Re: Life Duty Death
Joseph Askew (jbask1@MFS06.cc.monash.edu.au)
Tue, 12 Sep 1995 22:43:53 GMT
In article <susieq-1209950023220001@dal36.onramp.net> susieq@onramp.net (Susie Q) writes:
>>>>> We are
>>>>>not even dying. On the contrary we are richer, happier,
>>>>>longer lived
>Well, no we aren't longer lived. Read this from the CDC's Daily AIDS
>Summary for August 30, 1995.
Speak for yourself sweetheart. Just who are "we"?
>"Pause in Life-Expectancy Gains Apparently Tied to Impact of
>AIDS"
>New York Times (08/30/95) P. C8; Brody, Jane E.
> Newly published statistics from the Metropolitan Life Insurance
>Company reveal that the increase in AIDS-related deaths has
>basically halted the United States' century-long increase in life
>expectancy. Life expectancy at birth reached a peak 75.8 years
>in 1992, but fell slightly to 75.5 years the next year and
>remained the same in 1994, early data from the National Center
>for Health Statistics show. "While stagnation for two
>consecutive years does not necessarily make a trend, it probably
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>shows in large measure the impact of AIDS," said the group's Dr.
>Charles G. Hertz. He warned of the dangers of focusing on just
>two years of data, but said it was important to keep track of
>small changes because they could be early signs of significant
>problems in health improvements.
We are dealing with a drop of 0.3 of a year. I imagine
that falls well into the margin of error. Even that is
now stable. Big deal.
>Blaming the end of rising life expectancy in the US on AIDS deaths is
>absurd, and, yes, I do know the official figures - and that the official
>figures are lower than the real numbers. But this is a *big* country.
I have yet to cite American AIDS figures and I don't really
care to. It is your problem not mine. Here we were sensible
and ran education programs, gave out condoms, set up needle
exchanges with the result that it is not really a problem
any more. If you didn't that is your problem.
>The decline represents the effects of the cancer epidemic, the worsening
>and explosion of asthma, and other health problems which are escalating
>in frequency and severity.
Cancer is not an epidemic. There are no health problems that
are escalating in frequency and severity. At most one or two
minor diseases are making a small come-back while AIDS still
kills the stupid.
>Wise up. Something's happening here....
Yeah. The world is getting healthier.
Joseph
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