In a January 9, 2013 news article, a health care report from the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine was highlighted. The report stated "The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries." (See article here)
During the New Deal era, there were several programs that improved the health of Americans. For example, the Public Works Administration funded the construction of new hospitals, the Civilian Conservation Corps engaged in mosquito control, and the Works Progress Administration operated health clinics & mobile health services.
Today, we have a large population of unemployed people and several national health issues. Additionally, since the American population continues to age, there will be an increased need for healthcare workers in years to come. A new New Deal could connect all these dots. It could put people to work, retrain them, offer health services for Americans in need, and bolster America's future.
Of course, we're not going to do any of this. Why?
(Image above is a WPA poster, provided courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
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