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THE PHILADELPHIA PLAN: Common Sense + New Ideas

PUBLIC HEALTH - GET FIT!

We need a healthy populace for the general welfare and national security. Most Americans are overweight, unfit, and unhealthy. But, we can change that. The current healthcare disaster is a good example of capitalism run amuck without sufficient government involvement, oversight, or enforcement. The Trump Administration is trying to do something about it, but it has a long way to go.

Health Care includes 4 main factors: 1) The quality of U.S. health care, which is currently very harmful because most doctors know next to nothing about good nutrition (Source), healthy exercise (Source), or toxic exposure (Source), PLUS most medications are not adequately tested, AND there is limited or no liability protection for patients, 2) The cost of health care, which is also harmful if not devastating for the majority of Americans (60%) who don't qualify for free public health care (Source), 3) The availability of health care, which is not good for those who live in rural and underserved areas (Source), and 4) Family Planning, the "elephant in the room" and our nation's future.

1. QUALITY HEALTHCARE:

• PREVENTION: Doctors and the public should be FULLY educated in what constitutes a good diet, healthy exercise, and toxic exposures via The US Dept of Health, US Dept of Education, and federal Public Service Announcements - PSAs.
   
• FULL DISCLOSURE: All patients, and particularly parents, should receive full information (including the FDA-required manufacturers' package insert) on all medications and vaccines, including how they can affect our health and our drinking water (as our drinking water is not filtered for medications and drugs).
   
• TESTING: The Food & Drug Administration should FULLY test all drugs and medications, plus medical devises and services for both short and long term health consequences, which is not currently occurring.  Many medications and services are not necessary nor healthy, such as vaccines and antidepressants. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission should FULLY test all consumer products, particularly for safety and toxicity.
   
• LIABILITY: There should be NO liability protection from harm caused by any medical or consumer product, as exists now for childhood vaccines. Otherwise, producers have no meaningful incentive to make safe and effective products.

2. FREE HEALTHCARE with a PRIVATE OPTION: 

• COST: Healthcare should be "free" as a civil right, as it is in most countries (Source). Instead in America, the cost of healthcare is the leading cause of bankruptcy, which is devastating to individuals, families, organizations, and businesses. That said, even "free" healthcare costs can bankrupt a nation without the following: A) public buy-in to get fit and healthy, and B) Removing toxins from our environment and the marketplace.
   
• EXCEPTIONS:  Cosmetic treatments unrelated to health, birth defects, or injuries.
   
• EMPLOYEES: Under "government healthcare", the medical staff should be generously paid to the current standard, to include a bonus payment structure dependent on patient reviews.
   
• INSURANCE COMPANIES: Do more harm than good, as they are an unnecessary expense and are also dictating to doctors how they should conduct their medical practice. (Source)

3. AVAILABILITY: The availability of health care is not good for those who live in rural and underserved areas (Source) which should be corrected and follow the model of the US Post Office.

4. A FEDERAL ABORTION LAW. This is the elephant in the room that is not going away, and continues to cause personal tragedies and devastating GOP election losses across the nation. It was well-intentioned, but a big mistake for the GOP and the Supreme Court to make this a state issue, in that many people, such as those in the military, have little control over where they live. Therefore, they cannot choose to live in a state that allows abortion. Frankly, many Republicans (40%) support abortion for any reason in the first trimester (Source), which is the standard in Europe (Source). That is not to say that abortion is right or wrong, but many believe that it is a deeply personal decision that should remain personal for the first trimester. The government and the GOP should put its resources into publicizing safe and healthy methods of family planning, which do not include many if not all pharmaceutical products.

In Philadelphia:

• Parents should be notified, per mail, about the PA vaccine "opt-out" option for students, although it should be the other way round, if not ban vaccines altogether. See HealthAlertPhilly.org.
• The Water Department should end the addition of the neurotoxin, fluoride, to its municipal water. See: FluorideAlert.org
• The Department of Parks & Recreation should:
  1) End the use of toxic turf (See SaveTheMeadows.com)
  2) Enforce Philadelphia's HOPS Act, which bans the use of toxic chemicals on public property  (See ToxicFreePhilly.org).
• Enforce the laws against the illicit sale of drugs, directly or indirectly, publicly and in smoke shops.
• Enforce the laws against any marijuana smoke that contaminates the air of people and/or properties.
• Require all bike riders wear reflective vests!

More info at HealthAlertPhilly.org / ZeroWasteAmerica.org / WildFoodies.org

WHAT CAN YOU DO?   CONTACT your political reps regarding our "PUBLIC HEALTH" issues!