of there not being anything other than a small size. Then again, I haven't seen it since it was in theaters. The point is that fast food availability is more limited outside the US and that people need to take better care of themselves before healthcare even enters the equation.
Let me quote you oh bitter person:
"The United States can do better. We need substantial health care reform now."
Because the USA appears as Number 50 on some longevity list you seem to feel this is a mandate for health care reform, universal or otherwise.
Are we in some kind of race with these other countries??? And noooo,I am not going to do research on the health care systems of those other countries. I asked you the question.
And what kind of health care reform are you referring to?? Selective health care?? Al a carte health care? Univeral health care?(OOOPS!!! You seem to have a bit of sensitivity to that descriptive word "Universal".)
And no I don't begrudge anyone who is gainfully employed, federal employee or not, military or not, healthcare benefits. And I didn't even bring up Medicare or Medicaid!!!
I just thought it was a little weak to base a mandate for health care reform on life expectancy stats.
May I quote you again?? " What is the reason behind your distainful dismissal of these stats:"
I don't know what "distainful" means. I don't dismiss these stats I just think a lot more facts need to be brought out before we embark on a major overhaul of our health care in this country.
There is room for improvement for sure. Just don't throw out the baby with the bath water!!!
Also, my congrats to that Dilbert CIA statisticisian for getting you all fired up!!! I am sure his pointy-haired boss is very proud!!
OK OK the correct spelling is
"statistician" for the record.
How distainful of you to not check your spelling, both of you.
Thank you both for taking time away from 'participating' in town hall meetings to comment here. LOL BTW.
And thank you for doing the same to maintain this thought-provoking blog. What do town hall meetings have to do with the price of tea in China anyway?
The topic this week was health care. Maybe you haven't seen the news lately that has shown how many town hall meetings on the topic of health care have become shouting matches.
My last comment was an attempt to inject a bit of levity, that's all.
Okay, because I thought you were bashing us for not going to those meetings, which you cannot do unless you've been to one yourself.
Speaking of town hall meetings, you should discuss those in your next blog.
Bfoxy - Thanks for the suggestion. According to the House of Representatives web site, the "Summer District Work Period" (don't you just love the official name for their summer vacation?) runs from August 3 to September 4.
I may wait until this "Work Period" is over to write about the town hall meetings, as there will be more such meetings between now and September 4 to analyze.
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