U! S! A! We’re Number …. 15? | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

A new report shows that in terms of aggregate health, education, purchasing power, security and general well-being, the U.S. has been in decline.

But there is one larger force underlying these trends that has been gaining steam over the past three decades, and that’s income inequality.

We must act now–together–to get quality, affordable health care for everyone.

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Campaign for America’s Future has joined with other groups to forge a new coalition effort to solve the health care crisis in America. Health Care for America Now, a massive national grassroots campaign launching today, will organize millions of people to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on.

Health Care for America NOW

On June 6th, 2008, the website of the Public Health Agency of Canada quietly added the 2008 report by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr David Butler-Jones. Normally, as noted in this release by Liberals Dr. Carolyn Bennett and Dr. Ruby Dhalla, such a report to Canadians from a senior public official would be accompanied by news conferences and press advisories.

“The Conservatives sought to bury Dr. Butler-Jones’ report, which offered five recommendations for government action, including the pressing need to reduce poverty,” said Dr. Dhalla. “In particular, the report calls for further examination of income redistribution policies, programs and initiatives so that all families have the resources needed for healthy child development.

“It seems clear that the views of Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer are not compatible with the ideology of his political bosses… Muzzling the man who wrote the report is the next best thing to withholding it,” said Dr. Dhalla.

“Also at issue here is the continuing – and disturbing – trend of this government in its disrespect of senior officials and experts tasked with defending the interests of Canadians,” said Dr. Bennett. “We do Canadians no favour by hiding the truth from them…”

Challenging the Commonplace: Harper Government muzzles Chief Public Health Officer

Elizabeth Edwards: ‘Most Preventable Cause Of Unnecessary Suffering’ Is Lack Of Health Insurance | Health and Wellness | AlterNet

Conservatives love to crow that the United States has “the best health care in the world.” Yet these same conservatives overlook the fact that 47 million Americans lack any health insurance at all, leaving them shut out of access to this world-class health care.

The private sector has had 20 years to prove that it could deliver low-cost, quality care using those vaunted business-style efficiencies; and it has failed us utterly and completely. This fact should be the ultimate nail in the coffin of the old conservative canard that “the free market always does it better.” If that was true, privatizing health care would have been the shining example that proved it once and for all. Instead, all we got was a colossally expensive national disaster that’s denying full coverage to a third of the country — and putting our health, competitiveness, financial and social capital, and national security at risk in the process. It’s also devastating the aspirations of our entire middle class, which is being hollowed out by our current health policies.

A famous Hebrew prophet once advised his followers to take the log out of their own eyes before trying to remove the splinter from someone else’s. As much as it hurts American pride to admit it, Canada and the rest of the industrialized world has us roundly beat on this one. Those who are so quick to criticize the Canadian system might be better off holding their fire until they’ve shown us they can do better. America, and the world, is waiting. Mythbusting Canadian Healthcare, Part II: Debunking the Free Marketeers | OurFuture.org

AlterNet: Health & Wellness: The Key To Good Health That No One Is Talking About: Money

The public generally believes that poor lifestyle choices, faulty genes and infectious agents are the major factors that give rise to illness. Here’s the rest of the story. Research now tells us that lower socio-economic status may be more harmful to health than risky personal habits…