Some research out recently shows that middle aged U.S. whites' life expectancy is actually going down, if only slightly. Naturally, the pundit class is having a field day, why should I abstain?
The New York Times' Ross Douthat writes the causes of this increased mortality appear to be increases in suicide and alcohol and drug abuse. It is centered among late middle aged whites with little education.
This group has been left behind by globalization and the offshoring of manufacturing. The good union jobs they once got in factories are no more, and the service jobs into which they should have transitioned have been filled by illegal immigrants who will work harder for less.
Only whites with little education in the U.S. have been so affected. Why so? Because unlike non-whites, they had expectations which have not been fulfilled.
Things for their cohort are markedly worse than for earlier cohorts who had similar education and experience. They expected to be able to make a living, support a family, and buy a home.
Very often these expectations have proven unrealistic. Hence drinking, abuse of Rx and street drugs, depression, cirrhosis and suicide.
A Social Darwinist would say they've proven unfit for survival in today's environment. I'm more inclined to blame disappointment, feelings of failure directed inward.
They can't blame discrimination or racism for their shortcomings, can't externalize it as various minorities do. That's because in the U.S. we have no tradition of social class conflict, no history of class warfare like that in the U.K. or France.
