The complex answer to why the United States does so poorly in health
measures has at its base one pervasive issue: The United States has by
far the highest levels of inequality of all the rich countries.
Inequality Kills Us All details how living in a society with
entrenched hierarchies increases the negative effects of illnesses for
everyone.
The antidote must start, Stephen Bezruchka recognizes, with a broader
awareness of the nature of the problem, and out of that understanding
policies that eliminate these inequalities: A fair system of taxation,
so that the rich are paying their share; support for child well-being,
including paid parental leave, continued monthly child support payments,
and equitable educational opportunities; universal access to healthcare;
and a guaranteed income for all Americans. The aim is to have a society
that treats everyone well--and health will follow.