The most recent numbers on life expectancy around the world show that life expectancy numbers in the United States are worsening, both in absolute and relative terms - a trend that has been blamed on the large proportion of the population with inadequate health insurance.

"There should no longer be a debate," said Dave Zwiefel, editor emeritus of the Capital Times, in an opinion piece published in the Madison, Wis., newspaper. "Health coverage produces healthier citizens. It's time for the U.S. to stop tinkering around the edges, putting Band-Aids on a broken system, and face reality. We need, no, we deserve, a universal, single-payer health care system - now."

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