Differing Views on Greatest Threats
- Thread starter HALL85
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So things that one does to yourself, I.e. obesity and opioids is the greatest risk for Republicans. What happened to individualism and individual liberty? It is a bit contrary to traditional Republican thinking.
Meanwhile, Dems greatest threat is guns which makes sense since it is something that will harm another person.
Dem thinking that COVID-19 is the same percentage risk of Cancer is beyond ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Dems greatest threat is guns which makes sense since it is something that will harm another person.
Dem thinking that COVID-19 is the same percentage risk of Cancer is beyond ridiculous.
Obesity and heart disease, drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone.
I believe most gun deaths are from suicide, so would not count as doing something to yourself?
Seems like Republicans look more at facts. Three times as many people die from drugs vs guns. Heart disease and cancer are the number one causes for death.
Your logic is faulty. We have gone through the arguments of why I think assault weapons should be banned and I am not going to repeat that.
However, I don’t fear opiates because I am not going to do opiates or any other harmful drugs. Those who do drugs, do them whether they are ilegal or not. The war on drugs is lost. We need as a country to think differently. Legalize all drugs. Take the money that would have went to law enforcement for drug interdiction to start government programs of drug awareness and treatment.
By legalizing drugs, you can get rid of the criminal cartels that run it. You can regulate the drugs to make it safer instead of having doses that are adulterated. All we do by making drugs illegal is to make criminal organizations wealthy beyond belief.
No need to make this dem vs republican. They both seem to be wrong. Obesity is the greatest threat to public health currently. Not really that close in my opinion.
There was a time a few years ago I would have seen an argument for fentanyl because the number of deaths was increasing drastically each year but that is no longer the environment we are in. In 2020 and 2021 I would have argued it was Covid, but again, also no longer the case.
There was a time a few years ago I would have seen an argument for fentanyl because the number of deaths was increasing drastically each year but that is no longer the environment we are in. In 2020 and 2021 I would have argued it was Covid, but again, also no longer the case.
Also worth noting that fentanyl deaths saw a fairly large decline in 2022.
Not sold on correlation or causation yet related to marijuana being legalized but seems to support what you're saying.
Agree, but that's what pollsters and media do to get clicks. I think they wanted to highlight the clearly partisan divide in those who said guns in response to the question.
Obesity will kill thousands every year and the costs for the care will cause everyone else's costs to rise given the way the current US healthcare system is set up.
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Last week we had a guy that was spaced out on fentanyl who was behind the wheel of a car and plowed through a number of parked cars, hit a woman head on (who was hospitalized with serious injuries and then took out a light pole). Do you not worry about someone who is high that kills or injures innocent people? The article doesn't get into solutions, but rather looks at what is most concerning. More people die from opioids; there is collateral damage beyond those individuals and it drives up the cost of healthcare. Yes, we need to "do something" about it, but flagging it as one of the biggest problems we face seems reasonable based on those numbers.
Need to look at the broader use of Narcan in the last few years. A lot of those lives that would have been lost previously are being saved (in some cases multiple times).
The poll split it out by party which was interesting in terms of perception and how it differs.
I do agree on obesity being a major threat that was made worse during the pandemic as there was absolutely zero public health attention focused on in. And it still gets very little if any attention from the government or MSM.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7037a3.htm
Persons aged 2–19 years with overweight or obesity during the prepandemic period experienced significantly higher rates of BMI increase during the pandemic period than did those with healthy weight. These findings underscore the importance of efforts to prevent excess weight gain during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during future public health emergencies, including increased access to efforts that promote healthy behaviors. These efforts could include screening by health care providers for BMI, food security, and social determinants of health, increased access to evidence-based pediatric weight management programs and food assistance resources, and state, community, and school resources to facilitate healthy eating, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention
I guess i view
Moreover, since it is an individuals's choice to eat themselves fat, what can really be done? You can educate someone all you want but that is not going to make the majority of people start eating salads and exercising regularly.
