Is Cheap Food Worth It?

Life Expectancy Is Declining in Some Pockets of the Country

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Published: April 22, 2008
Life expectancy has long been growing steadily for most Americans. But it has not for a significant minority, according to a new study, which finds a growing disparity in mortality depending on race, income and geography. 
The study, published Monday in the online journal PLoS, analyzed life expectancy in all 3,141 counties in the United States from 1961 to 1999, the latest year for which complete data have been released by the National Center for Health Statistics. Although life span has generally increased since 1961, the authors reported, it began to level off or even decline in the 1980s for 4 percent of men and 19 percent of women.

“It’s very troubling that there are parts of the wealthiest country in the world, with the highest health spending in the world, where health is getting worse,” said Majid Ezzati, the lead author and an associate professor of international health at Harvard. It is a phenomenon, he added, “unheard of in any other developed country.”

Counties with significant declines were concentrated in Appalachia, the Southeast, Texas, the southern Midwest and along the Mississippi River. Life expectancy increases were mainly in the Northeast and on the Pacific Coast.

The researchers also compared the 2.5 percent of counties with the lowest life expectancies and the 2.5 percent with the highest. The disparity between those two groups rose to 11 years for men in 1999, from 9 years in 1983, and to 7.5 years from 6.7 in women.

The study found that from 1961 to 1983, there was little difference in average income for the counties where life expectancy rose at rates above and below the mean. But after 1983, life span rose with wealth. Race may also be a factor. In counties where life expectancy declined, the proportion of African-Americans was higher.

From 1961 to 1983, no county had a statistically significant decline in life expectancy, and reductions in cardiovascular disease led to a generally increasing length of life for both sexes. But after 1983, life expectancy declined an average of 1.3 years in 11 counties for men, and in 180 counties for women.

This lack of progress among the worst off was caused by a slowing or halt of reductions in cardiovascular disease, combined with increases in lung cancer and diabetes for women and in H.I.V. infection and homicide for men.

This rise in mortality for chronic diseases runs counter to trends in other developed countries, and the geographical differences are consistent with regional trends in smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. Dr. Ezzati speculates that data after 1999 will show more decreases in life span for the worst-off women. He expects to see a slight increase for men, with improved treatment for H.I.V. and AIDS.

“What’s driving the disparity is the worsening of the worst off,” Dr. Ezzati said. “In the U.S., there has always been a view, stated or unstated, that we can live with some inequality if everyone is getting better. This is the first sign that not everyone is getting better.”

Robert Feinman over at Writing on the Wal poses some interesting observations,along with a graph showing the proliferations of WalMart stores in the years discussed here in this article. I have no doubt that the proliferation of sodium enhabced meats and high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient in almost everything for a couple of decades now,HAS to have played a role. Incidentally,high fructose corn syrup was determined to have preservative qualities,hence it became even more attractive to manufacturers as a means to extend shelf life.

ddrb,

And this article has what to do with the rice rationing that’s been in the news (as well as the first paragraph which accompanies the article attached to this thread)?

In fact, what does it have to do with Wal-Mart, at all??

On the other hand…

ON-TOPIC ddrb-FREE NOTE: - when this story broke a couple of days ago, the first retailer to ration bags of rice was, believe it or not, Costco.

BTW:Counties with significant declines were concentrated in Appalachia, the Southeast, Texas, the southern Midwest and along the Mississippi River. Life expectancy increases were mainly in the Northeast and on the Pacific Coast."________Coincidentally,isn’t the Northeast and California the areas of this country with the LEAST number of WalMarts,and the MOST pushback to keep WalMart out?And aren’t the counties with the signifcant decline in life expectancy,the states with the MOST WalMarts?

Robert Feinman over at Writing on the Wal poses some interesting observations,along with a graph showing the proliferations of WalMart stores in the years discussed here in this article.

OK, I’ll give you that much—but, Mr. Screwed ran Feinman off from WMW because he (Mr. Screwed) wanted to be “king of this hill"…

so ddrb, now you are equating life expentancy with the proliferation (or lack there of) of Walmarts per square mile?

