From global to local, most political conversation avoids the difficult topic of chronic disease. Nor have public health agencies or physicians been able to effectively address what has become an epidemic, among both adults and children, especially here in America. (Previously written about here.)
Now, however, voter attention in the U.S. is being focused on the ‘why’ of chronic disease. Looking beyond the usual topics of costs and equity in healthcare, one candidate has dared to name three categories of specific causes in a national campaign speech: environmental toxins, electro-pollution, and medications.
This means policy decisions may eventually be focused on how to reduce toxins rather than how to pay for their damage. This is good news for voters, patients, and consumers. Less so for industries whose methods will need to change, including medicine’s.
When policymakers take action against toxins, and when aware consumers and patients refuse to buy and use harmful products, several large industries will be affected; chemical companies, communication technologies, and pharmaceutical corporations will all face change.
This is huge and change is hard, but America is fortunate. We are already making change in the two disciplines that can make the most difference to human health: agriculture and medicine. (see previous posts here and here). Now, in the political sphere, at least some candidates are willing to speak about why Americans, especially our children, are so much sicker than they were just a few decades ago.
Living Well Locally is following America’s 2024 Presidential campaign with interest. When national policies begin to address the root causes of disease, it will be that much easier for local communities and their residents to do so. What otherwise would be a long, grassroots effort to effect change, could instead become a national-local partnership.
For more details, please check out this Substack writer’s review of a March 2024 political speech that took a clear focus on major causes of chronic disease.
America could be headed toward a time when taking health as an economic strategy becomes possible. Living Well Locally certainly hopes so.