comment: >
  
  With abortion bans going into effect in red states, we are going to see this trend continue.
context: Much of it isn’t even Covid. 
  
  COVID-19, drug overdoses, and accidental injury accounted for about two-thirds of the decline in life expectancy, according to the 2022 report. Other reasons included heart and liver disease and suicides.
  The drop in life expectancy would have been even greater if not for a bit of good news: decreases in deaths from chronic lung disease, pneumonia, influenza, and Alzheimer’s disease.
  
  Heart disease, liver disease, suicides… all mostly preventable. Take care of yourself, folks — both your mental and physical well-being. 
  This is also perhaps a useful reminder of the need for truly universal and affordable healthcare. >
  
  They’re mostly all preventable by having a support system and a safety net around people. This country desperately needs it >
  
  Yeah. Both. People used to say America didn’t need a very robust safety net because it had strong communities and civil life. That isn’t true anymore. >
  
  Of course it wasn't true then either... >
  
  I’d say it was true. My grandfather had a lot of close friends — member of the Rotary Club, VFW, bowling league, various civic and mutual aid organizations. My own dad knew every neighbor and was part of the volunteer fire brigade.
  Today organizations like Elks are almost all retirees and fire departments are all professionals. It’s not like it was even 30 years ago. 
  There’s actually a good book from about 20 years ago called Bowling Alone that documents the decline of community and civic life. >
  
  The problem is that people who really need help generally aren't the most socially engaged. They never were, so they're not in any clubs, churches or groups >
  
  Yeah. That’s probably true. But a huge drop on civic engagement and community in general can’t be a good thing, even if those organizations were never that much use to the desperate.
  It’s something I also notice coming back to the US from other countries. Say what you will about the failures of institutions in Mexico (for example), but Mexican people are very community-oriented and they benefit from it, psychologically and socially. It’s something we could learn from and try to rebuild somehow. 
  Or maybe we should just drink a fifth of bourbon, eat fast food, and watch reality television every night. That seems to be a popular option too! >
  
  Yeah, of course its much better to have a community than not. Humans are social animals, after all. Having it as the one and only safety net is suboptimal, but suboptimal is still way better than rock bottom. >
  
  Well yeah. Ideally you’d know people in your community and also not go bankrupt from medical bills. Both would be nice. >
  
  Not exactly a surprise with COVID being added into the top 5 causes of death. Look forward to seeing the major comeback of diseases once thought rare to further reduce the life expectancy. How many years you think before we see multiple breakouts of measles? While not nearly as common and not transmissible but how many people are going to die (or become severely deformed) from tetanus now that people are refusing those vaccines? I’m just thankful that vaccines managed to eradicate smallpox before it got a chance to wreak havoc on a gullible population of antivaxxers
  Edit: I’d like to also add that unless we get control over COVID and god knows what else gets unleashed on us we are ALL at risk for dying younger than the life expectancy if these viruses keep swooping around the globe picking off the vulnerable, we ALL will become vulnerable at some stage no matter how tough someone thinks their “natural immunity” is. >
  
  Gonna see a lot more baby graves because people won’t get TDAP shots or give their infants and toddlers that early series of shots. >
  
  You at least get a discount on the plot size! >
  
  Man I’m remembering Dr. House talking to a crunchy granola antivaxxer mom during clinic hours about the color options for “teeny-tiny baby coffins.” That’s back when the anti-vaxxers were crunchy granola people and not right-wing degens. >
  
  I don't think they care because they'll just have more kids. Imagine being a sacrifice to your parent's delusion. Happens in many forms and it vastly includes the uneducated or wannabe grifters being led astray by dead hearted "I will be a king in my head" people. >
  
  I hear the word “undereducated” a lot but there are people with advanced degrees who get into this stuff. >
  
  Now your average person in Vietnam will live longer than your average American
  Also Vietnam gdp per Capita is like $4k
  United States gdp per Capita is like $60k
  It's not a financial problem.  It's a culture problem >
  
