Slog - Comments on U.S.: Second Deadliest Place in World for Infants

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:23:58 -0800

I wish Latvia were ahead of us.

Comment by Michigan Matt

Michigan Matt — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:35:36 -0800

This can't be correct. We're #1 in everything. EVERYTHING.

Comment by Peter

Peter — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:36:04 -0800

Wasn't Latvia the made-up Marvel comics kingdom ruled with an iron fist by Dr. Doom?

Comment by Greg

Greg — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:40:08 -0800

I read the article, but I still don't really understand why the U.S. is so much worse off than other industrial nations.

Comment by SDA in SEA

SDA in SEA — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:52:13 -0800

Greg, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that we are the ONLY industrialized nation with NO national health coverage.

Thank Jebus, Bush just vetoed SCHIP. You know, to keep us from anything that even resembles a communist health plan. Bad, bad, bad.

Comment by Just Me

Just Me — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:52:25 -0800

GOOD!! Finally, if out infants die then our commute will FINALLY start to get better in a few years!!

Comment by dirty girl

dirty girl — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:57:09 -0800

less people = good

Comment by left coast

left coast — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:59:14 -0800

This is just what the terrorists wanted, we are going to have to spend more money on weapons. If we don't get more munitions and starting tapping the phones, this is just going to get worse. They hate our freedoms.

Comment by Big_K

Big_K — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:08:58 -0800

We need to solve this problem as soon as possible, before I start collecting social security, and we should continue to have lots of infants/workers until I die and no longer need my social security. After that date, you may continue to off the kiddies.

Comment by Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:11:13 -0800

I hate babies.

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:25:20 -0800

if so many murkins weren't dumb as rocks their babies wouldn't die - christian scientists, high school dropouts, teenage moms, dirtball dads, tweakers, & crackheads are pumping the kids out while the college educated elite are waiting till they're 40 to have 1.

this is an education issue as much as access to health care.

Comment by D.C. Dude

D.C. Dude — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:51:21 -0800

Wonder how the anti-abortionists will react to this news? Seems their energy goes towards the wrong things ... how about SAVE THE LIVING?!

Comment by deltron

deltron — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:57:57 -0800

It's actually misleading. The US has a higher infant mortality than much of the Western world mainly because severely premature babies are not counted as infants in most developed countries other than the US ( doctors here save a good many of them, but when they can't save a 24 week preemie, it's counted as an infant death). Additionally, other disorders that cause many babies to die in utero in other nations are treated in the US successfully, but the failures here drive up the mortality rate.

Latvia sucks much worse than the US, Don't be fooled.

Comment by Peter

Peter — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:13:44 -0800

@13,

Why let a little thing like selectively interpreted/reported statistics ruin a good round of hysterical handwringing?

Comment by K X One

K X One — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:21:21 -0800

@ 13 Source please!

Comment by Peter

Peter — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:34:09 -0800

Here's the actual CDC report in question - still reading to see if what @13 says is true:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr56/nvsr56_03.pdf

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:49:53 -0800

I agree with maxsolomon, but I'll add that other First World countries have significantly better public education and public services. Those tweakers and crackheads have better access to treatment programs and welfare. I'll also bet that child services are better funded -- the better to take babies away from incorrigible drug addicts.

Comment by Raphael

Raphael — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:00:11 -0800

UTTERLY disgraceful.

And some of these posters should have died as small children for what they contribute.

Education problems are directly linked to no national universal health care.

The rest of the world speaks scorn of the mighty America when these stats are made public. "Why do you settle for so little", they rightfully ask.

Comment by StotheL

StotheL — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:09:50 -0800

A lot has to do with how pregnancy and childbirth are treated in this country too. The lack of insurance coverage for midwifery, no emphasis on or support for proper nutrition in pregnancy, and horrifying rates of medical intervention in birth are all dangerous to mothers and infants.

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:13:14 -0800

@18:

Can you expound on this sentence? "Education problems are directly linked to no national universal health care."

How do you figure?

Comment by Big Sven

Big Sven — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:58:44 -0800

Infant death rate in MN is 4.8, in Mississippi is 9.6.

http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.com/shr2005/components/infantmortality.html

Fuck the Red States!