As far you're driving under the influence, that is an additional action of driving a motor vehicle. Of course that is a problem. However, that is no different than someone being under the influence of alcohol. But taking opiates itself is doing physical harm solely to the person that take it.
Maybe I am getting caught up in the weeds and being too literal. But, A threat is an outside influence made upon another that will cause death or harm. So, I don't view obesity as a threat. Is it an issue, yes. But it is not a threat because you eat yourself to that point. No one in making you get that way. No one is making you not exercise. It is all about the individual choosing to do things that are unhealthy for him.
Moreover, since it is an individuals's choice to eat themselves fat, what can really be done? You can educate someone all you want but that is not going to make the majority of people start eating salads and exercising regularly.
As far you're driving under the influence, that is an additional action of driving a motor vehicle. Of course that is a problem. However, that is no different than someone being under the influence of alcohol. But taking opiates itself is doing physical harm solely to the person that take it.
The poll is about how people view the greatest health threats. It doesn't say self-inflicted or caused by others.
I look at a threat in terms of the cumulative toll it will take (lives and costs) rather than what an individual chooses to do. Odd you think obesity is ONLY a choice. What about genetics that cause obesity? Should we not help that person with means other than telling them not to eat? Regarding opioids, physicians prescribe them and has been proven in many cases without knowing that patients ability to get addicted easier. It's a directional poll of what people think are health risks and there were distinct differences by party affiliation.
I am focusing on the word "threat". A threat is from an outside force. Like I said, perhaps I am taking it too literally. If the poll said what are the greatest issues with regard to public safety, I would understand.
If obesity is genetic, what means are there that helps with obesity? ozempic? Surgery? What is the cure to this that you have? I am sure that people are predisposed to being obese due to genetics. But that doesn't mean that can't overcome it themselves. I am all for giving whatever tools to people. But what really works?
Also true, though the number of overdose deaths in NJ in 2022 was the lowest it has been in the last 5 years and the instances of Narcan use was lower than it was compared to 2018, though 7% higher than it was in 2021.
But consecutive years of increases, any reason for a decrease is a good thing.
Part of the problem with a poll like that is it's interpretive. As a public health crisis, I don't think of guns or fentanyl at all.. but what the impact both of those can have on a community can be significant. I'm just not sure I would call that health vs crime.
Obesity causes so many health issues that it is a public health crisis considering how obese we are as a country. It drives most of the death of people under 65 and is a huge burden on our healthcare system and the costs we all pay for insurance. It's not all genetic, it's cultural. I'm not sure what the answer is but it is a gigantic problem that we have not been able to address. We need a cultural shift to change how people think about food and exercise.
I agree with all this. There are many issues that factor into obesity. Some genetic, some culturally some due to technology such as phone, tv, video games that has made us more sedentary. But, for the most part, it is still n control of the individual. One can always eat healthier and exercise more. It is within every individual's control.
I recently had a relative die in his 50's. He was obese and smoked. Despite doctor's advice and warnings, he did not stop smoking or do any real attempt to lose weight. So what is the answer to this? How are we to save someone from themselves?
Start by calling it a health crisis and have ubiquitous messaging and education. Include it in school curriculum and maybe start serving ONLY healthy food in cafeterias. It's wrong as a society to have stick figured models glorified, but we should also not do the same with the BBW nonsense and celebrate morbidly obese people.
There's a lot we can do if we prioritize it. Nothing will be 100% successful, but you need to make it a priority if you really want to change what is a health crisis.
To answer your final question: We don't.
One of my Dad's quips was, " you can lead a horse to water but a pencil has to be lead"
There are some people that you just can't help. It's frustrating at times, but in the end you can only do so much.
One one of my sayings is a hockey goalie has to defend a six by four foot net and keep the puck out. A human has to defend a a much smaller opening, i.e. their mouth and nobody's playing offense.
Can't address obesity effectively until you tackle the behemoth that is lobbying/special interest on the part of sugary beverage/food makers and companies like McDonald's who make/serve ultra processed foods.
Use that money to market and/or subsidize healthy food growers, farmers, etc.