I’m glad to see your shortsightedness and hatred for Walmart has jaded and ultimatly blinded you leading you to come to this irrational statement.  Give me a break.  Want to try again at something MUCH MORE plausible?

Why doesn’t everyone go over to writing on the Wal and READ Mr.Feinman’s comments about life expectancy and WalMarts-LOOK at the animated map BEFORE commenting,for plausibility’s sake?There have been numerous studies on WalMart and the rates of poverty...It’s been discussed here many times.There are other websites discussing this NY Times article,also.

BTW: Has anyone been watching the PBS series on the effect of inequality of income upon health? Its called Unnatural Causes. Excellent. Oddly enough,last week one of the segments in this multi part series was about Marshall Islanders.They were profiled about their plight ,much related to low income. The program also showed Springdale,Arkansas and the Tyson plant where they work,many of them. The efforts to control TB is discussed by Arkansas health workers.Other diseases affecting these folk are VD and leprosy. I wrote about this 2 or 3 months ago.

The First Rule...

The first rule “Someone in USA/bbrd” is to stop digging when you find yourself in a hole.  Not you!  You just keep shoveling your B.S.  You’re packing it in more than a baby’s diaper.

I can’t speak for anyone else here, but it’s no wonder you’re having a hard time convincing me you’re not “Someone in USA,” bbrd. You keep piling up all that “circumstantial evidence” that suggests you are!

On another topic thread on this blog you posted as “Someone in USA,” and made the curious statement that “you answered my e-mail.”

What e-mail would that be “Someone” (bbrd)?  That wouldn’t be the e-mail that I sent to Jonathan Rees, Jeff Hess, and Robert Feinman over at “The Writing on the Wal?” How is it that you seem to have knowledge of it?  The last time I checked, nothing was posted on “The Wal,” so don’t try to pretend it was “common knowledge” there.

Did you see your name on that e-mail? Maybe “Someone in USA,” you’re really one of those individuals.  If you are so knowledgeable about that e-mail, then you also know that I specifically apologized to Robert Feinman for not making him feel more welcomed on this website.

Now we see another post by “bbrd,” accusing me of running “ Feinman off from WMW.”

Like I’ve said before...this is all a little too coincidental, and I don’t believe in “coincidences.” Furthermore, I think you greatly underestimate Robert Feinman.  He strikes me as being a whole lot more articulate and is much better informed than you are.  If he’s got something to say, he’ll say it I don’t think I could “run him off” all by myself.  Besides this, Mr. Feinman has made several posts to this blog recently, so I wouldn’t exactly say he’s been “run off.”

Bobby Feinman is a big boy. I doubt anyone could run him off if he didn’t want to go. Like some, he prefers to blog as opposed to commenting on a blog.

Different strokes.

The pro Wal-Mart side has always tripped over thier own egos. It’s little wonder they are now stumbling over their alter egos.

Personally, I don’t know if bbrd and Someone are one and the same and I don’t care. I will say they seem to share a certain empty arrogance.

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish caught will we realize we cannot eat money. ~ Cree Indian Proverb

“The pro Wal-Mart side has always tripped over thier own egos........I will say they seem to share a certain empty arrogance.
“

Time to start taking a better look in the mirror Ken V and you might as well take Screwed and ddrb with you because it will reveal a lot.

As for ddrb, at least she realized the error in her ways and connected life expectency rates to income and not whether or not you had a Walmart in your back yard.  The only coincidence is that Walmart has stores in more areas of poverty than probably all of their competition.  But isn’t that their marketing space.... “low prices”.

Mr. Screwed,

I really hate to embarrass you in front of all your followers but this time, you have left me with little choice.

On another topic thread on this blog you posted as “Someone in USA,” and made the curious statement that “you answered my e-mail.”

Tuly only someone as vain as yourself would assume that “Someone’s” e-mail was intended for you.

I suggest you go back and re-read “Someone’s” post from greeting-to-bottom, and perhaps...just maybe...you’ll “get it”.

