Article: A new divide in American death

[Ultralight]

The charts and graphs are interesting, to say the least.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/04/10/a-new-divide-in-american-death/?tid=pm_national_pop_b

[Gardenarian]

Another sign we are becoming a third world country (as we used to call them.)

[Ultralight]

I agree. But...

Why kill oneself with alcohol and drugs instead of revolting?

[pinkytoe]

Because they are not able (or willing) to see any other possibility.

[Ultralight]

Because they are not able (or willing) to see any other possibility.

Bleak.

[LDAHL]

I've seen a lot written about this from a variety of perspectives. Anything from a nasty sort of "see what happens when you don't vote for Democrats" schadenfreude to the view that this is a symptom of a declining culture where the traditional values that once served as a bulwark against such self-destructive behaviors have eroded.

i don't know if it is an economic problem that can be solved by trade protectionism, high minimum wages or more government involvement in private business. I'm inclined to believe many of those types of measures could do more harm than good for this population in the long run. I also doubt there is a legal or political solution based on scapegoating greedy bankers or devious foreigners. Cheap slogans notwithstanding, you can't legislate hope or mandate self-worth. You can't revolt against existential angst or dysfunctional families.

While there may be some areas where we can try to improve economic opportunities, I lean more toward the cultural decline view. Cultures take a long time to rot, and an even longer time to heal, so I suspect we will be seeing problems like this for a long time to come.

[Ultralight]

I've seen a lot written about this from a variety of perspectives. Anything from a nasty sort of "see what happens when you don't vote for Democrats" schadenfreude to the view that this is a symptom of a declining culture where the traditional values that once served as a bulwark against such self-destructive behaviors have eroded.

i don't know if it is an economic problem that can be solved by trade protectionism, high minimum wages or more government involvement in private business. I'm inclined to believe many of those types of measures could do more harm than good for this population in the long run. I also doubt there is a legal or political solution based on scapegoating greedy bankers or devious foreigners. Cheap slogans notwithstanding, you can't legislate hope or mandate self-worth. You can't revolt against existential angst or dysfunctional families.

While there may be some areas where we can try to improve economic opportunities, I lean more toward the cultural decline view. Cultures take a long time to rot, and an even longer time to heal, so I suspect we will be seeing problems like this for a long time to come.

We are certainly in a cultural pickle.

In my lefty social circles there is often talk of ecological collapse. My peers often cling to and suggest ideas that can save everyone but also involve everyone doing and/or not doing all sorts of things they don't want to do/not do. And it seems unrealistic.

So I suggest to them the "life raft" model. This is to say, those of us that really care and know the facts form a resilient but small community that protects us from the many problems associated with our environmental crises.

This is unanimously scoffed at by all my peers.

I am just spitballing, but I wonder what sort of "life raft" model could work in a rotting culture...

[LDAHL]

I am just spitballing, but I wonder what sort of "life raft" model could work in a rotting culture...

In cultural terms, every happy, well-functioning family is a life raft. Every threadbare little charitable organization of freely associating people of goodwill is a life raft. Every church and bowling league and quilting club is a life raft. Any opportunity people take or create to become better versions of themselves is a life raft.

I don't see any salvation in isolating groups of true believers in a Galt Gulch or Ecotopia. I see it as individuals doing the best they can with what they've got.

[Ultralight]

I mostly agree with this sentiment.

[iris lilies]

Another sign we are becoming a third world country (as we used to call them.)
Third world doesnt die from beer and onion rings, or from cheap synthetic illegal drugs. This is a probelme of excess but also a problem of limitations.