University College London researchers' study of 10, 000 English people also suggested future disability and poor health could be predicted by the state of a person's mind.

BBC: Enjoyment of life 'key to living longer'

The rise of homeopathy, crystal healing, and all that jazz are worrisome, and their increasing popularity says a lot about the poor state of science education and the loss of faith in the health care industry.

FORBES: The Absurdity of Homeopathy and the Danger of Too Much Skepticism

And though Mr Cardoso's ministers sometimes seemed afraid to defend their policies, Mr Covas relished taking on critics: last year, turning 70 and already in poor health, he had a series of public shouting-matches with striking state workers.

ECONOMIST: Brazil loses a political kingpin

If Republicans want to avoid repeating this mistake, they will have to first and foremost push back against Democratic plans to turn Medicaid--the joint federal-state health insurance for the poor--into a middle-class entitlement by expanding eligibility in the name of covering the uninsured.

FORBES: Uncommon Sense