To the surprise of no one, the Senate confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a round of fireworks just like several others.
Kennedy, a Democrat-turned-independent, jumped party lines and supported Donald Trump for president. This was an interesting turn of events, considering the strong political history of his family. His jump has caused Democrats to despise him and has eft Republicans unsure of his motives.
Putting the politics of RFK Jr. aside, the fact is, he is correct that America has a major health problem. While some blame the health care system and insurance companies, others blame big pharma, food additives, and use of pesticides on American crops.
According to many health organizations such as the American Public Health Association, life expectancy of Americans is lower than in other top tier countries, and the gap is growing. In addition, the U.S. has a higher rate of infant mortality and low birth weight, and women are more likely to die from complications of childbirth and pregnancy. Other areas where the U.S. performs worse than other countries is heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and congestive heart failure. This is despite the fact that the U.S. spends more on average per person on health.
A question all Americans should be asking is, why? These are some of the questions Kennedy is asking, and it is making some in powerful positions uneasy.
Some of it may lie with unanswered questions regarding treatments, vaccines, food additives, and more. Kennedy is a critic of some mandated vaccines, as many people were with the COVID vaccines and boosters, and that brings out critics and conspiracy theorists alike. He wants to know who in Congress is the recipient of large donations from Big Pharma and often points out that two of his biggest critics, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, are two of the largest benefactors.
Nonetheless, the questions remain. Why are Americans so prone to many of these seemingly preventable diseases?
It’s not a new question. During President Barrack Obama’s presidency, first lady Michelle Obama tried to combat the obesity epidemic that was plaguing the nation. The plan was heavily criticized, especially the school lunch guidelines, which often told stories of some students receiving little more than a scoop of peanut butter and a carrot for the day’s school meal.
Eating healthy can be difficult, but not impossible. A person can learn how to balance healthy food in proper amounts and eat mostly what they want while still losing weight. The trick is proper balance.
The Cherokee Nation did a multiyear program a few years ago in which they worked jointly with the Oklahoma State Health Department, the CDC and U.S. Health and Human Services, and this led to lower obesity, cancer, and heart disease rates. The program, called the Cherokee Challenge, focused on proper eating, exercise, and the prevention of commercial tobacco use. Studies showed the program was successful not only for Cherokees, but for others throughout the tribal boundaries and across Oklahoma.
What this program proved was that more education is needed for the public to understand the importance of eating properly and exercise. In addition, Americans should look at the additives in their food. There is a reason many other nations don’t want food made in America. Often, no one knows exactly what is in it. All one needs to do is compare ingredient labels between American and European items.
America needs to get healthier, and if RFK Jr. is the person to lead that effort, let him try. It can’t get any worse, and America’s health is nothing to sneeze at.
Randy Gibson is CEO of RDG Communications Group LLC.