  Who knew subjecting people to ever aggressive employers, work hours, fixed pay but ever rising cost of living, lack of affordable insurance and housing, invasive reproductive laws, rampant gun ownership and unaccountable pharmacy businesses would ever lead to a lowered life span! >
  
  How about voting for people who want to introduce employee rights? The EU has a working time directive limiting average work hours in all member countries (with exceptions for critical infrastructure) >
  
  In our two party system that would just be throwing your vote away >
  
  We’re giving up 
  Sincerely, 
  A fucking lot of us >
  
  Personally, I'm not giving up.  But I understand. >
  
  Grow the fuck up. >
  
  And the most Reddit comment of the goes to… >
  
  No kidding. Like we're not living in the most luxurious, comfortable time in human existence. >
  
  Awww he deleted it, I just thought the response. “Awesome! Thrilled to be here!” Was perfect for any, like world degrading, bad news lol >
  
  AmErIcAn ExCePtIoNaLiSm >
  
  My relative, a Trumper, keeps bringing up "this used to be a great country"
  My canned response is "Yeah, then 1776 happened. You filthy colonial." >
  
  Ah yes - the worlds richest third world country strikes again. >
  
  Nicely put. >
  
  I'd say obesity and Mental illness have a lot to do with this, sadly. >
  
  An obesity epidemic, a global pandemic, and enormous social issues that impact overall health will do that to a country. >
  
  Yeah, exactly. Obesity, opioids and COVID are major contributors to this phenomenon. I’m surprised I had to scroll this far down to see them mentioned but I guess they are not always top of mind. >
  
  COVID just eating through people and leaving them more vulnerable to long term sickness.
  That’s at least what I have seen and heard. And it ain’t going to get much better soon.
  Stay vaccinated. >
  
  covid is not the main issue for this. would it be than life expectancy would drop everywhere on this planet. not just in usa >
  
  The US has an abysmal vaccination rate for a developed country. More than 30% of Republicans are not vaccinated. >
  
  US is nearing 50% obesity.. what do you expect? >
  
  Good. We can’t afford to live anyway. Now we can splurge a bit more on fast food and carry out before we die a little sooner. >
  
  Why does no one talk about obesity rates playing a huge factor in early, preventable deaths. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, infection, and Covid are all at greater risk for mortality if the person is overweight. >
  
  Much like climate change and various other things in life:
  It's inconvenient >
  
  But they keep RAISING the retirement age. I guess DEATH = RETIREMENT but I think my boss would still want me to come in. >
  
  The retirement age of 65 was set for social security and Medicare when the life expectancy was in the 60s. It was intended to take care of people at the end of their lives, not fund everyone’s 20 year retirement. I imagine that’s why it’s struggling to find itself these days. >
  
  My boss says he’s going to need a letter from my doc…err…coroner. Used up my sick days. Are we going to get dead days? >
  
  Sorry death on company time is a $100 deduction from your pay... >
  
  In ADDITION to my organs they already harvested? Wow. Rough year. Sorry boss…I’ll be in EXTRA early tomorrow Ebeneezer. >
  
  Well, reduce our life expectancy enough and it becomes a valid retirment plan because noone will ever reach the age to do so.
  Also, i imavine years down the road life expectency will drop as we find out todays 20 and 30 year olds have hearts that just dont make it as far age wise due to unseen covid damage or other "sleeper" health conditions that wont rear its ugly head till later in life.  
  I know mine doesnt feel right anymore. Neither do my lungs. >
  
  Maybe we shouldn't promote obesity. >
  
  Ya, this country is a lost cause..  We had a great run, but now all grasp of reality has been lost. >
  
  Can I go a day without feeling hopeless and defeated by reality? Fuck's sake this country. >
  
  Close to 80% of all healthcare costs are related to lifestyle choices. Making better choices can reverse this. >
  
  There should be a video flair or something.