April 8, 2025 • 27 mins
We are confronted with overwhelming challenges that threaten the needs, well-being, and stability of our nation. Americans have never been more divided. Discover the real facts—and a solution for how the Baby Boomer generation can help Unify America!
A “KENNEDY” SHAME
Join Dr. Jim as he exposes the atrocities spearheaded by RFK JR. and how they are severely harming the “Health” of America! Unquestionably, his father Bobby Kennedy and uncle John F. Kennedy would be ashamed!
Additionally, you’ll hear Dr. Jim’s interview with Harry Gottlieb, founder of Unify America, as they discuss how the division in our country can be healed.
Links from today's Episode:
Piedmont Raging Grannies CLICK HERE
Unify America website: https://www.unifyamerica.org/
Unify America Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/unifyamericaofficial
Unify America Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unifyamericaofficial/
Unify America X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/_UnifyAmerica_
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
We were angry when you raised all those taxes on
the floor.
We were outraged when youauthorized those pipelines.
Our infrastructure's gone topot and our grandkids are
getting shot.
So we're raging cause now.
You pissed off grandma.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome to another episode of Live Healthy Longer.
You've just heard the firstverse of Now You've Pissed Off
Grandma, performed by thePiedmont Raging Grannies.
Thank you, ladies.
In the meantime, I have animportant announcement for our
listeners.
Dr Jim Polakoff has decided hemust speak out about harmful
(00:41):
acts and division that areendangering our country.
As a result, he's hosting a newpodcast Boomers for America.
This new weekly podcastdemonstrates how the baby boomer
generation can lead our nationin overcoming dangerous
challenges and heal our division.
(01:01):
Dr Jim will continue to hostepisodes of Live Healthy Longer,
but we are encouraging ourloyal audience to reach out to
family members, friends andneighbors and ask them to tune
in to Boomers for America.
Here are our Boomer Grannies,with one more brief verse to
explain why.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Social security's in danger and our Medicare is too
Jim Polakoff, to shine the lighton today's greatest healthcare
crisis.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
This is Dr Jim Polakoff, and, just like the
sweet grannies we've heardsinging, I too am pissed off.
I can no longer simply remainon the sidelines as we are
confronted with overwhelmingchallenges that threaten the
needs, well-being and stabilityof our nation.
Furthermore, americans havenever been more divided.
(02:11):
As a health care professional,I feel compelled to help and
find ways to heal our country.
As a result, while I willcontinue hosting Live, healthy,
Longer episodes, please do joinme in my new podcast series
Boomers for America.
(02:31):
Now you might be curious aboutthe title.
The majority of you who arelistening are mostly members of
the Baby Boomer generation, asam I.
There are over 73 million of us, which represents a formidable
force to confront issues whichimperil our nation.
(02:52):
Of course, boomers are aspolitically divided as any other
generation in our country, butI happen to be a registered
independent voter and I'mdetermined to host episodes
which are autonomous in nature.
I believe it's not about leftor right, but instead doing
(03:14):
what's right, so I hope myaudience will join me as we
tackle America's most pressingchallenges each and every week.
Simply come to our new website,boomersforamericacom.
By the way, you'll enjoymeeting my guest for this
episode, who heads anorganization dedicated to
(03:35):
healing the political divide inAmerica.
But first let's get back to thehealth aspect of this Live
Healthy Longer episode.
I'll begin by expressing thefact I had a great deal of
respect for the aspirations offormer President John F Kennedy,
as well as his brother, Bobby.
But RFK Jr is another story.
(04:01):
Unquestionably, I'm convincedthat his father and uncle would
be ashamed of the chaos and painhe is unleashing on America.
This is not a left or rightissue.
Robert Kennedy Jr is a lifelongDemocrat and now works for a
Republican administration.
My problem with RFK Jr is thehurt he is causing for the
(04:28):
citizens of our country.
Rfk Jr oversees 13 health andhuman services agencies, which
include the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, the Food
and Drug Administration and theNational Institutes of Health.
Kennedy has now eliminated some20,000 jobs.
That's one quarter of thisimportant department's workforce
(04:53):
.
Now, he recently commented that20% of these cuts were a
mistake and some will be rehired.
But come on, mr Kennedy, thesecuts were randomly made, just
like Elon Musk's firing ofessential nuclear scientists who
were deeply involved in a majoreffort to upgrade America's
nuclear arsenal.
(05:13):
Mr Kennedy, you failed toinform the public that
significant job cuts had alreadybeen made in the past few years
before the Trump administrationcame into power.
So your Department of Health'sworkforce was already lean
before you slashed key staffmembers and department heads
(05:35):
with vital tasks to protect us.
