Want To Live To A Ripe Old Age? Here's A Tip!

Harlingen, Texas, September 18, 2006:  A recent article in a local newspaper has provided some serious food for thought.  If we brag about the findings or a study...will it alter those same findings?  What I am referring to is research completed by Harvard University that pinpoints the Rio Grande Valley as the locale with the longest longevity in Texas and perhaps the United States.

One thing people are always interested in is a thing called “life-span”.  Those who study the differences in life expectancy are always able to tell society that huge differences in life span can be found from one sector of the country to another.  What they can never explain is why the differences in life expectancy cannot be explained by race, income, life style or access to health care.

For example, in the United States it has been found that Asians, averaging 85 years, live longer than Americans of African ethnicity who live to age 71.

Low income Whites from Minnesota and the Dakotas average 79 years and live longer than the 214 million people who make up the heart of our population and have a life expectancy of 78 years.  However, if we compare the life spans of those low-income white residents of the Dakotas with the life span of Native Americans from the same region everything becomes distorted.  That group of Whites at 79 years is 21 years longer than the 58-year life span of the Native American.  Locale cannot be a factor, income is not a factor, and the Native Americans of that region have even more access to health care.

So, lets take a look at geography.  Those with the longest longevity in the United States reside in Hawaii.  People in that state have an average life expectancy of 80 years.  The people of Minnesota are next with 78.8 years, followed by Connecticut and Utah with 78.7 years and California with 78.2 years.

At the bottom of the longevity list are those who make their homes in Mississippi, who average 73.6 years and in very last place, Washington D.C. that posts a 72 year life expectancy.

This brings us full circle to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, specifically the two southernmost counties in the state...Hidalgo and Cameron.  Those who live in Hidalgo County may be the national winners of the life span lottery.  The average life expectancy there is 80.2 years.  In neighboring Cameron County that life expectancy is 80.1 years.

Now this is in a region of the United States that boasts a population that is more than 80% Hispanic.  It is also one of the most economically depressed areas of the country and has reduced access to health care for those of lower economic means.  The region has a very high rate of diabetes and obesity.

So, why do people live longer in the Rio Grande Valley?  According to the Harvard study, “The observed disparities in life expectancy cannot be explained by race, income or basic health care access and utilization alone.”

Local residents seem to think their longevity has a lot to do with the safety net provided by strong family ties that exist throughout the region.  Added to that is the reduced stress of life in the Valley.  People tend to have a “manana” attitude about many things.  “We just take things slower here,” says retiree James Sharp. “By the time we finish saying ‘good mornin’, it is already ‘good afternoon’,” he concludes.

Veterans View Upcoming Election

September 8, 2006:  “Its going to take a miracle to come up with a with a viable candidate - a charismatic type that people will listen too.  America is so radicalized, tribalized, liberalized that it becomes a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.” So says retired Marine Sergeant Major Bill Steigerwald of Harlingen, Texas.  A dedicated conservative, he was a strong supporter of Bush and the Republican agenda.  After what he feels are six years of false promises and no action on either border security or the immigration invasion, Steigerwald ranks among the thousands of veterans who have become disillusioned with the GOP.

Alamogordo, New Mexico is the home of retired Army Master Sergeant Paul Balaich.  He says, “We often hear the phrase ‘By and For the People’.  It is becoming more obvious as time passes that elections are really not ‘For the People’, but only for the politician running for office.  Elected officials seldom listen to their constituency, but instead lean heavily toward the huge amounts of money provided by those with deep pockets or organizations that can deliver block amounts of votes.  Important pieces of legislation are bottled up in committee at the request of the Executive, Speaker or Majority Leader.  One piece of legislation that comes to mind has over 250 (co) sponsors and has lain dormant in committee since 2005.  While there is a mechanism to bring the bill out of committee, the method seldom receives the support to force a floor vote.î Balaich is one of many who no longer see Republicans as strong supporters of the military community.”

Charlie Clark served in the United States Navy Submarine Service during both World War II and Korea.  Now making his home in Hawaii, Clark views all that seek public office with distain.  “Here in the Aloha State we are looking at a group of ex hippies (state legislators) running for a vacant seat in the 2nd Congressional District.  All are NON veterans with no understanding of our form of government, let alone the Constitution.”

Florida is the home of many retired military personnel and veterans.  One of these is Jim Cook, a retired Air Force Major.  His ire is also focused on the subject of immigration.  “My number one concern is our illegal alien/security problem.  The folks hiring them don’t give a damn about the way our national security is being gutted by their greed.

“Our current crop of Congress-critters, with few exceptions such as Tom Tancredo of Colorado, only pay attention to two things, campaign donors and reelection.  I intend to keep working to support the demise of the current Florida representatives who show more allegiance to Vincente Fox that the USA.  I will continue to support Team American (A Tancredo organization), the Minutemen, Numbers USA, US Border Control and anyone else who stands for running the illegals back. ƒPerhaps we need to give Fox citizenship, move him here and tell him to solve the illegals problem.  He sure solved it for Mexico.”

An interesting trend has surfaced related to the upcoming national election.  The majority of veterans and retired military personnel contacted seem to have greater concern about local issues, national security matters and illegal immigration than what is taking place in Iraq.  Few of those polled even mentioned that conflict.

There are many written commentaries that indicate a large percentage of Iraq veterans are changing their party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.  They charge the GOP failed to honor promises made to the military community.  There is also an attitude of “throw the bums out”, that seems to exist in the military and veteran community.  Many say they are changing parties just so they can vote against incumbents.

Charlie Revie, who I have frequently quoted in veteran related articles, voices a case in point.  He is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel from Las Cruces, New Mexico.  “The current administration and Congress refuse to acknowledge that our military capability is at the breaking point of being over extended.  We have soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen returning to the Middle East for their third and sometimes fourth tours.  Hello! Something is wrong!  Consider that the portion of our Gross National Product devoted to National Defense is the lowest in decades.  We need to increase that percentage.  We do not necessarily need to reinstitute the draft, but we certainly can increase the size of our armed forces.

“Now as for voting them out, regardless of whether they are friend or foe, the primary reason is to get the attention of 435 representative and 33 senators up for reelection.  If their successors develop what I call ïincumbent amnesiaÍ then when they come up for reelection they will also get their walking papers.  Once elected too many incumbents forget why they were elected and by whom.  We have a Congress divided along party lines when they should be thinking of the security interests of this great country.  We are at war for the survival of our country, culture and way of life!  In my local situation I will be voting against the incumbent Democrat senator and against the incumbent Republican representative.”

Those veterans in Pennsylvania who plan to vote against incumbent Democrat Representative John Murtha fill many pages on the Internet.  Few have any kind words for the retired Marine reservist.

“I’m ashamed to recognize Jack Murtha as a fellow Vietnam veteran”, says Bill Comrey.  “My youngest brother is a Sergeant Major in the PA National Guard and he is in Iraq at this time.  He and his fellow troops need full support.” Comrey plans to vote for challenger Diana Irey.

Another voice out of Pennsylvania is that of Charles D. Watterson III.  “As a U.S. Marine Gulf War and Somalia veteran I stand behind anyone that will stand up to the likes of John Murtha.  As a Marine himself, he should be ashamed of what he has accused our Marine brothers of doing.  I consider him nothing less than a traitor to my beloved Marine Corps.”

As mentioned earlier in this commentary veteran issues appear to be mostly local when related to failed promises, and national on issues of security and immigration.  Perhaps their numbers are not great enough in any specific locale to bring about any significant change.  However, veteran attitudes reflect a great discontent with all creatures politicƒ.and those who run in that pack should look hard at how their future could unfold.