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Plunging test scores are a slow-moving catastrophe

207 points · 414 comments · vinni2

  1. Animats · · focus · HN ↗
    Plunging physical fitness test scores are even worse.[1] "Fat people don't make good soldiers … they get themselves or others hurt or killed." The US military says 31% of US youth are too fat to serve. 77% are not qualified for one or more reasons.[2]

    Only 12% of American male youth who are qualified for the military are not in college.

    Think about that. About 2/3 of American male youth are not good enough for either college or the military. That's a high reject rate.

    [1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.military.com&#x2F;daily-news&#x2F;2018&#x2F;10&#x2F;10&#x2F;one-third-youths-too-obese-military-service-study-finds.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.military.com&#x2F;daily-news&#x2F;2018&#x2F;10&#x2F;10&#x2F;one-third-you...

    [2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.military.com&#x2F;daily-news&#x2F;2022&#x2F;09&#x2F;28&#x2F;new-pentagon-study-shows-77-of-young-americans-are-ineligible-military-service.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.military.com&#x2F;daily-news&#x2F;2022&#x2F;09&#x2F;28&#x2F;new-pentagon-...

    1. armchairhacker · · focus · HN ↗
      Why don’t governments pay for free GLPs for everyone overweight? They overrepay for themselves by reducing medical care.
      1. V__ · · focus · HN ↗
        There is no value for a government in long-term thinking, if the electorate only votes on short term issues.
        1. neutronicus · · focus · HN ↗
          This may be true, but I think the electorate would go fucking bananas for free GLP-1s.
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