Thread by @ASlavitt

I have a talk on what’s happening in the next 10 years of public health at @PublicHealthUMN for the 75th Anniversary.

Short thread for those interested. 1/

If asked 10 yrs ago to predict next 10 yrs of public health, who would have thought:
-3 yrs of declining life expectancy
-Niccotine use rising fast among kids
-Suicide rate 10-14 yo up 3x
-Disparities widening

We are losing. 2/

If the public is losing, who is winning? “Industrial health” is winning

Using lobbyists to claim any change will kill them, they make more $ than ever &:
balance bill
cater to the Peleton crowd not those that take the bus;
Invent cures but don’t care if people can afford them 3/

Meanwhile, health care industry: -blames poor health on people eating “too many Big Macs” & ignore the role of hunger while Trump cuts 1 million from school lunch program
-Dabble with social determinants but ignore racism & poverty
-Ignore well being of their own employees 4/

Until public health is as powerful as vaping lobby, gun lobby, fossil fuel lobby, we all lose.

$100 billion investment in public health would cost a 1% increase in the corporate tax rate.

We should fight for it now if we care about the next decade. 5/

Priorities for the $100 billion:
-A system that includes everyone
-Mental health workforce at school, in communities, in neighborhoods
-Affordable housing— without leaks & where things get fixed
-School lunches & WIC!
-Resources to manage trauma
-Invest in first year of life 6/

But asked the one thing I would do to improve public health, I don’t hesitate— election reform.

-voting rights
-gerrymandering
-C-U overturn
-electoral college
-tank choice voting

Without better democracy we won’t have better health care. End/