On the other hand, the life expectancy of an American at birth has increased from 53.7 in 1930 to 73.7 in 1980 to 78.3 in 2010. I have no opinion as to whether the increase in life expectancy is because of the nanny state or in spite of it. I will say, howevr, that I would rather die a year younger than live in a society where government dicates every aspect of our lives from craddle to grave and children are suspended from school for merely pointing their finger like a gun.
I think that is probably due to vaccinations and advances made in treatment of ailments, not due to the nanny state.
On balance, I would say in spite of the nanny state. The greatest and most impactful advances in medical knowledge over this time frame came mostly from the private and voluntary sectors in the United States, rather than government. Certainly Obamacare in and of itself, by rationing and restricting access to medical services and by impeding medical research by decreasing profit incentives, will not have a positive impact on life expectancy in the United States.