Actually, it is a valid rhetorical device, showing that we would not rely on life expectancy statistics alone in evaluating the quality of health care if our well- being were at stake.
They took the most striking contrasts. They were not engaged in depth analysis.
I do not see anything insidious in the omission of "European blacks", since it does not have to do with the particular point being made.
He mentioned various Asian groups, for example, with different life expectancy statistics. As you may know, in most Chinatowns, Koreans, Japanese, and Indochinese flock to the area. Also, as you may know, Chinatowns in every city except New York are emptying out, as the Chinese follow the normal pattern of immigrants, moving to better neighborhoods, particularly the suburbs, as they become more afluent. This is only part of the observation, of course, but you overdo the presumption of segregation.
As far as black demographics go, approximately two thirds are classified as middle class or better, only one third lives in impoverished circumstances. The primary correlation for being underserved is poverty, not race. I believe that, even controlling for that variable, blacks have been shown to have more health problems, although I do not have data ready to hand....... |
