The Oct. 24 front-page article “Red-state politics are shaving years off U.S. lives” was a compelling statistical treatise of the negative health consequences of political bifurcation. As a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, I grew up witnessing the emergence of some of these self-inflicted wounds.

In an apparent carry-over from the pioneering spirit, many Buckeyes pride their independence and individualism to the extreme, even when it contradicts their self interests. Many of Ohio’s legislators have mastered this contradiction. They marveled at iconic, ruggedly individualistic heroes such as the Marlboro Man. Most of these legislators grew up worshiping President Ronald Reagan and his “government is the problem” mantra. As a youth, I noted the emergence of these attitudes and was flummoxed by friends and relatives who refused to wear seat belts and delighted in chain smoking because “the government can’t tell me what to do.” A close family member was seriously maimed in a car crash for lack of a seat belt. I watched the demise of other relatives who suffered numerous lung diseases because of cigarettes.

Ohio needs saner public health policies. However, the root causes of Northeast Ohio’s problems are the distorted, conspiratorial beliefs of many of its citizens and the red-state leaders they elect. Yes, the Rust Belt is a forsaken land suffering the effects of globalization. But public health programs alone can’t help people who refuse to help themselves. Right-wing tribal allegiance and opposition to self-preservation are the apex of acquired political ignorance.

Buckeyes’ anti-government stance has largely contributed to the decline of Ashtabula County. Regardless of the statehouse deniers in Columbus, statistics don’t lie.

Len Schossler, Burke