Posted on 09/19/2002 5:11:11 AM PDT by BigWaveBetty
A study has found that suicide rates in Britain and Australia surged during the last century whenever conservative governments were in power.
University of Sydney researchers analysed suicide figures for New South Wales between 1901 and 1998, and compared them with the prevailing political regime.
When the Liberals or Nationals were in power, men were 17 per cent more likely to commit suicide than when Labor was in Government, while women were 40 per cent likelier to kill themselves.
In Britain, a team from Bristol University has found a similar trend.
Suicide rates were far lower under Labour Governments than under the Conservative Party.
They soared under Margaret Thatcher, who was Conservative Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990.
The researchers at Sydney University say possible factors include conservative parties' traditionally less interventionist approach than Labor on issues like health and welfare, which may cause a sense of exclusion among some people.
AFTER so many nights on the prowl here, Bill Clinton made sure to remind the folks in Washington that he is indeed still married to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Bubba and Hill arrived for dinner at the Georgetown outdoor Cafe Milano Tuesday night with an attention-grabbing security entourage, complete with flashing police lights. Also on hand at the place-to-be-seen was Buzz Aldrin and politics' latest It boy, Afghan foreign minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
Meanwhile, one of x42's girlfriends got a little bad publicity:
NAOMI Campbell bared her fangs at male supermodel Tyson Beckford backstage at yesterdays Tommy Hilfiger show. The mannequin meltdown came as Beckford was interviewing Hilfiger for "NGear," a new urban fashion series premiering Oct. 5 on CBS. "Naomi busted in on the interview demanding attention," says our spy. "Then Tyson ripped into Naomi, and they started shouting and cursing at each other." According to our witness, Tyson snapped, "Thats bleeping rude!" Naomi turned to Hilfiger and snorted, "Can you bleeping believe him?"
Regards, Ivan
WHAT DO Laura Bush, the Dixie Chicks, Angie Harmon, Maria Cuomo Cole, Laura San Giacomo, Marlee Matlin and Tyra Banks have in common? They are among those to be honored tonight at Redbook's "Movers and Shakers Award" for a variety of good deeds in a naughty world. Mrs. Bush gives the keynote speech at Avery Fisher Hall.
The one good saying I will attribute to De Gaulle - he said there are three ways to go to Hell:
Of which gambling was the quickest, women was the most pleasureable (to say nothing of being called "swaaytie"), and believing experts was the most certain. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Sorry that you didn't find a therapist for your dad JL. If I come up with any other ideas, I'll let you know.
Rosie killed Rosie yesterday. The caustic comic bailed out on her namesake magazine, blasting her corporate publishing partner for seizing editorial control of the women's monthly.
"My integrity and name are at stake, and that price is too high," O'Donnell said. "I cannot have my name on a magazine if I cannot be assured that it will represent my vision and my ideas."
O'Donnell, sporting a short, lopsided hairdo that covered one eye, denied at a news conference that she was "abusive" during the power struggle.
"I never raised my voice in anger except when specific people tried to change Rosie magazine without my consent," she said.
The magazine's demise - its last issue will be December - follows weeks of squabbling between O'Donnell and publisher Gruner+Jahr USA. It also caps a tumultuous year for the entertainer, who ditched her talk show, came out as a lesbian, abandoned her Queen of Nice image and fought rumors her pregnant lover dumped her.
And the drama isn't over: Her walkout leaves millions of dollars in wreckage and a battle that will spill into a courtroom. full story.
And another thing ...
Johnny Carson is suffering from "deadly" emphysema - and has become a virtual recluse aboard his luxury yacht. The National Enquirer is reporting that Carson has "been grappling with killer emphysema for several years and wants to stay out of the public eye." ....
Friends describe Carson as hermit-like, cruising aboard his 130-foot yacht, the Serengeti, with wife Alex and a crew of nine. Johnny usually remains below deck, watching satellite TV and shunning contact with the public. full story
I got a call from the school this morning telling me my son is in "in-school suspension" today. Seems he decided that skipping his homeroom class was a good idea.
The principle sounded like he was very distressed, apparently many kids have been up to this lately. I heard the relief in his voice when I thanked him for taking care of the problem swiftly.
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