As for all those questions you asked, I cannot answer any of them, as I have never conversed with Jonathan Rees, Jeff Hess, and Robert Feinman from “The Writing on the Wal”.

That said, I guess you’re still convinced that “Someone” and me are one and the same…

I think you greatly underestimate Robert Feinman.  He strikes me as being a whole lot more articulate and is much better informed than you are.

I don’t underestimate Robert Feinman, at all—and I’ll even go so far as to agree with what you say (but, as for the 25th time, I am not “Someone”, I obviously cannot speak on his behalf).

And for the rest of you who don’t feel like scrolling-back to “Someone’s” post, I’ll save you someone work…

bbrd-

By the way, I responded to your e-mail.

Someone in USA
Wednesday, April 23 at 06:26 PM

Time to start taking a better look in the mirror Ken V...

Spoken like a true misandrist.

Maybe it’s just a sign that the anti-Wal-Mart “movement” is losing steam...

Or maybe this blog is running out of steam. The Anti Wal-Mart Movement is alive and well and in it for the duration.

‘’I know value and Wal-Mart doesn’t meet my qualifications.’’ ~ Ed Witlen

Just Drop It Already, Would You bbrd?

“I have never conversed with Jonathan Rees, Jeff Hess, and Robert Feinman from “The Writing on the Wal”. ~bbrd

OK.  Let’s go with that.

But according to your last post, the e-mail that “Someone in USA” responded to was yours and not mine.  Since he said, “I responded to your e-mail,” that means you and he have supposedly been in contact outside of this blog.

The bottom line is that if you and “Someone” are in fact two different persons, you obviously have very similar frames of reference.  Besides that, “Someone” considers himself to be so much a part of “The Wal” crowd he links to that blog when he posts here.  So by default “bbrd,” you are connected to “The Wal” because of your alleged e-mail contact with “Someone in USA.”

Now since there is little interest in this matter by others on this blog, I’m not going to keep beating a dead horse. I still think it’s incredible that since I started to raise my suspicions about you “bbrd,” we haven’t seen or heard from either “Johnny in Oklahoma City” or “Insider.”

More coincidences?

Ken V raises a possibilty. “Maybe this blog is running out of steam.” He’s also very correct in saying, “The Anti Wal-Mart Movement is alive and well and in it for the duration.” ddrb also made this point when she posted some of the various groups and organizations that have joined in the war on Wal-Mart.

By the Way bbrd...

“I’ll save you someone work…”

Was that a Freudian slip?

One more time, then you can bury the dead horse…

...you and he have supposedly been in contact outside of this blog.

OK, you got me, there...it wasn’t really all that hard to do, Mr. Screwed - in the early days (pre-Ken V/ddrb), you guys were throwing your e-mail addresses all over the place.

Bottom line, if you’re going run your mouth on these boards saying I’m “Someone”—who better to bring into to the conversation than the “real deal”, himself…

So by default “bbrd,” you are connected to “The Wal” because of your alleged e-mail contact with “Someone in USA.”

And “Someone” thought Bill Sampson was paranoid…

Does this mean if I start e-mailing you, I am automatically “connected” to you?

I certainly hope not.

More coincidences?

Must be - I haven’t been to/through Oklahoma City in many years.  And, I am certainly no “insider”, either.  Get over it, already!

The Anti Wal-Mart Movement is alive and well and in it for the duration

Perhaps, but given the outright ugliness of the current U.S. economy, will Joe Sixpack pay “the movement” any attention?

I doubt it—bigger things are at stake than bickering about Wal-Mart—if WM can help-out by putting a few dollars back in somebody’s wallet, I don’t think WM will be getting the level of criticism they received in the early part of this decade.

In short, welcome to “The Real World”, Mr. Screwed…

—if WM can help-out by putting a few dollars back in somebody’s wallet, I don’t think WM will be getting the level of criticism they received in the early part of this decade.

Unfortunately the “somebody’s wallet” belongs to Lee Scott and the Walton clan. As for Joe Sixpack, I wonder how long before he pays “attention” to fact that his hard-earned, rapidly depreciating, dollar is being squandered on cheap crap without quality?

