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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (109545)	4/15/2005 10:10:02 PM
From: DavesM	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793624

JohnM If you look at WHO statistics (average lifespan at birth), the United States falls short (males born in 1999 could expect to live on average to 74.0 years) of other 1st world countries. This seems even more glaring when you factor in how much money the U.S. spends on health care. But how much of the American lifespan is a function of our medical system, our diets compared to other nationalities, or how much is a function of who our parents are? Asians born in the United States can expect to live about as long as Asians born almost anywhere (males 80.9, females 86.5) - despite a more "American" diet. Non Hispanic White males can expect to live to 74.7 (1999) years old. This is the same as Germany, slightly less than England, and greater than Scotland or Ireland (more white Americans are of German, English or Irish background than any others). Hispanics born in the United States can probably expect to live longer than those born in any Latin American country - including Cuba (males 73.4). In 1999 American born Hispanic males could expect to live to 77.1 years old. In fact, the life expectancy of Hispanics is nearly 10 years longer than black males born in America. I would expect that a greater percentage of Hispanics are uninsured than (non hispanic) whites or asians. This for a people (from what I've read) are about the fattest people on the planet. census.gov If we change our medical system to more like the British or Germans, how much can we really expect the average American lifespan to increase?