Respect animals to save on healthcare
When the health of a nation becomes a political football, there is something seriously wrong with the politicians.
The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare in the USA, seems to have become not affordable for many people. The Republican Party have had eight years to produce an alternative system only to fail to gain sufficient support in Congress for it to become law. It seems everything the Republican Party suggested is opposed on principle even to the detriment of the population. The health of the nation should be paramount and a completely apolitical issue with both parties working towards the same agenda particularly in the leading western country.
According to the World Bank the average cost of healthcare in all countries across the globe is 10.5 per cent of gross domestic product. In the USA it is 17.1 per cent of GDP and the debates and arguments seem only to concern the cost of insurance and the increase in deductible cover. There is no mention of the reason for the astoundingly high cost of healthcare. Addressing prevention would make care affordable. The healthier the people the less they need healthcare.
Having experienced life in Thailand for some 10 years, the public (not private) medical industry is generally far superior to the National Health Service in the UK, and it is very affordable at 6.5 per cent of GDP. This compares with 9.1 per cent of GDP in the UK. As the availability of public healthcare is very good particularly in Thailand, there is obviously another reason for the high cost in the USA. It can only be demand not supply.
Way back in 1995, the average American consumed 195 pounds of meat per year, and milk and dairy produce made up 40 per cent of the average diet. It is estimated that by 2020, three-fourths of the population would be obese or overweight.
The most common life-shortening and life-threatening diseases from diabetes to cancer are linked to the consumption of meat and dairy. Having been involved in the industry, the treatment of the animals is completely unnatural and horrifically cruel. They are pumped up with hormones and chemicals to increase production and even fed the remains of their own kind. Yes, it’s cannibalism. So there is some justice – eat cruelty and you pay the price.
Respect animals and save on healthcare.
J C Wilcox
