Balko Burns The Bleaters
If you’re not a regular reader of Radley Balko blog, you should be. I’d been preparing a post on why our lifespan and infant mortality rates aren’t that big a concern. But like most mediocre writers, I’m just as happy to quote a better writer than write for myself:
The discrepancy between the U.S. and Andorra (the world leader in life expectancy) isn’t much. It’s less than six years. That doesn’t seem like anything to get panicky about. Good for Andorrans. All twelve of them.
I don’t know how much I’d trust the data coming from some parts of the world. Cuba, for example. Does anyone really think Cuba’s putting out honest numbers about its health care system? Hell, I don’t trust public health data when it comes from the U.S. government.
As I recall, the Soviet Union claimed a lifespan close to that of the US at the height of their power. After Communism fell, the figures mysteriously dropped by a dramatic amount. Never forget your Lenin: truth only exists when it serves the Revolution (he’d love Michael Moore).
The United States counts all births as live if they show any sign of life, regardless of prematurity or size. This includes what many other countries report as stillbirths. In Austria and Germany, fetal weight must be at least 500 grams (1 pound) to count as a live birth; in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, the fetus must be at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. In Belgium and France, births at less than 26 weeks of pregnancy are registered as lifeless. And some countries don’t reliably register babies who die within the first 24 hours of birth. Thus, the United States is sure to report higher infant mortality rates.
Read the whole thing. Over at my own blog, I use the phrase “Numbers in the Dark” to describe numbers quoted by pundits without context or, frequently, in deliberately misleading terms. Hell, some numbers, like the three million homeless we supposedly had in the 80’s, are just plain made up. (The phrase itself comes a wonderful short story by Italo Calvino). As a scientist, I have an instinct for seeing when numbers are being manipulated to say things they aren’t.
Life expectancy and infant mortality are very much numbers in the dark. We assume that all countries compiles the numbers the same way (false) and with absolute honesty (also false). They’re not completely useless, but you have to know what they mean. Radley Balko does. I hope that a lot of you reading this will.
Michael Moore doesn’t.
Comments
I read that article on CNN, and I was wondering about it myself. I got to thinking about the staggering number of illegal immigration that probably isn’t taking place in Andora.
I get the idea that there are forces outside of the government who have an interest in getting socialized medicine in America. Not that there’s a conspiracy or even a concerted effort. It just seems like there’s some kind of push for it in certain circles. Maybe it’s some kind of misguided altruism, but it seems more sinister than that to me.
I read an article recently about the loss of American height. Apparently, Americans are shorter, and according to the article, it’s because of our crappy medical care. Something about the whole thing rings false to me.
I read an article recently about the loss of American height. Apparently, Americans are shorter, and according to the article, it’s because of our crappy medical care. Something about the whole thing rings false to me.
I heard it was related to nutrition and diet. But I wonder if it could have something to do with an increase in the hispanic population, and a reduction in the population of black males. Because let’s face it, if you have a group of 20 people, and you cap Tookie’s 6’5 ass, and introduce Pedro’s 5’8 ass, you’re going to reduce the average height.
Two days ago I heard a radio report on Russia and they talked specifically about a mandated day off coming up for all Russians in September. It’s basically called “Procreation Day” and Putin is “suggesting” that all hetero couples try to get pregnant. It’s being implemented because Russian men’s life expectancy is around 57 years at this time.
Its off topic but a great blog post by Mark Steyn.
You know, regarding Andorra, it should be pointed out that 67.7% of their population is not even Andorran, but rather wealthy citizens from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and other nations that have moved there later in their lives.
Why is this relevant? Well, when you have a nation whose population is small to start with, and then factor in that more than two-thirds of them have the means to get access to the best health care in Europe or elsewhere (which is always the kind you pay for, of course.) you are not likely to get a life expectancy rate close to your average nation.
You may as well calculate the life expectancy rate of your average resort in the South of France, and try to hold the rest of the world to that standard.
The point is, Andorra’s life expectancy rate is high for a good reason; they’re all getting premium, non socialized, health care.
So to use Andorra as an argument for Moore’s case is not only a mistake, but it would be just plain stupid.
But then… nobody ever accused mooreons of being master critical thinkers.
Plus, being a teenager or young adult is more dangerous time than being a 30 or 40 something…
Drinking, causing trouble / having fun…
So, if wealthy middle aged people move there… they lived the riskier part of their lives somewhere else and got through it.... already…
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Great post as always, Mike.
And please, don’t sell yourself short as a writer.
You seem to have a real knack for it.
At the very least, your writing style beats Moore’s.
(Or, rather, his ghostwriters’)