A fine illustration of the need to understand how data is gathered . . .

. . . before jumping to conclusions. The example in this case is comparing U.S. infant mortality rates to those of other countries. (There are more problems with that comparison than just the one the author is pointing out, but it's an especially good example of needing to check the comparability of data.)

Comments

[Ironman]

The problems of international comparison also extend into life expectancy data - you'd be surprised to see how the U.S. ranks after the data is corrected for the U.S.' higher level of accidental deaths (primarily car accidents) and homicides, both of which claim lives independently of the health status of the victims:

http://tinyurl.com/2ey69u

If you want more food for thought, it would appear that the lower life expectancy of the black population compared to whites in the U.S. has very little, if anything, to do with racism:

http://tinyurl.com/5d42xu

The link above is for the concluding post of the series - sometime today I'll extend the post to more clearly identify the related posts on the topic.

[Ross]

Socialists love pointing to such statistics to justify government rationing of services. Having lost a five-month old to negligent daycare, I have no patience for such intellectual dishonesty. Universal health care couldn’t stop my son from rolling over and suffocating, but it does prevent patients with exigent needs from getting medical attention in a timely fashion.

Why are so many seemingly willing to entrust their health to bureaucracy? That, not our present day health care system, is the true national disgrace.

[JorgXMcKie]

"Why are so many seemingly willing to entrust their health to bureaucracy? "

Good question, Ross. I posit at least three possible answers. 1) Some people feel (and perhaps are) incompetent to take charge of their own lives in a difficult environment and believe there *must* be some more trustworthy entity available to do it, and government is their best guess. 2) Some people believe that just everyone except themselves and some others like them is incompetent to take charge of their lives and therefore *need* some other more trustworthy entity to to take charge of their lives for their own good and that government is the only possible such entity. 3) Those in number 2 *also* believe that the government will allow them to continue to be in charge of *their* own lives *or* that they will be among the bosses and not the bossed.

Also, of course, both of the two groups prefer to ignore any evidence that contradicts their world view.

[Ross]

Jorg,

I intended the question rhetorically and, by extension, dismissively. However, I appreciate your reasoning on the question. Nicely done!