A government whose priority is public health rather than corporate greed

Americans over 80 have lived through more than a third of our nation's 250-year history. We asked them why this moment feels different. Barbara, 95, is one of those elders. Here's what she has to say.

In April I turned 95 years old, born during the height of the Great Depression and two years old when Franklin Roosevelt assumed the US presidency. He was swept into office by waves of impoverished Americans, young and old, who took to the streets protesting the draconian policies of the Hoover administration. A highlight of Roosevelt’s presidency was the enactment of the Social Security Act that benefitted my widowed grandmother and millions of other older people at the time and in the years to come.

Also plaguing the country was the spread of diseases that took the lives of children and adults. These included polio, measles, mumps, and influenza to name a few. Most children survived measles and mumps, and some died. My younger sister was stricken with polio. Influenza threatened Americans of all ages. It was during these years and the 1940’s that dramatic strides were made in the development of vaccines to eradicate or diminish the impact of these diseases. Polio vaccines were available in 1955, measles in 1963, and mumps in1967. Federal, state, and local health departments played key roles in educating the public about the safety and efficacy of vaccinations. Public support from the young and old was robust, and by the end of the 20th century these diseases, if not eliminated, were brought under control.

Fast forward to the present time and the policies of the Trump administration and its Department of Health and Human Services led by anti-vaxxer Robert Kennedy. He and his small band of followers have long touted the dangers of vaccines. Now, under his leadership, confusing CDC guidelines are being issued that undercut years of scientific studies that support the efficacy of vaccines. Public health efforts have been thwarted, and outbreaks of measles have been reported. Parents are forced to make decisions that once were the purview of a responsible and credible federal government.

When my children were young, they were the first generation to benefit from vaccines, as did their children. Now, I fear for my great grandchildren not only for their physical health but also for the deteriorating health of the climate surrounding them. Even though I am no longer able to participate in marches, I will remain politically active, continue as a volunteer with Third Act, and support candidates and a government whose priority is public health rather than corporate greed.