Use that money to market and/or subsidize healthy food growers, farmers, etc.
Yup. Another example is that there is a lot that we can do about it, but we choose not to.
US healthcare is set up to keep you coming back for more once you're into the system. Get obese by indulging in the American diet (aided by special interest), get into the healthcare system to get your latest drug to manage your symptoms. Eventually you're on a cocktail of pills with endless doctor's visits.
There's a lot of money/interest involved in allowing people to become unhealthy. That's the main reason why America does not promote healthy eating/living on a grand scale. Smart people can get around the system by taking responsibility - eating well and exercising regularly - and yes, a little luck too.
There's a lot of money/interest involved in allowing people to become unhealthy. That's the main reason why America does not promote healthy eating/living on a grand scale. Smart people can get around the system by taking responsibility - eating well and exercising regularly - and yes, a little luck too.
I think there is a lot out there that promotes healthy living - eating right and exercising. It is literally all over magazines and social media. But, people want things that taste good. This is never going to stop. Some people just don't know when to stop eating.
The only thing that may happen is that food portions in restaurants are increasing over the years. In Europe, the food portions are not as big as they are here. there are tons of mediocre to bad restaurants that are packed not because of the quality of the food, but they serve large servings. How is this ever going to change? There are so many factors, it seems overwhelming. I agree that it should start educating kids in school. But it will be a generation or two away. And who knows how well it will work. Do schools teach health anymore?
So who said it would be fast. It takes leadership, fortitude and even legislation to change. It’s bad and getting worse. Throwing our hands in the air seems rather defeatist.
Bloomberg had the right idea with the soft drink tax but it made no sense on execution. We want to do away with fossil fuels but we can’t reduce ingredients that are unhealthy?
Eating is a national sport in Italy. We are going there this spring to visit the food trail in Parma, Modena, and Bologna. A casual observation of the people there is that they are mostly thin.
There is virtually no fast food chains like we have here.
We saw the same thing in France and Spain.
The primary drink is water or wine.
You said a mouthful there, no pun intended.
Just about every Medicare Advantage plan (aka Medicare Part C) includes a free gym membership (Silver Sneakers). I'd love to see the analytics on what percentage of the Medicare population actually uses it.
In addition to the free gym membership, there is a slew no cost resources to help you with just about every aspect of living, eating right being one of them.
Years ago we were in Venice with the whole family. My wife and I got up early and I went downstairs while she was showering and asked for two coffees to go (they call it take-away) at the front desk. The host returned with a silver tray, porcelain china, silverware, etc. I didn't have the heart to tell her I just wanted two paper cups so I took the tray returned to the room and when my wife opened the door I just said "Don't ask".
not just mcdonalds. high fructose corn syrup, corn, wheat, etc. any processed food. processed food is the enemy. same with preservatives. eat a diet free of proccessed or preserved (sans frozen) food and report back. i unintentionally lost like 30 lbs (and i was already healthy). insane how much those two things have spiked our avg weight.
Exactly. Why not just tax items that are made with fructose and corn syrup…just like tobacco. It’s not that hard to do, except for lobbyists.
Your friend mentions his upcoming trip to Italy and you, of course, have to tell your story about the porcelain china. There is no story anywhere in Piratecrew that you cannot top.
Something to be said there in regards to their culture vs ours there especially related to work life balance.
More like pace of life. No coffee on the run…can sit for 20 minutes sipping 2 ounces of espresso. They also walk and bicycle more than we do.
What’s the definition of unhealthy? You are going to regulate the amount of burgers one can eat? Or the amount of bacon strips that can be on a burger? So anything that has as an ingredient like fructose will be hit with a "fat tax"? So every bag of chips, cookies, desert and fast food will be taxed with what? 30% a $1? No matter the amount. To me, it seems that is unworkable. And I doubt would work.
Educate when young, I am all for. But what law can anyone imagine to to regulate the intake of food just will not work.
I disagree. Tax manufacturers of food made with fructose. That’s not hard. We do it with other products.
