It is sad how we respond to media-generated hype and hysteria.
The 24 x 7 news void demands to be filled, and
by golly, they do indeed fill it.
Why a police chase ending in a rollover blocking the 405
south of Los Angeles is pertinent, we don’t know. But we are compelled to watch
the gripping video. Ask a hard question – is the news you watch mostly useful,
or is it mostly entertainment?
Remember that the networks and cable news outlets are driven
by a chase for revenue. The news arms of the majors (ABC, CBS, NBC) and the
cable networks – CNN, MSNBC, Fox News – all are competing to keep your eyes glued
to their particular screen. The stories
they feature are not primarily designed to make you a better citizen, or to
keep you safe, but rather to maximize their advertising revenue.
Take, for example, the stereotypical “stranger-danger” child
kidnapping. As a media maven, one would think that these events have gone
through the roof. Children are no longer permitted to walk to school or play
alone because of such dangers. A child kidnapping in far-off Atlanta or Houston
is emblazoned on our screens, not to help recover the child, but as a ploy to
keep you watching the commercials.
To the contrary, a recent Department of Justice bulletin
reports that such child kidnappings have not increased. The study found that approximately
105 child kidnappings occurred nationwide in 2011, about the same as in 1997.
And more importantly, the number of deaths resulting from such events fell
dramatically, from 40 percent to 8 percent. (The authors of the study credit technology
– cell phones, GPS, security cameras – for making kids easier to recover).
Bottom line – kids are safer now than ever.
This one example gives us some guidance – as a citizen, as a
voter, as a parent, our best defense is to be well armed with relevant information.
Our government does a great job of gathering and publishing statistics, and it
is free for you to access.
For instance, here are the leading causes of death in the
United States for 2014 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
A quick glance at the big top four should convince you that
diet and exercise and a healthy lifestyle should be your highest priority.
Next is to take care to avoid accidents (unintentional falls
being a significant portion of them).
Not much can be done yet to avoid Alzheimer’s disease although
general good health, diet, and exercise are thought to help, along with maintaining
strong social interactions.
Numbers seven through nine again speak to health, nutrition,
and lifestyle.
Drug overdose and suicide are both very sad causes of death,
perhaps interrelated. All we can do there is to support our loved ones and call
for increased funding for rehabilitation and mental health programs.
Finally to the most dangerous form of transportation known
to man – our cars. Help is on the horizon with autonomous (self-driving) cars promising
to greatly increase safety. In the meantime, you can take care to buckle up and
don't drive under the influence (one third of motor vehicle fatalities involve alcohol-impaired
drivers).
Not on the list but top of mind recently is homicide. The
death rate for all homicides is 5.1 per 100,000 people. (Interestingly, that
rate has declined over 50% from a high of 10.4 in 1980). Death by firearm is a
fraction of that, 3.5 per 100,000. And unless you live in a drug-infested urban
enclave, your odds of meeting this particular fate are exceedingly low.
Here are a few observations that may contribute to the
length and quality of your life. First, shut off the cable news – it is not
serving your best interests. Read your local newspaper – what is going on
around you is far more important. And for goodness sake, put down that
cheeseburger and go for a hike once in a while.
The statistics demand it.
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