AFRICAN LIFE EXPECTANCIES FALL

FreeMarketNews.com ^

[Rick_Michael]

The life expectancy of men and women in several African countries has fallen below 40, due to poverty and disease. The 10 countries in the world with the lowest life expectancies all are African, according to UN study reported on by the BBC.

Zimbabwe has the world’s lowest life expectancy, with women expected to live until 34 and men until 37. The life expectancy for women dropped by two years in the last year. The UN report found that Swaziland and Sierra Leone have life expectancy rates below 40 as well.

Low life expectancy rates in Africa are attributed to the AIDS epidemic on the continent, but it isn’t the only cause. The UN study also points out that the standard of living in Zimbabwe has fallen drastically in the last seven years since President Mugabe took office.

[Rick_Michael]

Areas of Africa are an example of pre-industrial revolution living. Probably a little worse than that, but it gives you a view of country lacking reasonable law, and life-saving capitalism. The lefties always put money or ONE.org plans on the table. Many of them being hollyweird geniuses, and they know nothing about building a country (more like destroying one).

It's amazing how the idealogy of limited government and free-markets have altered the cultures of this world. I don't understand why some people on the left are as stupid as they are, and that they don't understand that it's a mentality and enviroment that changes things...not hand-outs. I understand and respect that helping people in the time being is a good thing, but ultimately it's not the left-mentality that creates a nation.

[PeterFinn]

It's Bush's fault.

[ExcursionGuy84]

We are SO dead. [sarcasm off]

[2banana]

I guess living with some whites under colonial rule was not so bad after all..

[Ben Mugged]

America's fault.... We established a welfare society in Africa and they lost the ability to self-sustain. Billions were spent and the result is millions died.... Every president since Nixon owns this disaster.

[Gay State Conservative]

Comrade Mugabe had better hope that there's no God,because if there is,he'll have a lotta splainin' to do some day.

[Brilliant]

Soon they will be extinct.

[CaptRon]

Low life expectancy rates in Africa are attributed to the AIDS epidemic on the continent, but it isn’t the only cause.

Right. There's also Crazed Marxist Dictator Syndrome.

[quantim]

Of course no mention by the UN of the slaughters of innocents by conquering bands of mohammedheads in No. Africa. That'll shorten one's life drastically.

[Rick_Michael]

At what point were Africans responsible?

[Aznar5]

Will the chinese fill the void?

[Rick_Michael]

"Comrade Mugabe had better hope that there's no God,because if there is,he'll have a lotta splainin' to do some day."

Yes, he's one of the worst politicians in modern history...although no one really pays that much attention to Africa to know.

[dfwgator]

Zimbabwe has the world’s lowest life expectancy, with women expected to live until 34 and men until 37.

And yet it's very telling that Mugabe is one of the world's oldest leaders.

[Mikey_1962]

Colonial rule looks like the "good old days".

I feel we may be doing the same thing in the middle-east: imposing democracy on a people with no democratic principles only tribal links.

[D-Chivas]

Nothing a little target practice on dictators and thugs wouldn't solve.

[HostileTerritory]

That's a bizarre perspective on African history. America has been a bit player except insofar as the Cold War had us supporting a few dictators who were very bad for their countries, like Mobutu Sese Seko.

[Ben Mugged]

They actually wanted us to stop aid in the form of food and help them build their industry. Then corrupt leaders threw out the few farmers who were producing their food in the name of land reform and they began to starve. Tribal warfare (similar to what is going on in the Mideast) accounted for millions more deaths. And finally the coup de grace, AIDS. Their neolithic society cannot cope with the realities of a modern day STD so they cloak it with mystery and superstition and it kills millions.

[Regulator]

Crazed Marxist Dictator Syndrome

Always fatal, no known cure

[Rick_Michael]

Our Constitution was developed among unelected officials. It was essentially ratified in a unlawful manner...but I do believe it has had positive effects.

Personally, I do not think the mentality really fit the government yet...in Africa.

If you could get some unelected officials ie those with clout, to create a very...very...limited government in African regions, then you can start off with a rather small structure to work on.

Look at the divide between having the people do it (e.g france) and America (which was mostly done by enlightened aristrocrats). I understand the general sentiments of 'democracy', but believe that should be more of a local level system, and not as much on a federal level.

[Ben Mugged]

Read this thread. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579602/posts.