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Why don't Americans live as long as Europeans?

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Soho gator

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You guessed it guns!

http://d1c25a6gwz7q5e.cloudfront.net/papers/1294.pdf


Abstract.

The US remains far behind most other affluent countries in terms of life expectancy. One
of the possible causes of this life expectancy gap is the widespread availability of
firearms and the resulting high number of US firearm fatalities: 10,801 homicides in
2000. The European Union experienced 1,260 homicides, Japan only 22. Using multiple
decrement techniques, we show that firearm violence shortens the life of an average
American by 104 days (151 days for white males, 362 days for black males). Among all
fatal injuries, only motor vehicle accidents have a stronger effect. We estimate that the
elimination of all firearm deaths in the US would increase the male life expectancy more
than the total eradication of all colon and prostate cancers. Our results suggest that the
insurance premium increases paid by Americans as a result of firearm violence are
probably of the same order of magnitude as total medical costs due to gunshots or the
increased cost of administering the criminal justice system due to gun crime.

See it is a public health and safety issue!

Now I know some will say "what about cars?". Well for most Americans living without a car is not an option (due in Part to poor public transportation and infrastructure caused by low taxes but I digress).
 
Soho gator said:
Now I know some will say "what about cars?". Well for most Americans living without a car is not an option (due in Part to poor public transportation and infrastructure caused by low taxes but I digress).
Click to expand...

That's not really accurate.
While the U.S. is urbanized, we're less so than Europe.

Building such infrastructure for public trans would be an enormous cost and well people don't like it.
Why would I crowd into a bus or train, when I can cruise in the quiet of my car?
 
Soho gator said:
You guessed it guns!

http://d1c25a6gwz7q5e.cloudfront.net/papers/1294.pdf


Abstract.

The US remains far behind most other affluent countries in terms of life expectancy. One
of the possible causes of this life expectancy gap is the widespread availability of
firearms and the resulting high number of US firearm fatalities: 10,801 homicides in
2000. The European Union experienced 1,260 homicides, Japan only 22. Using multiple
decrement techniques, we show that firearm violence shortens the life of an average
American by 104 days (151 days for white males, 362 days for black males). Among all
fatal injuries, only motor vehicle accidents have a stronger effect. We estimate that the
elimination of all firearm deaths in the US would increase the male life expectancy more
than the total eradication of all colon and prostate cancers. Our results suggest that the
insurance premium increases paid by Americans as a result of firearm violence are
probably of the same order of magnitude as total medical costs due to gunshots or the
increased cost of administering the criminal justice system due to gun crime.

See it is a public health and safety issue!

Now I know some will say "what about cars?". Well for most Americans living without a car is not an option (due in Part to poor public transportation and infrastructure caused by low taxes but I digress).
Click to expand...

If only the world were so simple. But it is certainly sweet to believe it is.
 
MrT said:
Is this a student's paper from the University of Pennsylvania?
Click to expand...

Not sure but well sourced and footnoted.

This was also report d on cnn and I found a coupl ofther similar stories posted today but mcaffee told be the links were potentially dangerous...
 
Soho gator said:
Not sure but well sourced and footnoted.
Click to expand...

I would just like to know whether the sources have been checked - as would occur with a peer-reviewed article instead of a student's paper.
 
i would have guessed obesity from poor diet, and inadequate medical coverage
based on the protestations of a certain cohort, they would have us believe that those firearms saved lives :peace
 
Soho gator said:
You guessed it guns!

http://d1c25a6gwz7q5e.cloudfront.net/papers/1294.pdf


Abstract.

The US remains far behind most other affluent countries in terms of life expectancy. One
of the possible causes of this life expectancy gap is the widespread availability of
firearms and the resulting high number of US firearm fatalities: 10,801 homicides in
2000. The European Union experienced 1,260 homicides, Japan only 22. Using multiple
decrement techniques, we show that firearm violence shortens the life of an average
American by 104 days (151 days for white males, 362 days for black males). Among all
fatal injuries, only motor vehicle accidents have a stronger effect. We estimate that the
elimination of all firearm deaths in the US would increase the male life expectancy more
than the total eradication of all colon and prostate cancers. Our results suggest that the
insurance premium increases paid by Americans as a result of firearm violence are
probably of the same order of magnitude as total medical costs due to gunshots or the
increased cost of administering the criminal justice system due to gun crime.

See it is a public health and safety issue!

Now I know some will say "what about cars?". Well for most Americans living without a car is not an option (due in Part to poor public transportation and infrastructure caused by low taxes but I digress).
Click to expand...

Using that (bolded above) nonsense makes your point disappear.

QuickStats: Number of Deaths from 10 Leading Causes ? National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2010

Of the 10 leading causes of death in the US guns are only involved in suicide, and in even less than half of those.
 
Soho gator said:
You guessed it guns!

http://d1c25a6gwz7q5e.cloudfront.net/papers/1294.pdf


Abstract.

The US remains far behind most other affluent countries in terms of life expectancy. One
of the possible causes of this life expectancy gap is the widespread availability of
firearms and the resulting high number of US firearm fatalities: 10,801 homicides in
2000. The European Union experienced 1,260 homicides, Japan only 22. Using multiple
decrement techniques, we show that firearm violence shortens the life of an average
American by 104 days (151 days for white males, 362 days for black males). Among all
fatal injuries, only motor vehicle accidents have a stronger effect. We estimate that the
elimination of all firearm deaths in the US would increase the male life expectancy more
than the total eradication of all colon and prostate cancers. Our results suggest that the
insurance premium increases paid by Americans as a result of firearm violence are
probably of the same order of magnitude as total medical costs due to gunshots or the
increased cost of administering the criminal justice system due to gun crime.

See it is a public health and safety issue!

Now I know some will say "what about cars?". Well for most Americans living without a car is not an option (due in Part to poor public transportation and infrastructure caused by low taxes but I digress).
Click to expand...

I'd like to see that estimation.

But there are all sorts of legal things that are bad for public health. Drinking, smoking, high calorie and sugar diets, etc. Are we going to ban pop?
 
Ikari said:
I'd like to see that estimation.

But there are all sorts of legal things that are bad for public health. Drinking, smoking, high calorie and sugar diets, etc. Are we going to ban pop?
Click to expand...

the liberals have tried..
 
jaeger19 said:
the liberals have tried..
Click to expand...

if one compares white americans (the group with the HIGHEST rate of legal firearms ownership) with white europeans, the argument becomes even less persuasive
 
The main reasons Americans don't live as long as Europeans is the fact that they have some of the worst obesity rates if not the worst in the entire world, the food is of sub-standard quality providing little nutrition, the people generally don't bother to exercise and they generally show little interest towards healthier lifestyles. Yet the thread blames the fact Americans live less longer than Europeans on guns... you make me laugh.
 
PakPuk said:
The main reasons Americans don't live as long as Europeans is the fact that they have some of the worst obesity rates if not the worst in the entire world, the food is of sub-standard quality providing little nutrition, the people generally don't bother to exercise and they generally show little interest towards healthier lifestyles. Yet the thread blames the fact Americans live less longer than Europeans on guns... you make me laugh.
Click to expand...

You should read some of his other threads/posts....
 
TurtleDude said:
if one compares white americans (the group with the HIGHEST rate of legal firearms ownership) with white europeans, the argument becomes even less persuasive
Click to expand...

Well.. we know he is full of bunk. If guns were really the reason.. then the US should have among the LOWEST life expectancy.. because we have the HIGHEST rate of gun ownership. But of course we don't.

What we do have is much higher rates of obesity, stress, working hours, less time off, lower rates of activity.. which all have direct effects on ones health.
 
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