Red States Hazardous to Health

The annual report of a non-profit consortium that ranks the States according to the health of their residents shows an interesting correlation between the quality of health and the political "color" of the State. The report weighs such factors as health insurance coverage, heart disease rates, total and infant mortality rates, the rate of motor vehicle deaths, high school graduation rates, childhood poverty, and public health spending.

The report lists blue States as 7 of the top 10 healthiest, while 20 of the bottom 25 are red States. Blue States clearly "value" health more than do red States. I know it is a stereotype, but it does seem the majority of red State voters who chose George Bush apparently share his non-concern over these health issues, and value instead the importance of the State not "interfering" with the God-given right of people to live a downright unhealthy life.

The full report can be accessed from the United Health Foundation web site at http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org .