You Johnny-come-lately’s to battling the Anti Wal-Mart Movement may think this temporary uptick in Bentonville’s fortunes will last, but since there have been no fundamental changes in the way Wal-Mart does business, resuming the downward trend is inevitable.

For the sake of illustration here’s another:

Ken V’s Blast from the Past

Whether it’s concerns about economic growth or inflation, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. suffers either way as consumers struggle with higher oil and gas prices. The stock has fallen 15.4 percent from its 52-week high of $57.89 on Nov. 15, finishing Friday at $48.96.

That tidbit from Bloomberg was written in 2004. If you look, WMT closed yesterday at 57.58 a few pennies from the 52-week high four years ago!

Live Better… Let George Bush Stimulate You!

I haven’t been this excited since Jim and Laura tried to launch their folksy little blog, called “Wal-Marting Across America!”

Today it was announced that George Bush wants to send his economic stimulus tax rebate checks out a little sooner than previously announced.

Let’s see.... what am I going to do with my $600 windfall?

Naturally I wouldn’t want to spend it at Wal-Mart, because my money would go to China.

I could put all my money into my gas tank, but then either the Arabs or those top 5 oil company executives will get it.  They’re just going to have to be satisfied with their $121 Billion profit.

If I put my money towards a new computer in might end up going to India.

Maybe I’ll go out and replenish my wardrobe with some fine new “threads” that’s the answer!  If I did that, maybe all of those working in the textile industry in Bangladesh will get an increase in pay...something around 20 cents an hour.

I could stock up on fruits and vegetables, but then Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala will get all of my money.

If I put it towards a new reliable car, my money goes to Japan.

I could try to get the most bang for my $600 and hit up “The Dollar Store” for a bunch of useless stuff, but then my money would be winging its way to Taiwan.

But I really want to do the right thing and keep my tax rebate in America where it can help to stimulate the economy.

I’VE GOT IT! I’m going to hit every yard sale and rummage sale I can find!  God Bless America!

Screwy,

Having been to my blog, you ought to know that my e-mail address is posted right there for anyone to see. Even though I know longer frequent the anti-Wal-Mart sites or continue to update my blog, I still get quite a few messages.

I still think it’s incredible that since I started to raise my suspicions about you “bbrd,” we haven’t seen or heard from either “Johnny in Oklahoma City” or “Insider.”

I’m pretty sure Johnny in Oklahoma City is really JJ in OKC (like myself, a former regular here back in the day) and I have no clue about Insider. I’m not even sure I’ve seen any of his/her posts.

One question for you, my friend:

If I intended to change my moniker, why in the world would I have gone to so much trouble to make sure I used the same persona across the vast number of sites I visited? Just wondering.

people shop where they can darn well afford to shop.funny no one ever complains about the other low cost food stores and their prices.why folks?

<i>why folks?</i?

Because they are NOT Wal-Mart!

what a lame answer ken.so its ok for other low cost stores to sell food at lower prices,but not walmart?where is your same argument about these other low cost stores and their low prices killing and dumbing down the economy and putting the mom and pops out of business ken?typical spoiled arrogant ufcw union and govt brainwashed attitude you have ken.you walmart haters on here have no answer for that and you know it too.

So what’s YOUR answer ,Mattress ?Why aren’t YOU on THEIR sites holding THEIR feet to the fire? Maybe because you would be blocked,hmm?? What I’d like to know,is why WMW hasn’t blocked your inane ramblings. What’s THEIR problem?

What’s THEIR problem?

Obviously, since Matt one-upped them (WMW), maybe he’s smarter?

Stupid is as Stupid Does!

Calling mv “smart” is like calling George “W” an “intellectual.”

They should have banned him the other day ,when he came on will all the cursing and mum bo jumbo about Fred Meyer stores.

Lucky for him they just deleted his posts. Why does he type like he does?

Why does he type like he does?

Funny, we have been asking the same thing about ddrb for months, now…

Screwedby,

“like calling George “W” an “intellectual.””

Seems like he was “intellectual” enough to be ELECTED President of the United States, TWICE!!

