Encore: Phillip Polakoff MD - Democracy and Health

The National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles because Americans have exercised their right to protest; an unelected billionaire recently slashed the budgets of critical government institutions; the Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump enjoys “absolute immunity” from prosecution for “official acts” he took while in office, leading Justice Sonia Sotomayor to write “the President is now a king above the law…” The US is facing unprecedented threats to its democracy. We’ve heard about the dangers of this from political scientists, historians, activists, and others. What we may not realize is these threats also endanger our health. Eminent physician  Phillip Polakoff MD, says it’s time to make this connection. Ultimately, the health of a population is a reflection of the health of its democracy: one cannot thrive without the other,” he says. Polakoff’s previous positions have included being short listed for US Surgeon General, Senior Managing Director of publicly traded consulting firms, advisor to numerous payers, providers, investors, employers, labor organizations and public entities.