Congress, for years, has been influenced by special interest groups. That’s no surprise to most of us. However, there is one particular congressional issue that is harming the health of millions of Americans: The Farm Bill. Although, in the past, the Farm Bill was ostensibly meant to help the small American farmer remain competitive in a global market, it has morphed into something entirely different. As a result, health care costs have skyrocketed, and the eating habits of Americans have gone downhill.
When one refers to “The Farm Bill,” it generally encompasses every bill passed by Congress since the 1965 Food and Agricultural Act. These bills have a very important influence on what children are fed in their school lunches. Each bill provides billions of dollars in subsidies – primarily to Corn, Soybean, Meat, and Dairy. On the other hand, fruit and vegetable farmers are given only 1% of the subsidies.
How Farm Policy Affects Public Health Care
The 2006-2007 Annual Report of the President’s Cancer Panel had this to say about the country’s farm policy: “Current agricultural and public health policy is not coordinated—we heavily subsidize the growth of foods (e.g., corn, soy) that in their processed forms (e.g., high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated corn and soybean oils, grain-fed cattle) are known contributors to obesity and associated chronic diseases, including cancer.”
The result? Our government actively supports unhealthy eating through its subsidies. Corn is turned into high-fructose corn syrup, while meat and dairy provides a low-cost, high-fat staple at below market rates. Ultimately it means that a Big Mac costs less than a healthy salad, which contributes to a nationwide obesity epidemic. At the same time Agribusiness is most profitable producing high-yield feed crops, so the government is also influenced by the big dollars of Big Agriculture.
In 2008, the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment, would have drastically changed the status quo, but the bill was ultimately defeated because Democrats feared they would lose valuable seats in the 2008 Congressional Elections. It was quashed 117 to 309.
When one refers to “The Farm Bill,” it generally encompasses every bill passed by Congress since the 1965 Food and Agricultural Act. These bills have a very important influence on what children are fed in their school lunches. Each bill provides billions of dollars in subsidies – primarily to Corn, Soybean, Meat, and Dairy. On the other hand, fruit and vegetable farmers are given only 1% of the subsidies.
The 2006-2007 Annual Report of the President’s Cancer Panel had this to say about the country’s farm policy: “Current agricultural and public health policy is not coordinated—we heavily subsidize the growth of foods (e.g., corn, soy) that in their processed forms (e.g., high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated corn and soybean oils, grain-fed cattle) are known contributors to obesity and associated chronic diseases, including cancer.”
The result? Our government actively supports unhealthy eating through its subsidies. Corn is turned into high-fructose corn syrup, while meat and dairy provides a low-cost, high-fat staple at below market rates. Ultimately it means that a Big Mac costs less than a healthy salad, which contributes to a nationwide obesity epidemic. At the same time Agribusiness is most profitable producing high-yield feed crops, so the government is also influenced by the big dollars of Big Agriculture.
In 2008, the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment, would have drastically changed the status quo, but the bill was ultimately defeated because Democrats feared they would lose valuable seats in the 2008 Congressional Elections. It was quashed 117 to 309.
The torch of the state of the United States health care system has been passed, and it has been passed to Kansas Govenor Kathleen Sebelius. A Democrat, Sebelius was President Obama’s second choice for the position, and she received the call to duty after the first choice, Tom Dachle, withdrew his name after revelations about his sticky unpaid taxes. The nomination came during the first week of March in 2009, and Sebelius said it was a responsibility that she could not refuse. Who is this new face in Obama’s administration, and how will she go about tackling one of the largest crises facing our country right now?
Fortunately for Sebelius, things can’t get much worse than they are right now. That probably isn’t much of a comfort to her though, as the task she’s facing is definitely a formidable one. With the health care and health insurance system struggling with people getting turned away left and right for insurance, and the sick not being able to afford the care they need, things are in dire need of a drastic makeover. President Obama has said that he plans to release $155 million out of the $787 billion economic stimulus package to support 126 new health centers to give people more access to primary and preventative health care services. Many people have been comparing the changes Obama is gearing up for in the health care industry to those attempted by the Clinton administration, but the key difference is this: the recession America is in has everyone calling for change, no matter how radical it may have seemed years ago. Time will only tell how Sebelius is able to handle the massive task that lies ahead, but putting money toward opening new care centers is a good start. A good question to ask is: Are these centers aimed at only serving those who currently carry health insurance, or will they just be public service centers in which all comers can receive proper medical and attention?
photo credit: ProgressOhio