Encounters with Stupidity

Recently I recieved a report from United Health, my health care provider through the U of A. At least, I think that is where I got this. In part, it read:

"Since 1990, when UnitedHealth first issued its national health report, the health of all Americans has improved by 16.9%. Plummeting infant-mortality rates, down 32% since 1990, a 34% drop in occurrences of infectious diseases, a 36% decline in the rate of motor vehicle deaths and a 24% decrease in the number of regular smokers are primary reasons for the upswing in the nation's health."

Yeah, I also found it on MSN.

Now, those stats are pretty darn amazing. Especially when you consider how far we've come in the previous 150 or 200 years. Still, doctors don't do much except prescribe medicene. (I think the real heros here are in pharmacueticals... and that includes Big Pharm.) The only exception are surgeons. They actually get in there and do some cutting and mending. I think of surgeons as technicians of the body. The body itself does most of the healing, growing new cells, reattaching nerves, and all the ultra-complex biochemistry stuff. Regular pill-pushing doctors don't seem to do much at all. They sure don't keep track of your particular case and illness. I've learned this personally, but also my Grandpa is going through it right now with his fight against cancer. The doctors don't even remember things like: "When is he due for his next chemo treatment?". Amazing. You must be your own advocate. Lance Armstrong said that, so have others. Check out his recent Playboy interview -- it mentions some things he did during his cancer treatment to try to increase his odds a bit.

But now back to the astounding stats, above. How is this happening? Cars are clearly getting safer, and I don't think people are driving better (as an aside, what's up with saying "folks" when we mean "persons" or "people"? It started with G.W., and now all folks do it...). Speed limits in most areas are at an all-time high... 80 mph soon in Arizona, at least on parts of I-10 in southern AZ. I have some speculations, but this blog is getting too long already. Two more things: 1) I finished Spanish 101. The forgetting process is already kicking in. 2) Check out KXCI's stream for a taste of Tucson radio. Skip Democracy Now!, though.