US Mortatlity Rate For White Males Is Rising

Paul Krugman provides a graph of mortality rates for the US and comparison countries.  Mortality rates for white males in their forties and fifties has been rising while the mortality rates in comparison countries have been falling.  Suicides and drug abuse, including alcohol, are primarily responsible for the rising mortality rate.  This compares with a similar result in Russia after the fall of Communism.  There is no easy explanation for this change but it is a signal that some kind of social disruption has  affected white males in that age group.  This article offers an explanation which also explains the rise of right wing populism.  Many feel abandoned and their anger has been skillfully redirected.