Trump Oligarchy and Healthcare

“We the People… (to) promote the general Welfare… — It’s in the Preamble to our Constitution, before any of the articles or amendments.

During these remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) criticized the Trump Administration for rapidly and aggressively moving the country towards ‘oligarchy’. 

I share this 20-min video, knowing how profoundly Trump’s actions and resulting oligarchy would impact everyday Americans, including their healthcare. And I refer you to related articles on my website. 

Enough is Enough

As I wrote in Policies that Prioritize Profits over People, the daytime assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the public’s response, should be taken as a warning. The people have had enough. At least many have, and more & more every day. 

We are already seeing daily protests in every state capitol, suggesting people are not getting what they want from government — a government supposedly “OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people.” Many who voted for Donald Trump wanted major reforms to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, but not this, an oligarchy run by multi-billionaires rather than “we the people”. Trump’s America seems more corrupt than ever.

I share the Senator’s fear that America has become an autocracy. The evidence is everywhere and includes these health concerns:

During Trump’s first term:

• Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump undermined global cooperation for health by withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).
• He dismantled the Global Health Security and Biodefense unit that Barack Obama established to prepare for future pandemics. 
• He sent tons of PPE (masks, gowns and respirators) to China before the outbreak, even as he was warned about limited stockpiles.
• He minimized testing in general and even refused to test cruise ship passengers or let them disembark, because he wanted to “keep the numbers low.”
• He refused to use the power of the federal government to buy desperately needed gloves, PPE, respirators, and test kits. Instead, he had Federal agents seize the existing supply and forced governors to beg or look elsewhere. 
• Although he got credit for Operation Warp Speed, his base refused the vaccine, distancing, mask wearing, or other steps necessary to protect themselves, because COVID and science had become so politicized. Instead, they relied on “herd immunity,” bleach, UV light, livestock de-wormer, and other home-grown remedies. 
• For more and the impact, see Donald Trump’s COVID Deaths.

In the first few weeks of Trump’s second term:

• Trump rescinded Biden Executive Orders pertaining to COVID-19.
• Trump hut down the program that ships free COVID test kits to American households and is preparing to destroy $500 million worth of test kits that were once provided for free.
• Trump chose a controversial vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be his Secretary of the Health and Human Services. In that role, Kennedy will oversee over 83,000 employees and an annual budget of over $1.6 trillion (2022), as well as food and drug safety and health insurance programs for half of the nation. RFK Jr. is clearly unqualified for that task, but the Senate confirmed him anyway. Why?
• Trump pardoned thousand convicted January 6th insurrectionists who are now ready to do Trump’s bidding.  Republicans in congress are afraid of Trump and Elon Musk and the prospect of being primaried. Many also fear for their lives and that of that of their loved ones, especially if they remember the gallos outside the Capitol and chants of “Kill Mike Pence.”
• Trump gutted the workforce of NIH, CDC, and FDA in a mass firing spree, sending termination letters to thousands of new and probationary employees. These were the same people working on improving health care, drug safety, regulating food packaging, or responding to infectious-disease outbreaks. Meanwhile, a bird flu epidemic is crossing into cows and humans and could become a pandemic. And, a Measles outbreak in East Texas has infected over 300, with others expected in anti-vax households.
• Trump directed federal health agencies to pause all external communications. Important data on their websites has been removed, and those who are left are not allowed to talk with doctors and medical researchers outside of government.
• Trump waged a full-on attack on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and environmental justice, including removing public data and information, cutting staff, and eliminating programs that directly support communities, all without input from those most impacted. 
• Trump stopped all spending and dismantling foreign aid programs through USAID, including work on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, acute malnutrition, and more. Some of these programs, however, have been challenged in the courts and received a limited waiver, extending funding temporarily. (details here)
• Trump paused U.S participation in and funding of United Nations health organizations, including the U.N. Human Rights Council; the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. 
• Trump redefined sex as the binary classification either male or female, eliminating references to, and funding of, gender ideology. 
• Trump removed protections for transgender people and the LGBTQ community. 
• In negotiations to help pay for huge tax cuts, most of which will go to the already-rich, expect major cuts to Medicaid funding, ACA subsidy programs, and drug pricing. All are all on the table. 

This list barely touches on Trump’s healthcare initiatives announced so far, and they keep coming faster than we’re able to analyze them. My advice is to pay attention and resist where appropriate. 

No Kings in America

In his State of the State speech today, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave many examples of how Trump’s policies are hurting healthcare in his state. He then described his experience working with Holocaust survivors. The history of Nazi Germany begins with everyday Germans who were upset with high inflation. It took Hitler only “one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes” to dismantle their constitution. Pritzker is watching with a foreboding dread as the same thing is happening in our country right now.

About the Author

Wayne Caswell is a retired IBM technologist, futurist, market strategist, consumer advocate, sleep economist, and founding editor of Modern Health Talk. With international leadership experience developing wireless networks, sensors, and smart home technologies, he’s advocated for Big Broadband and fiber-to-the-home while also enjoying success lobbying for consumers. He considers himself independent, but leans left to support progressive policies. (contact & BIO)

About Modern Health Talk

Modern Health Talk was established as an altruistic website to encourage independent living and influence the future of health care policy and technology. However, I quickly learned that our healthcare system is broken because of a political system corrupted by big money with more interest in profits than people. That’s why many of my more recent articles relate to extreme wealth and political corruption and are listed in Policies that Prioritize Profits over People.