> spends far more per capita on healthcare and has a noticeably worse life expectancy

This is a demagogued political point that I've never seen backed up with evidence.

The US has a high death rate from murder, car deaths, and other factors... but from point of application we have the best healthcare in the world.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/11/23/the-myth-of-amer...