My reply to the Puritan post was spiced with a tablespoon of sarcasm. I don’t recall Puritans catching the redeye out of Europe to the new world. On another note Japan just raised the retirement age of civil servants both local and national to 61. Also included in the law is an incremental increase in retirement age to 65 by 2031. If anyone thinks that won’t happen here I have some bad news for you. With the FAA/ATC running understaffed continuously I see their retirement age getting pushed along with the other civil servants. Many EU countries are taking a look at their respective mandates concerning retirement and they will trend the same way. People may not like it (The French) but it will happen regardless of our thoughts and feelings.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/26/national/japan-raise-retirement-age-civil-servants/

There has been a major spike upwards in life expectancy in the last 25 or so years. I believe that a big driver of this is due to anti smoking campaigns. Smoking actually saved Social Security money due to earlier deaths due to lung cancer. Would we actually be willing to bring back tobacco advertising on TV? I remember one ad where they had somebody dressed up as a doctor telling us that smoking was healthy.

Joe

Smoke ‘‘em if you got ‘em.

Today it’s the food industry, especially cereal. Food manufacturers are now suing the FDA that they have a first amendment right to put on the box that Fruit Loops etc are a healthy start to the day.

The reality is that obesity and it’s associated health issues are the next big threat to society’s average life span.

Interestingly, that with smaller average family sizes it’s expected that populations are starting to shrink. China is an example.

Toss 2% RDA of a vitamin or two into the mix and viola, Healthy!

If not already. The education system is sure banging the healthy eating drum, maybe that will stick with younger generations?

Generally economic success yields lower and later childbirths... been happening in parts of Europe and Japan for a while now. The PRC kind of did it to themselves though (one child policy). Notable exception in some cultures, specifically some religious groups. We might have that going for us, compared to some other parts of the world.

For diarrhea, one of the top three causes of death, don’t forget Imodium and drugs that came before it.

So it’s:

1). Mosquitos
2). Heart disease
3). Diarrhea

???

:)

https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/social-security-cuts-could-be-coming-soon-heres-who-will-be-affected.amp

This house of cards will fall and only our pain will possibly fix it. The proverbial end of the road is in sight of the kicked can.

As I said, above: in 1900, the top top three leading causes of death in the US were the flu, TB, and diarrhea. So, close, no cigars.

or it will be fixed with a bipartisan bill and the fearmongering will move to the next subject

'fixed'
'bipartisan'