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Ruth Gordon's avatar

For those of you in the IMA, MAHA and medical freedom movements I am going to post the germ of an idea here that I hope some of you may culture and grow into a full-fledged expression or discussion at some of your high-level presentations to those who matter.

Here is the idea expressed in a series of questions:

1. Is excess stress healthy? Presumably not and hopefully anyone with any interest in general health would agree with that.

2. Is stress over money one of the most prevalent and damaging stresses not only to the individual but to relationships (spousal, parental and occupational)? Again, I think this has to be acknowledged.

3. As healthcare costs - especially, but not only, the cost of insurance - continues unabated doesn't this mean that healthcare itself is contributing in no small way to making the general public sicker and sicker?

Again, I hope the point is obvious but let me sharpen it. If healthcare as an industry is interested in actually making people healthier then it has to bring down costs across the board dramatically. Forcing people to choose between feeding themselves and their families, providing other basic needs such as transportation, clothing and shelter, and saving for retirement are all a part of a comprehensive, holistic healthcare approach. Making people sicker by making them poorer (or making people poorer by making them sicker via the cost burden) is a counter-productive to everything that is health related.

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