The lack of universal health care may mean that Americans aren't measuring up to their European counterparts. Literally.
A new study co-authored by John Komlos and Benjamin E. Lauderdale found that Americans have shrunk about 0.75 centimeters compared to Europeans. (Source) The decline is most prevalent among residents of urban and suburban areas.
The shrinking stature of Americans is important for a number of reasons, experts say. Height is generally an indicator of good nutrition within a particular populous. Some scientists even claim a connection between height and intelligence.
Interestingly, Komlos and Lauderdale note that citizens in countries which offer nationalized health care have not experienced the same shrinkage in stature. In the United States, the problem is compounded by overconsumption of fast food and a sedentary lifestyle.
This does not bode well for US soldiers who will be fighting a generational war against the forces of Al-Qaeda for decades to come. Unless, of course, the Al-Qaeda fighters begin shooting over US soldiers heads because they have become accustom to larger targets.
And then there will be those of us on the home front, stuck watching Fox News on our televisions. Not enough brainpower to operate the remote and too short to change the channels manually.