Why do Middle-aged White Americans Keep Dying?

All across the world people are living longer.  With one notable exception.  White American men and women in their middle decades  (USW, see below)

And what are they dying of?  Basically misery,  Specifically medical complications from the use of alcohol or drugs, and suicide. Which begs the question of just what white people in their mid-forties to mid-fifties are so damn miserable about?

It seems to be a patchwork of increased prescription of opioid drugs, an disproportionate tendency to respond to stress with suicide, which has a bigger impact in those with no more than a high school education, and reaches a crisis in mid-life. All of which sounds like an explanation until you consider that each of these risks should apply to all races in America, and to the white people in other countries shown on the graph above.

Is it then that white people, used to a position of considerable privilege in the US, have not developed the culture of resilience, and so are disproportionately vulnerable when facing the middle-life crisis of the new millennium on an increasing level playing field?

Death and the Emmys

Is it really necessary for the Emmys to be so overwhelmingly about dead people?  The death of peopke is said, but as soon as you make death and musical dance numbers your two main features, the event becomes awkwards.

Because, transitions.  They were terrible.  Hey, that was a sad eulogy, now some tap dancing! Ha ha, um....

Because, inequality.  Some people don't get mentioned.  Some do but no solo eulogy.  Even with the pictures some get clapped more than others.  It's like an audible vote for who basically wasted their life. Then the interview with family members who are awkwardly offended for their loved one not getting a big enough Emmy send off.

mugley / Foter / CC BY-SA

Maybe we should just hand out the awards, tell a few jokes, and be done with it?