The current state of the U.S. healthcare system has been shaped by decades of profit-driven policies, leaving it ineffective and unresponsive to the true needs of its citizens. The recent nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by President Trump highlights growing dissatisfaction with this status quo. While major changes are imminent, it is crucial that these reforms lead to genuine improvements rather than further exacerbating existing issues.

For many years, the American healthcare landscape has been dominated by capitalist interests, prioritizing profits over public health. Despite spending significantly more per capita on healthcare compared to other high-income nations, the U.S. consistently ranks lower in health outcomes. This disparity can be attributed to an overemphasis on profitable medical interventions, which account for only a small fraction of what truly influences health. Instead, critical factors such as housing, working conditions, basic income, environmental regulations, and social support have been woefully underfunded. Following the pandemic, calls for a return to normalcy from the Biden administration risk perpetuating these harmful trends, potentially leading to even higher preventable death rates.

A populist approach to public health offers a promising alternative. By focusing on immediate, tangible benefits for working people, this model empowers individuals as both recipients and providers of care. It seeks to unite left and right through policies that address everyday needs while combating elitism and profiteering. For conservatives, it promotes local control and personal liberty. For progressives, it addresses economic inequality and builds systems of care centered on people rather than profits. Policies like universal child care, housing-first initiatives, and direct cash transfers could drastically improve health outcomes while reducing poverty and economic insecurity. During the pandemic, expanded child tax credits and direct payments demonstrated the potential of public investments to enhance public health.

A populist approach also emphasizes prevention over reactive treatment. Investing in paid sick leave, air filtration in public spaces, and cost-free vaccinations provided by trusted community health workers can reduce the spread of infectious diseases while enhancing individual freedom. Subsidizing small farmers, neighborhood grocery co-ops, and fresh produce for working-class families would promote healthier diets and prevent chronic diseases. Community-based, nonprofessional care services can improve mental and physical health while reducing medical needs and healthcare costs. These programs would not only provide day-to-day benefits but also build invaluable peer-to-peer networks during crises, strengthening community fabric and benefiting everyone's health and safety.

Such an approach would shift the focus away from expensive medical treatments toward public health as a project by and for the people. To achieve meaningful change, we must demand fundamental transformations in how we approach health in America. A wrecking ball alone won't deliver what we need; instead, we must build a system that truly serves all citizens.