A group of middle-aged whites in the U.S. is dying at a startling rate

[Bonobo]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-group-of-middle-aged-american-whites-is-dying-at-a-startling-rate/2015/11/02/47a63098-8172-11e5-8ba6-cec48b74b2a7_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_whitedeaths-319pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

When I talked about the suicide issue that face predominately men, I was attacked as a sexist. But I have lost 3 friends my age to suicide and know it is a real thing.

Here is the data. It is no surprise to me. The burden still lies more heavily on men than on women to be the providers. They carry a tremendous psychological burden and the meanings of their lives is inextricably linked to doing so. They cannot "give" life, so in exchange they are expected to be the ones that provide for that life. It is the way of nature.

The fact that the world is a "Patriarchy" does nothing to alleviate this extra-burden nor does it make the lives of male individuals easier -the opposite actually.

[NonMetro]

1. So, They Worry About The Cost Of Medicaire And The "Burden" All These People

Killing themselves will have on federal programs. Figures!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. If a candidate started addressing these issues, I wonder how it would play

Republicans have gotten very good at pooh poohing anything health related being mentioned. Just look at their assault on Michelle Obama for a relatively common sense change in diet and exercise for school kids.

They have successfully indoctrinated white males especially to believe that you simply don't complain about personal stress and poor habits, and those who do are basically unmanly. And I'm sure it rubs off on conservative women.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Too many democrats...

... treat it as a measure of social progress.

When Sanders is criticized for being attractive to white male voters, his supporters rally to his defense against these hateful insults. In fact, maybe you heard that "brogressives" are our worst enemy?

I think we own this one, and it's not just middle aged folks. Three of my High School friends have lost teen sons to suicide.

I'm convinced that there are a great many of my fellow liberals who would rather not win an election if it means voting with a rural middle aged working class white guy.

It goes far beyond indifference.

How would it play for a candidate who started addressing this issue? Terribly. Liberals aren't going to vote for anyone looking to help "the privileged", and Republicans aren't going to vote for anyone who points out how powerless they are.

Advice? Buy stock in Annhaeuser-Busch and Smith and Wesson. If we're consciously refusing to do anything about it, we should at least own that refusal and profit from it.