How far has YOUR “intellect” gotten you?

Guess you feel that if someone doesn’t share your views, they must be less intelligent than you, right?

fred we have freedom of speech in the united states in case you have not noticed.they can never totally ban someone from this site.all you have to do is use any e mail address out there.you can also go to the library too and get on the internet..i suggest you folks realize that you are fed the same garbage by one labor union ufcw who is unable to get full time work and livable wages for all employees in the ufcw union so their their workers at the bottom end can get off food stamps and govt asistance programs.fred no one forces anyone to stay at walmart or anywhere else.the same union who lies through their teeth about walmart can get squat for their own members.proving they have no credibility on walmart at all.

SO WALMART CAN LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH , AND YOU
BELIEVE THEM.

Of Course There’s an Easier Way...

Lucky for you mv, the people at WMW apparently aren’t capable, or they simply don’t care about monitoring this blog.

All somebody would have to do is “shoot” your useless posts on sight, regardless of what “e-mail you use” or regardless of the IP address you post from.

You Wouldn’t Know an Intellectual If You Saw One, RDS!

I can understand why you’d confuse George Bush with an intellectual, RDS.  He, like you, seems to make it up as he goes along!

I just heard him say on the news conference this morning, “Here at the White House, we’re concerned about high food prices.”

Just before he said this, he said that due to the high price of gasoline, we are going to put more effort into developing ethanol.  His exact words were, <i>"We put a lot into ethanol.”

It’s pretty much conventional wisdom that ethanol is not the way to go!  This is particularly true of ethanol made from corn, as this has contributed to the food crisis.  It’s also been shown that it’s economically not efficient to produce ethanol.

Yeah… ‘Ol George is a real “intellectual” RDS!

Screwedby,

Guess you must have missed all the rest of what Bush said, and just picked out the parts that you disagreed with!!  When Congress limits his options, what do you expect?  Did you miss the parts about MORE refineries and drilling in ANWR?

Like I said, when you disagree with someone, I guess they look less intellectual to you!!

screwed by if i should be removed from this site then you should be too with all the garbage you constantly spew and personal attacks on others who dont agree with you and ufcw union nonsense you stupidly continue to buy because you are not smart enough to see through all the crap fed to you on here.fred the ufcw union hacks on this site lie all the time and wmw is a joke.

“Did you miss the parts about MORE refineries..?” ~RDS

No...actually I heard Bush mention that we haven’t build new oil refineries in this country for 30 years!

I see...now that the Democrats are the majority party in Congress, it’s Congress’ fault because they “limit” George’s “options.” What about his fist term when the Republicans were in control?

Besides...isn’t it the job of a president to be a leader?  Maybe you can get your “research team” working on all of the references over the past 8 years where George Bush has pushed the big oil companies to build more refineries in this country.

Screwedby,

“No...actually I heard Bush mention that we haven’t build new oil refineries in this country for 30 years!”

Then you missed the part where he suggested building refineries on abandoned military bases!!

“What about his fist term when the Republicans were in control?”

Learn more about politics, just because a party has a majority, doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want!!  Adding ‘earmarks’ and things like ‘filabusters’ can hold up bills or make them such as they are not good enough to pass, with all the junk added!!

“Besides...isn’t it the job of a president to be a leader?”

All he can do, is ‘suggest’ things and hope that congress will do them!!

“over the past 8 years where George Bush has pushed the big oil companies to build more refineries in this country.”

There probably would be more refineries, if it were not for NIMBY!!  Regulations too, have held up the building of refineries, not BUSH!!  Would you fight ‘FOR’ a refinery in your locality or ‘against’ one?

Screwedby,

Here’s some questions for you:

1.) Is the Iraq war, a losing cause?
2.) Should we stop fighting the war?
3.) Is BUSH an idiot for wanting to continue the war?

Here’s some more:

4.) Is the anti Wal-Mart war, a losing cause?
5.) Should you stop fighting the war?
6.) Are YOU an idiot for wanting to continue the war?

Sounds like you and Bush have a lot in common!!