Which extremely ambitious assertion? You mean the one in the article that states: “Mr. Sasse argues that “loneliness is killing us,” citing, among other things,

Which extremely ambitious assertion? You mean the one in the article that states: “Mr. Sasse argues that “loneliness is killing us,” citing, among other things, the skyrocketing rates of suicide and overdose deaths in America. This year, 45,000 Americans will take their lives[1], and more than 70,000 will die from drug overdoses.” [1] when in fact it has been verified that in Europe suicide rates have increased since the onset of austerity – there have been many studies and reports, here is one such finding: https://www.globalresearch.ca/eu-austerity-killing-greece-report-shows-suicide-infant-death-and-mental-illness-on-the-rise/5531637 https://www.globalresearch.ca/eu-austerity-killing-greece-re... [2] and show that poverty and drug abuse (and hence deaths therefrom) are correlated: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180326/us-opioid-ods-cluster-in-centers-of-poverty https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180326/... I stand by my claim. It doesn't take a social scientist to recognise that poverty leads to increased ill-health, stress, suicide, drug abuse. Wealth does not protect you from these things but it certainly can cushion them. So do excuse me if I find the "it's loneliness" line-of-thinking a little hard to swallow. I think in the light of all that suffering `oblivious moron' is charitable.