Socialized Health Care in the USA

[kandrathe]

Not to mention the effect of gun freedom on life expectancy, which would of course also have to be factored out.;)

Or, the drinking alcohol and killing other people freedom... But as far as epidemic... "Alcohol-related causes of death include accidents, violence, poisoning, mouth and throat cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, suicide, stroke and many others."

But seriously, you seem to have little regard for the importance of preventative medicine and the availability of routine medical treatment for everyone, including people who are too poor to afford adequate health care, whether they are pregnant mothers-to-be or the uninsured who eventually wind up in the ER rooms at enormous and avoidable expense to the entire system.

Why would you draw that conclusion? I believe at least 4 times in this thread I've advocated more Federal attention to health and fitness (ala JFK, presidential physical fitness award). I think I still might have that patch in my childhood treasure box. Talk about your low cost, viral advertising campaigns...