I see this headline as I'm browsing the news this morning : Report: Florida Among 10 Most Unhealthy States.
The ranking is based on 18 criteria that include the state's number of smokers, death rates for cancer and heart disease, prevalence of violent crime and high-school graduation rates.
And this is news to whom?????
Let's just look at this for a moment.
1) We have more senior citizens down here. The proportion 65 years and over ranged from a low of 6 percent in Alaska to a high of 18 percent in Florida. Oh and this goes with it: Six of the 10 places of 100,000 or more population having the highest proportion of people 65 and older were located in Florida. Clearwater (21 percent) and Cape Coral (20 percent), Fla., ranked first and second in proportion of older residents.
2) Most people that come to Florida to visit FLY. And as this article shows: Crowded airplanes aren't the most healthful places... People fly down here, get sick, still go out and about, after all - they are on vacation....and Spread The Germs!!!!!
Why would they include the High School graduation rate? That doesn't make any sense to me at all.......
The violent crime......we are the State of Transients. We could claim the Coo coo as our state bird, for cryin' out loud. This state wears a tin foil hat. But on the serious side of that, tourists make a prime target...out late, don't know the area, distracted, drunk......
So overall, I'm not surprised by the conclusion in this article at all. What amazes me is that we weren't at the top of the list!!
Posted by Tammi at November 9, 2004 07:44 AMTammi, the dropout rate matters for a few reasons. Dropouts are more likely to be involved in crime and drugs, both are unhealthy.
Dropouts tend to make a LOT less money, leading to poorer diets and a whole bunch less preventive medicine, also unhealthy.
Dropouts also have a higher percentage of dimbulbs than almost any other population groups outside the faculties of liberal universities. Stupid people tend to make stupid decisions, those decisions can be unhealthy.
Just my $0.02.
That makes perfect sense to me, Tammi. Florida must be Evil Glenn's Mecca! I agree with Peter about Dropouts. Plus, that bit about liberal universities was funny :-)
Posted by: Sally at November 9, 2004 02:56 PMYou know, sometimes the obvious is just not obvious until it's obvious.
That makes perfect sense you guys. I know that and when I sold juice used that in my cateogory management. Duh.....
This is what happens when you post with no caffien. :-) Thanks.
Posted by: Tammi at November 9, 2004 03:45 PM