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Policy drives many aspects of our lives. From local policies to national policies, decisions by our elected legislative representatives help shape where we live, what we consume and how we access important essentials such as health care. For example, a local city policy promoting trees can lead to a completely different landscape, lowering the temperature, improving air quality and increasing the aesthetics of the city. It can then further help improve health by encouraging physical activity outdoors, decreasing exacerbation of pulmonary conditions such as asthma, and decreasing incidence of heat strokes. A city policy implementing excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, which have been shown to contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and stroke, can deter consumption of such deleterious beverages. A state policy on Medicaid eligibility or reimbursements could either limit or expand access to healthcare. National policies are even more far reaching, affecting over 337 million lives that call the United State of America home.
Given the effect these policies have on our lives, it is important to be cognizant of the policies that are being proposed and passed by our legislators. Although the ugly world of partisan politics has unfortunately mired our view of elected officials and what goes on in our state capitols and Washington, D.C., we need to elevate our views and minds above the partisan differences and political chaos to consider policies backed by scientific evidence or sound logic. We need to look past our differences to unite behind policies that would improve our wellbeing. As our nation faces the upcoming election, we need to understand the areas that need improvement, promote evidence-based policy solutions that address these issues, and elevate our voices to encourage our elected officials to implement the policy solutions to improve the wellbeing of everyone in our country.
As a #betterAncestor, how are you and those around you showing up to drive legislative action in your community?🌱💡 Whether it's advocating for healthcare, supporting environmental policies, or shaping education reform, we want to hear how you're making a difference.
Join the conversation on our social media and share your thoughts, stories, and actions. Let's inspire each other to create lasting change for future generations. ✊
#PolicyForChange #CommunityAction #LegacyInAction
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