[LPPT]

I ran across this article from the Florida times.
We are flooded with information everyday, we decide where, when and how much.
It is overwhelming so we rely on statistics to help us grasp our world and try to make sense of it..
Is it a big problem or just a big headline?

I found this article very interesting.


Link to the story


Startling stats that provide a snapshot of life today


n search of material for editorials, we have encountered these interesting statistics, snapshots of our age.

Why Medicare costs will be rising
The numbers of Americans age 65 and older will grow by one-third over the next decade. That’s a given. So there must be ways to provide that care more efficiently. (Wall Street Journal).

Boomers relying on immigrants
Children of immigrants will be providing the payroll taxes that support the boomers in their entitlements. One-quarter of all children in the U.S. have at least one foreign-born parent. Most of them live with two parents. But English-language learners typically have major schooling issues; many live in poverty. Educating them will be key. (WSJ)

In support of boomers
“The baby boomers have been supporting their grown children and their aged parents. They are stressed, stretched and largely uncomplaining because they know that as boomers — shallow and selfish — they are the only generation not allowed to complain. … But they are spiritually and financially holding the country together, and they’re coming to terms with the fact that it’s going to be that way for a long time.” (Peggy Noonan, WSJ).

Voter impersonation is rare
Impersonating people at the polls is statistically zero. There were nine allegations nationwide between 2000 and 2007 and nothing large enough to tip an election. Fraud with absentee ballots is 50 times more common, but most Voter ID laws aren’t designed to combat that. (WSJ).

Education and unemployment
In 2007, there were 12 jobs for every job seeker with a bachelor’s degree vs. three jobs for those with a high school diploma, the Wall Street Journal reports,

Here are the startling stats on the unemployment rate:

- 12 percent for high school dropouts.

- 8.8 percent for high school graduates.

- 6.6 percent for two years of college.

- 4.1 percent for college graduates. (New York Times).



What I found very interesting where the stats on health care, while we worry so much about the cost it is also one of the biggest employment generators. We have to remember that living healthier also means massive unemployment in that field and bankruptcy for companies that manufacture in the field. Do we really want to see healthcare workers asking would you like fries with that?

[ButterflyLion]

LPPT, on 30 September 2012 - 10:46 AM, said:

What I found very interesting where the stats on health care, while we worry so much about the cost it is also one of the biggest employment generators. We have to remember that living healthier also means massive unemployment in that field and bankruptcy for companies that manufacture in the field. Do we really want to see healthcare workers asking would you like fries with that?

If people were healthier and spent less on treating medical problems they would have more money to spend on other things. The illness industry could adjust over time. Nowdays it's not unusual to switch careers even multiple times during a lifetime. I can't imagine encouraging poor health as your post seems to do.

[LPPT]

ButterflyLion, on 30 September 2012 - 01:13 PM, said:

If people were healthier and spent less on treating medical problems they would have more money to spend on other things. The illness industry could adjust over time. Nowdays it's not unusual to switch careers even multiple times during a lifetime. I can't imagine encouraging poor health as your post seems to do.

You certainly didn't think very hard about the reality, people in healthcare don't do anything free there is a price for everything from tylenol to chemo.

The only places where there is a shortage of healthcare are places were people are extremely poor.
Envision if you will the world of healthcare 6 weeks after the entire population received a vaccine against cancer and this vaccine cured everyone that had it.

Pharmaceutical companies have already envisioned this scenario, as have many medical personal.

We have plenty of sick people, plenty of doctors and medicine. The only shortage supposedly is money.
The product is in high demand it is one of the best revenue generators in our economy. I am not sure how our economy would adjust to people being healthier. It's not just doctors and hospitals, thousands of manufacturing jobs, research, insurance companies.

It just seems odd that people would really want something that would put them out of a job or leave their company bankrupted.
Nobody likes suffering, but lets face it a lot of people are making a good living because of it.

[The Postman]

Back in 1952 we were not concerned much with manufacturing companies.


"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower, l952

Even though Eisenhower was a Republican, the GOP is now running on the elimination of these very things, along with Obamacare.

[ButterflyLion]

LPPT, on 30 September 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

You certainly didn't think very hard about the reality, people in healthcare don't do anything free there is a price for everything from tylenol to chemo.

The only places where there is a shortage of healthcare are places were people are extremely poor.
Envision if you will the world of healthcare 6 weeks after the entire population received a vaccine against cancer and this vaccine cured everyone that had it.

Pharmaceutical companies have already envisioned this scenario, as have many medical personal.

