America is the wealthiest country in the world—it has both the largest economy and greatest GDP. Yet, though we spend almost twice as much per person as other high-income nations, by many metrics we rank near or at the bottom of the list when it comes to healthcare.

In fact, globally, the United States falls at a dismal 48th in life expectancy at birth! Unfortunately, it is about to get worse. Funding for health research has been slashed by the Trump Administration, with billions cut to universities, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the National Science Foundation. Studies on cancer, Alzheimer’s and HIV have ground to a halt.

The very notion of science and fact-based research is being called into question, as evidenced by recent CDC firings and the vaccine recommendations from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel relied on anecdotes rather than scientific evidence to push relaxed vaccination requirements for children and elevate debunked theories linking vaccines to autism. This in a year when the U.S. recorded the highest number of measles cases in three decades!

As I write, our government has shut down over healthcare. Twenty-four million Americans will see their premiums skyrocket an average of 114% unless Republicans can be convinced to continue Affordable Care Act subsidies. Right now, that does not look likely, and open enrollment is mere days away. The Congressional Budget Office projects millions becoming uninsured, which will undoubtedly result in increased healthcare costs and higher insurance premiums for all of us.

There is no excuse for this. The U.S. health disadvantage has become a common term in the world’s lexicon. We prioritize corporate profit over patient care, the few —the one percent—over the many. It is no exaggeration to say that by doing so, Donald Trump is jeopardizing the future of both this country’s health and its economy.

Liz Flynt
Publisher

(Photo licensed through Vecteezy)