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Every study ranking nations by health or living standards invariably offers Scandinavian social democracies a chance to show their quiet dominance. A new analysis published this week—perhaps the most comprehensive ever—is no different. But what it does reveal are the broad shortcomings of sustainable development efforts, the new shorthand for not killing ourselves or the planet, as well as the specific afflictions of a certain North American country.
Iceland and Sweden share the top slot with Singapore as world leaders when it comes to health goals set by the United Nations, according to a report published in the Lancet . Using the UN's sustainable development goals as guideposts, which measure the obvious (poverty, clean water, education) and less obvious (societal inequality, industry innovation), more than 1,870 researchers in 124 countries compiled data on 33 different indicators of progress toward the UN goals related to health.
The massive study emerged from a decade-long collaboration focused on the worldwide distribution of disease. About a year and a half ago, the researchers involved decided their data might help measure progress on what may be the single most ambitious undertaking humans have ever committed themselves to: survival. In doing so, they came up with some disturbing findings, including that the country with the biggest economy (not to mention, if we're talking about health, multibillion-dollar health-food and fitness industries) ranks No. 28 overall, between Japan and Estonia.
[...]
The voluminous work that went into the paper may make measuring the UN goals on health seem even more daunting: The researchers were able so far to evaluate just 70 percent of the health-related indicators called for by the UN.
It may not be pretty, but "we have no chance of success if we can't agree on what's critical," said Linda Fried, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
(Score: 5, Informative) by jelizondo on Sunday September 25 2016, @02:10AM
Nope, brought to you by a Congress who adjourned [statnews.com] without funding Zika prevention and still is thinking about it [motherjones.com] while the disease spreads [cdc.gov] through the U.S.
Brought to you by a nation [feedingamerica.org], where:
Instead of repeating America Uber Alles like a nazi parrot, how about confronting reality and doing something about it?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 25 2016, @02:15AM
And what is your solution to the Google problem?
(Score: 0, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday September 25 2016, @02:17AM
Sally Struthers, is that you?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by julian on Sunday September 25 2016, @05:28AM
how about confronting reality and doing something about it?
That would require admitting that all economic systems have strengths and weaknesses, that our chosen one isn't perfect, and that the flaws are fundamental to its nature and cannot be corrected by merely following a more "pure" version.
It's a lot easier to think that our way of life is perfect, and if it's not working for you then the problem is with YOU and would you please die quickly and quietly so we don't have to deal with your poverty? It's bad enough that some people feel that way but what's really killing us is that many of the staunchest defenders of this system are themselves languishing in the inequality it has created.
You have people in this very comment section arguing that relative inequality doesn't matter. It does matter; it might actually be more relevant than absolute quality of life for things like societal stability and longevity.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by jelizondo on Sunday September 25 2016, @06:35AM
Hello Julian, thanks for the reply.
I have a problem with the current idea that you can be whatever you want to be, all you have to do is work hard enough. If you don't make it, then it's your fault for not trying hard enough!
Well, there is the case of Usain Bolt. Do people really think that the guys who come in second and third in any race where he is present, do not train hard and put their hearths into winning? Do they not dream of saying "I bested Bolt"? Really?
But Usain has some weird gene or whatever that makes him naturally faster, so it doesn't matter how hard others try, he still wins.
I was born with sub-standard eyes and actually right now I enjoy probably the best vision I ever had (25/20) after a couple of surgeries but risk losing it entirely due to problems with my retina, telling me that it is my fault that I can't see as well as other people is mockery!
Most people don't realize how close they are to being homeless and destitute, it takes only a misstep on a staircase, a drunk driver or a bad gene. Denying basic health and income to people is totally un-American. Blaming them for being poor is just beyond the pale, particularly for these so-called Christians who would have kicked the half-dead man [biblegateway.com] on the way to Jericho, unlike the Samaritan.
As Scott Adams put it: I'm not anti-Business, I'm Anti-Idiot [amazon.com]
If you study history, even in passing, you can see that we will not end well. A society dominated by the few will not last long and there will be blood in the streets. I'm sure the guys at Wall Street and the upper echelons of corporations and goverment are not stupid, why don't they realize that by taking everything they stand to lose everything, including the country?
Epipen, Wells-Fargo, DAPL and other quite recent examples should tell us we have gone too far in the wrong direction.
Sorry for the long reply, I suspect I'm preaching to choir but I despair of the current situation. (And mind you, I'm doing well enough that I outright own my house, van and have no debt. I can and do spend hours reading, studying and writing, because I make enough money to live comfortably. So, I'm not a loser and I do have an autographed photo of Bush (41), no pinko communist here either!
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Sunday September 25 2016, @12:59PM
I'm sure the guys at Wall Street and the upper echelons of corporations and goverment are not stupid,
I am sure they don't think they are stupid. However, I am less confident. Remember the French Revolution?
Yes, Virginia, It could be you!
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 1) by mattTheOne on Monday September 26 2016, @03:35AM
America does suck for the average person, but just like in your example, its great for the outliers.
I've visited many places on that list and was born and raised in Canada. However, for highly educated ppl the rewards and quality of life are much better in the USA, and if U fail you can always go back to the motherland.
That's why America continues to do great, if you're successful its the place to be and that's why you see so many ppl flocking there once they get big like actors, musicians, engineers, doctors, authors, etc. Look how many successful ppl move to California?
If I was just average or below average, it wouldn't make sense to live in USA and I'd be better off immigrating to one of those socialist places, but likely if I was smart enough to realize that I would already be above average. Sadly USA is full of morons, but that's why its so great for newcomers.
(Score: 1) by jelizondo on Monday September 26 2016, @05:18AM
Oh, I love Canada! I would move there in a heartbeat, I even like colder climates except I don’t relish shoveling snow. (I now live in the tropics, hate the higher temperatures but there is no snow to shovel :-) )
What I was trying to convey is that the average Joe gets a lie as a philosophy of life: “try hard and you’ll succeed” when his chances are slim and none, particularly the way the playing field has been tilted towards corporations and big-money. And if Joe doesn’t succeed, then it his fault for not trying hard enough.
Perfectly circular reasoning that lays the blame at the feet of the victim, such as when we tell women, “Dressing like that you are asking to be raped” which absolves the rapist, “What could I do? She was asking for it”
And this carries the danger of us becoming the Eloi, food for the Morlocks who actually carry the weight of making society function.
Now, that I come to think of it, you probably weren’t raised a Canadian, you did not even once write “sorry” in your post!
Cheers
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 25 2016, @12:16PM
motherjones is not a reliable source about... anything