In the United States, politics and healthcare are closely connected, but not in a good way. The healthcare system is set up to make money, not necessarily to keep people healthy. Big industries like drug companies, livestock farms, and processed food manufacturers make huge profits, and these profits help fund the government through taxes. Unfortunately, this focus on making money can hurt everyday Americans.
The Problem with Our Healthcare System
The U.S. healthcare system is known for having advanced technology, but it comes at a high cost. The cancer treatment industry, for example, makes billions of dollars every year. Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery bring in lots of money, but they don’t always focus on what’s best for patients. More people are making a living from the cancer industry than those who die from the disease.
Drugs, hormones, pesticides, and dyes are often used in livestock and processed foods. These substances help companies make more money, but they can also be harmful to our health. The more these companies make, the more they pay in taxes, which means the government has a reason to keep things the way they are, even if it’s not good for people’s health.
How Healthcare Choices Were Taken Away
In the early 1900s, people in the USA had many healthcare options. They could choose from homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic care, and more. Back then, the U.S. was one of the healthiest countries in the world. But things started to change when the Flexner Report on Medical Education came out in 1920. Funded by powerful groups like Rockefeller and drug companies, this report said that only allopathic (conventional) medicine was valid. As a result, other types of healthcare were pushed aside and labelled “alternative.”
Today, healthcare in the U.S. is very expensive, and many people can’t afford it. About 40 million Americans don’t have health insurance, and others stay in jobs they don’t like just to keep their insurance. The system also wastes a lot of money. About $100 billion is lost every year to fraud and overbilling, and another $70 billion is wasted by private administrators.
The Danger of Environmental Toxins
Americans are also exposed to many harmful chemicals in their everyday lives. More than 70,000 chemicals are used in products, and 700 more are added each year. Many of these chemicals, like those in polish remover and room deodorizers, are toxic and can cause serious health problems over time. Yet, government agencies like the EPA allow these chemicals to be used without proper testing.
Studies show that 15% of Americans are highly sensitive to common household chemicals, and 17% of healthcare workers are allergic to latex. More and more people are suffering from diseases caused by these chemicals, and fore many of these illnesses, there is no real cure.
Politics and Healthcare: A Broken System
The political system in the U.S. makes the healthcare problem even worse. Many voters are starting to see that there isn’t much difference between the Democratic and Republican parties. Both parties rely on money from big industries to fund their campaigns, so they end up serving those industries instead of the people. This means that important issues get ignored, and instead, politicians focus on looking good in the media.
America is at a critical point right now. The influence of big money has become so strong that ordinary citizens feel powerless. And, unfortunately, in many ways, they are.
How We Can Make Things Better
Even though the situation seems bad, there are ways we can change things. First, we need to demand more honesty and accountability from our politicians. This means pushing for laws that limit how much money companies can give to political campaigns. We should also support policies that focus on preventing diseases and promoting healthier choices.
Next, we should take charge of our own health. This means learning about the risks of certain drugs, foods, and chemicals, and making better choices. More people are turning to natural healthcare options, which is a good sign that they’re taking control of their own well-being.
Finally, we need to work together to create a healthcare system that truly helps everyone. This means supporting changes in the system, backing local healthcare efforts, and challenging the idea that making money should be the main goal of healthcare.
In conclusion, the connection between politics and healthcare in the U.S. is hurting people. But if we work together, we can make changes that lead to a healthier, fairer system for everyone.
See also: How Can We Can Fix a Broken System? Time to Take Back Health