Hacker News Reader

> You do need to be able to afford to care for them and be reasonably capable of providing them with a stable and healthy environment to grow up in though.

You kinda don't though? The government won't let you starve to death. Surprised there aren't more people welfaremaxxing, TBH.

View on HN

The government absolutely lets people starve to death. Have you ever tried to get any welfare? It's gatekept to hell.

I haven't checked the data for myself, but supposedly, while still not a common cause of death, malnutrition is the fastest growing cause of death in the US (https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/health-and-famili...)

Obligatory: https://xkcd.com/1102/

And according to your article, this is almost exclusively a problem with the elderly:

> Those aged 85 and older die from malnutrition at a rate about 60 times higher than the rest of the American population, with deaths in that group increasing about twice as fast.

(Of course, I'd expect those aged over 85 to be dying at a much higher rate from _most_ causes.)

You should try it because I bet you'll find out why pretty fast. It just isn't worth it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com