Born Sick in the USA: Improving The Health of a Nation

In this episode of Economic Update, Richard D. Wolff examines pressing economic and social issues in the United States, beginning with a major strike by 83,000 workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District—a rare example of unified action across three unions and widespread public support. He then analyzes rising electricity costs, revealing that while overall inflation was 21% from 2021 to 2025, electricity prices rose 29%, with Texas and Alabama having the highest rates due to regulatory capture by utility commissions. Wolff highlights the stark rise in wealth inequality: the top 1% now holds 30% of national net wealth, up from 23% in 1990, while the bottom 50% saw their share drop from 3.5% to 2.5%. In the second half, Wolff interviews Dr. Stephen Bezruczka, author of *Born Sick in the USA*, who argues that illness in America is not an individual problem but a political one. Using life expectancy as a key health metric, Bezruczka shows the U.S. lags behind 50 other countries, despite spending more on healthcare than any nation. He identifies economic inequality and lack of support for early childhood development—such as paid parental leave and affordable childcare—as root causes of poor health. The episode concludes with a call to action: educate the public, especially youth, about the political roots of health outcomes and demand policy changes to build a healthier, more equitable society.