We have plenty of sick people, plenty of doctors and medicine. The only shortage supposedly is money.
The product is in high demand it is one of the best revenue generators in our economy. I am not sure how our economy would adjust to people being healthier. It's not just doctors and hospitals, thousands of manufacturing jobs, research, insurance companies.

It just seems odd that people would really want something that would put them out of a job or leave their company bankrupted.
Nobody likes suffering, but lets face it a lot of people are making a good living because of it.

I did think about the reality of someone wanting people to be sick vs. healthy---and it's sad.

New medications and vaccines require major testing before being approved so it's not likely that there wouldn't be some time to prepare. You're saying that overnight people would be out of jobs in the medical industry---without warning?

If they do find a cure for anything it will be newsworthy because how often does the industry offer cures vs. treatment?

[zoocrew]

Spending is up because of an aging population, not expanding government. The article says that but many want to make that political.

The best indicator of academic success is the education and socio-economic status of the parents. Yet, many want to cut public education for the very ones who need it most, which in turns helps our entire economy.

Healthcare costs are always going up because of medical advances and an aging population. Then we have insurance companies in the mix.

This post has been edited by zoocrew: 30 September 2012 - 03:46 PM

[Blondiega1]

I swear Laurie.
Do you ever post under a 1000 words anymore?
You making me tired!

[Starr & Dru's Nana]

Nope, not true. Might be some unemployment but likely there would just be fewer people entering the field and it would even out. Bankruptcy for companies that manufacture? Manufacture WHAT? Pills? If so, good! Let 'em go bankrupt. And if they did go bankrupt we, as a country MIGHT have healthier citizens.

At least if a displaced healthcare worker was asking if you wanted fries with that, they likely would have compassion in doing so and would sincerely want to help.

"Healthier" living does not equate to job loss for healthcare workers. The body still malfunctions regardless of a healthy lifestyle. Joints still develop arthritis and even thin, otherwise healthy people get cancer and heart disease, mental illness can strike anyone.

LPPT, on 30 September 2012 - 10:46 AM, said:

What I found very interesting where the stats on health care, while we worry so much about the cost it is also one of the biggest employment generators. We have to remember that living healthier also means massive unemployment in that field and bankruptcy for companies that manufacture in the field. Do we really want to see healthcare workers asking would you like fries with that?

[LPPT]

Blondiega1, on 30 September 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

I swear Laurie.
Do you ever post under a 1000 words anymore?
You making me tired!

I like serious discussion, I like to hear what others think.
There was a time when I liked to chuckle about funny little sayings on funny little pictures.
Not any more, my facebook looks like a shuffling deck of bubble gum cards.
The interaction has become very shallow at times.

[ButterflyLion]

LPPT, on 30 September 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

I like serious discussion, I like to hear what others think.
There was a time when I liked to chuckle about funny little sayings on funny little pictures.
Not any more, my facebook looks like a shuffling deck of bubble gum cards.
The interaction has become very shallow at times.

When did that change? I know you posted in a reply to me before that you liked to keep things "light." (I believe that was the word you used.)

[LPPT]

ButterflyLion, on 30 September 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

When did that change? I know you posted in a reply to me before that you liked to keep things "light." (I believe that was the word you used.)

Most of the time I do, but for some reason I am overdosed on light at times.
I also think that most are more a like than different in the we we experience the world.
Most of the serious discussion on here is political. I was hoping to be able to discuss serious things with out it becoming a political boxing match.

[ButterflyLion]

Starr & Dru, on 30 September 2012 - 04:05 PM, said:

Nope, not true. Might be some unemployment but likely there would just be fewer people entering the field and it would even out. Bankruptcy for companies that manufacture? Manufacture WHAT? Pills? If so, good! Let 'em go bankrupt. And if they did go bankrupt we, as a country MIGHT have healthier citizens.

At least if a displaced healthcare worker was asking if you wanted fries with that, they likely would have compassion in doing so and would sincerely want to help.

"Healthier" living does not equate to job loss for healthcare workers. The body still malfunctions regardless of a healthy lifestyle. Joints still develop arthritis and even thin, otherwise healthy people get cancer and heart disease, mental illness can strike anyone.

I agree. Stress is associated with just about any health problem and if one is eliminated often the person's next weakest link will develop a condition.

There are some promising developments regarding energy medicine involving releasing the body's energy and promoting a naturally healthy state.

[spucketts]

As long as there is someone that "wants fries with that" there will be heart disease, obesity, etc plus the auto accidents/injuries that occur during the drive to and from one of those grease traps. I wouldn't worry about loss of jobs in the health care industry.