Is liberty affecting the happiness of American citizens?
One curious phenomenon regarding the health of citizens of the U.S. has been investigated by Angus Deaton, Nobel Prize winner and Anne Case, social scientist: the fall of the white Americans and the rise of Hyspanic Americans. According to their study, there has been a rise in the number of deaths of white middle-aged Americans, specifically those without higher education. But why are only white people affected by this trend?
According to various studies, over the past 20 years, white people have been more prone to trying drugs such as heroin. More so, if we take a look at history, during moments of hardship like the Great Recession, white Americans have drowned their sorrows in alcohol and drugs, unlike the Hispanics or the blacks. However, one can find a paradox in these results: Hispanics do not have as much education as white Americans, and still they have a lower death rate. But the Case-Deaton study does not stop here: the mortality rates among whites continue to grow, as the ones for Hispanics are currently dropping. The study also identified three causes that are related: apart from alcohol and drug abuse, deaths can also be linked to liver diseases and suicides, also caused by the consumption of narcotics.
For the moment no specific reason could be found for the drastic differences between nations. One could argue that Hispanics for instance have better traditions or customs, which allow them to be healthier. Others could say that immigrants generally have close communities which are beneficial for the mind and soul. But what we should also take into consideration is that different nations have different perspectives. On one hand, a white person may have a view of a declining America, while being part of the so-called victims of capitalism. On the other hand, immigrants always come to the land of promise and wealth with the hope of a new and better life, and they usually have very difficult lives before moving to the States.
While the results of the study show conflicting results that have yet to be interpreted, one should always bear in mind that one of the most influential factors in our lives is a good mindset. In this case, positive thinking and close communities can matter more than any riches.
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