I applaud Greg Mankiw for making some very good points about the health care debate. Today, for example, he notes that there is more than one way to measure the quality of health care received and that life expectancy doesn’t the whole story. Considering that Americans are considered to be relatively fat and unhealthy, it says something about the quality of care we receive in America when longevity expectations are still on par with other nations.
I also take the view that life expectancy is no way to measure a nation. Sure long lives are good, but I know that I want my life to be judged on many more things than simply how long I lived. For example, I’d rather be productive and die the day I turn 70 rather than turn into a useless blob at age 60 who merely persists until age 80.
