[Shamira Aizza]

Originally Posted by burn out

It is interesting to note that 7-8 of the bottom 10 are in the south. I just wonder what the opposition to universal healthcare is in these areas? Or better yet what changes do these states have in mind to better serve their
citizens?

How is Universal health care going to change:

1. Births of Low Birthweight as a Percent of All Births -
2. Teenage Birth Rate ( -
3. Age-Adjusted Death Rate
4. Infant Mortality Rate
5. Age-Adjusted Death Rate by Malignant Neoplasms
6. Age-Adjusted Death Rate by Suicide
7. Estimated Rate of New Cancer Cases
8. AIDS Rate
9. Sexually Transmitted Disease Rate
10. Percent of Adults Who Are Binge Drinkers
11. Percent of Adults Who Smoke
12. Percent of Adults Obese
13. Percent of Adults Who Do Not Exercise
14. Beds in Community Hospitals per 100,000 Population
15. Safety Belt Usage Rate?

There "might" be some indirect insurance impacts for items like low birthwt, age-adjusted death rate, and STD's, but these are all MORE likely to be improved with behavior modifications than gov't interference. The rest are speculative, and some may actually be worsened in our society with universal coverage...i.e. people won't be motivated to now use their seatbelts (in spite of widespread laws), or lose wt, or stop smoking and binge-drinking, or having unprotected sex (resulting in teen-pregnancies (how is that a reflection of an insurance problem) and STD's, and engaging in behaviors that result in LBW infants or stop killing themselves.

STD's are on the rise in Europe; can I speculate that this is a failure of their socialized system? Same with the increasing AIDS rate in Europe?

I noticed the political comment, but one must be honest and recognize that the majority of these social factors which were errantly directed to make a case for socialized health care occur statistically more often in social and cultural groups that are not Republican.

[HM2Viking]

The data shows what it shows. The positive correlation is striking between progressive taxation, committment to health insurance for all, and education for all in the achievement of better health and economic outcomes for people living in the healthiest states. The states with the worst health outcomes have in effect failed to build functional social contracts that deliver equitable benefits of life in a free society. (Not equal results but equity.) At some level we are all in society together and need to work together to achieve broad based prosperity.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by Shamira Aizza

I noticed the political comment, but one must be honest and recognize that the majority of these social factors which were errantly directed to make a case for socialized health care occur statistically more often in social and cultural groups that are not Republican.

T be really honest would be to recognize these folks are probably not Democrats either, chances are they have never voted, most likely they are so busy trying to keep afloat that politics is the last thing on their mind.

[burn out]

Originally Posted by Shamira Aizza

How is Universal health care going to change:

1. Births of Low Birthweight as a Percent of All Births -
2. Teenage Birth Rate ( -
3. Age-Adjusted Death Rate
4. Infant Mortality Rate
5. Age-Adjusted Death Rate by Malignant Neoplasms
6. Age-Adjusted Death Rate by Suicide
7. Estimated Rate of New Cancer Cases
8. AIDS Rate
9. Sexually Transmitted Disease Rate
10. Percent of Adults Who Are Binge Drinkers
11. Percent of Adults Who Smoke
12. Percent of Adults Obese
13. Percent of Adults Who Do Not Exercise
14. Beds in Community Hospitals per 100,000 Population
15. Safety Belt Usage Rate?

I noticed the political comment, but one must be honest and recognize that the majority of these social factors which were errantly directed to make a case for socialized health care occur statistically more often in social and cultural groups that are not Republican.

I hope I am misunderstanding you. Let me get this straight. Republicans do not smoke, do not get STDS or AIDS, do not drink , are not obese , exercise regularly, and wear seat belts? Republicans are now above all social aliments..Gee I am a Republican and didn't know I was so healthy and pure. Wrong....many Republicans back universal health care or at least acknowledge there is a need for reform..to many people are dying and suffering from lack of proper medical care and it crosses all political,
religous lines. Funny the only ones that aren't complaining are the ones next in line to be cut off.

[GoldenLove]

Damnnnnnnn I am a Southern girl thru and thru.... Relocating is in my future however but the South is always my home. I don't get into political issues...but I don't think diseases discriminate...

[psalm]

Not wanting to start anything, but the least healthy...what percentage is:

illegal aliens

homeless from up north (who relocate for warmer climate) who bring their
their ailments with them

and as was mentioned, retirees

I don't think universal health care is the answer.

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by psalm

Not wanting to start anything, but the least healthy...what percentage is:

illegal aliens

homeless from up north (who relocate for warmer climate) who bring their
their ailments with them

and as was mentioned, retirees

I don't think universal health care is the answer.

I think the real issues are centered around a failed social contract that does not deliver consistent access to health care, low HS graduation rates and a variety of cultural factors that increase the R/O illness and injury. Good primary care reduces the need for specialised care and treatment which drives up medical costs. MN has high graduation rates for HS, lower medical costs, greater emphasis on primary care, ensuring universal access, and lower death rates for its medicare patients. Make your own conclusions about how to reshape the social contract of your local community to achieve better health outcomes and as always:



And a prime contributor to bad health is:

If you're a woman, or a man who cares about his mother, sister, or daughter, there's something you need to know. Seventy percent of those living in absolute poverty in our world -- that is starving or on the edge of starvation -- are female. Not only that, in our wealthy United States, women and children are the mass of the poor and the poorest of the poor. Women are entitled to know that statistically women worldwide are far more likely to be poor than men. Even if you're a guy, this "women's issue" is about your mother and your grandmother. It's about your sisters and it's about the future of your daughters.

http://alternet.org/rights/50727/?page=1