The USDA released a new report at the close of 2008 outlining the extent of “food insecurity” within the United States. Within the eight-year Bush administration, the number of individuals living in “food insecure” households climbed from 33.2 million in 2000 to 35.5 million in 2007 - a 40% increase.
Oregon ranked third in the same report based on the 12.4 percent of total population utilizing public food assistance within the two year period of 2005-2007. The good news is that Oregon is no longer ranked number one in the USDA report as the state was branded in 2000. Even with Governor Kulongoski’s Hunger Relief Task Force making strides in food distribution and outreach to families with hungry children, 458,000 individuals in this state last year were struggling to put food on their tables. Given the recent economic downturn, that figure is most likely larger today.
Enter the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama… With a failing economy at the forefront of most Americans’ thoughts, the clock is ticking rather loudly as change emerges on the horizon. Pundits blab in disconcerting blunders - what will he do next? Pick an issue- no matter what it is, it needs attention. How are we ever going to reform all this mess?
It’s time to stop thinking about each issue as a separate entity.
It’s time to start thinking of reform to health care and education within the same context- i.e. an investment in the future is to invest in the longevity of citizens through health care education and preventative practices. Likewise, it’s time to think of the future of the Farm Bill and health care reform in the same context. Again, to invest in the future is to invest in long-term, sustainable food supply options that promote the longevity of citizens- i.e. preventative medicine. 
The need for a collective vision and action across all departments of government is crucial in our ability as a nation to not only dig ourselves out of this mess we’re in, but the sow the seeds for long term health and vitality among citizens.
For as much criticism as Tom Vilsack, our new Secretary of Agriculture, has received, he has already blocked a $3 million cut to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program initiated in the last hours of the Bush administration. This program allows for increased growth in production of healthy fruits and vegetables grown stateside. This past Monday, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) radio featured the new secretary on the show Think Out Loud. He spoke not only of expanding funding for smaller, organic farming in the United States, but he spoke highly of the new administration’s goal of agency cross-talk and dialogue. He alluded to the message from the helm stating that agencies will not function independently. Vilsack also acknowledged that he sees the USDA as having one of the most important roles in the health of citizens. In addition, the new Secretary of Ag listed targeting childhood obesity at the top of his department’s priorities.
Obesity– a Department of Agriculture issue? Yes, of course it is. The health of citizens depends on many of the departments of government…not simply USDA or FDA. Vilsack discussed his new interest in the FDA’s role in food safety- especially, in light of the recent Salmonella scare. It’s time we start thinking of these working groups as cooperatives striving toward a collective vision rather than distinct offices with separate agendas.
Before Tom Daschle resigned, he addressed the connection between health and academic performance in today’s public school system. He stated that “healthy kids make better students” suggesting that health care education is an important aspect of health care reform under the new administration. Let’s hope that the new guru of health care shares the same vision.
Merging education and health care reform is a relatively new concept as far as national policy goes. But the philosophies of naturopathic and chinese medicine are rooted in the concepts of wholism and oneness– education is preventative medicine and the way of the dao is oneness. In other words, attention to our collective vision is imperative in the process of mending health care in this country.
Looking beyond traditional roles within government and seeing less of the departmental boxes that have already been established will enable us to envision the healthcare system of the future; a system where health education from childhood along with access to quality, sustainable food choices that are a part of general health care and a way of life for all Americans regardless of background or socioeconomic status- a national system which includes naturopathic and chinese medicine.
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Well said.
The Buddhists have this great concept of interdependent origination (pratityasamutpada), of which your dao quote reminds me. No one entity has intrinsic meaning or existence, but is rather a part of a limitless web of connections. For liberation, you must find a key connection in that web; effect that connection and you can effect the whole Wheel. If we think of all the departments of government and the collective vision of the populace in this way, linking health and education seems like one of those transformational keys. Like it.