For example, rfk Jr fired sometwo-thirds of the National
Institute of Occupational Safetyand Health.
Their jobs are to protect ournation's workers.
Big layoffs also includemembers of the CDC, who research
(05:56):
and find ways to combat disease.
I can assure my listeners thatwithout their research expertise
, another COVID outbreak is justaround the corner.
In fact, rfk Jr just cut $11billion in funding for further
COVID research.
Additionally, kennedy's cutsare leaving America more
(06:20):
vulnerable to unsafe drugs andmedical devices.
And then there's pediatriccancer that's been taking a big
hit.
And please, let's not forgetAlzheimer's.
Considering that Alzheimer'sdisease is expected to more than
double, these cuts become amajor concern for we boomers as
(06:43):
well as Generation X.
So let's get down to somealarming, concrete concerns.
Kennedy is not a physician andhe has no medical public
training whatsoever.
In fact, he's made a name forhimself in recent years as a
vaccine disbeliever andcontinually promotes medical
(07:05):
misinformation.
But don't take my word for it.
Instead, let's explore somefacts.
The measles outbreak whichrecently began in West Texas
resulted in 40 patients quicklybeing hospitalized and an
unvaccinated child dying.
You may recall, kennedy said atthe time there was nothing to
(07:30):
be concerned about.
During an interview on Fox News, he stated he had heard about a
miraculous and instantaneousrecovery, which he attributed to
vitamin A.
He specifically mentioned codliver oil as the safest
application of vitamin A.
Now, after hearing this,parents who live in this measles
(07:52):
outbreak area immediately begangiving their children high
doses of the supplement.
Right after RFK Jr's Fox Newsinterview, drugstores in West
Texas actually struggled to keepvitamin A and cod liver oil
supplements on their shelves,and then, just a few days ago,
(08:13):
another unvaccinated child died.
Medical and scientific evidenceconfirms vitamin A cannot
prevent measles.
In fact, as a result ofKennedy's misinformation,
physicians at the Children'sHospital in Lubbock, texas,
revealed they've now treated ahandful of unvaccinated children
(08:36):
who were given so much vitaminA that they have signs of liver
damage.
Dr Susan Kressley, president ofthe American Academy of
Pediatrics, emphasizes thatvaccination is the most
effective way to prevent measles, but this expert information
fell deaf on Kennedy's ears,since it's not what he wants to
(08:59):
hear.
No, instead of supportingscientific studies which prove
the effectiveness of vaccines,rfk Jr recently hired a fellow
by the name of David Geyer.
Now, previously, geyer hadpromoted a debunked theory that
vaccinations are linked toautism.
(09:19):
Yes, geyer is the same man whofaced disciplinary action from
state regulators for practicingmedicine without a license.
It's just another layer ofaccumulating evidence that
Kennedy continues to be on thewrong side of science, which, of
course, is detrimental to thewell-being of our country.
(09:42):
I've shared this informationwith you due to my concern that,
with Robert Kennedy Jr at thehelm, our health is in jeopardy.
Yes, the health of our nationis in a critical state and must
be addressed.
A critical state and must beaddressed.
(10:04):
The good news is that recentpolls and the highly successful
hands-off assemblies in all 50states not only proves a
substantial number of Americansare upset, but that protesting
can work, particularly over time.
So let's not ignore our currenthealth care crisis and protests
.
Boomers must pay closeattention to this challenge.
(10:24):
We have more at stake in thisfight than any other generation.
Ultimately, achieving what themajority of us want can't happen
in the 2026 midterm elections,but nationwide voting is a year
and a half away.
In the meantime, we must makeour voices heard, but it can
(10:47):
also help to speak with yourneighbors who, by the way, may
have a different point of view.
Yes, it's important to speakout, but so is to heal the deep
division in our country.
One individual who's put hiswords into action to lessen our
divide is my guest for thisepisode Harry Gottlieb.
Harry is the founder of UnifyAmerica and has discovered that
(11:12):
by actually experiencing howmuch we have in common, division
can be overcome.
I believe you'll find myinterview with Harry Gottlieb to
be enlightening.
Now, harry, you launched UnifyAmerica in 2020.
Your goal was to reducecontempt and teach Americans to
work together.
(11:32):
However, before officiallylaunching, I understand you
first took a look at the pulseof America.
Tell us what you found.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
That we have.
This sounds cliche, but that wehave way more in common than
otherwise.
The question that I went onthat trip asking was are we
really as divided as it seems?
And I mean the answer is no,we're just simply not, but we
(12:07):
are.
It's sort of like we're justlooking at the wrong things.
You know, we're divided over, Imean basically, the animosity
that we have for the leaders onwhat we imagine to be the other
side, the politicalpersonalities on the other side,
(12:27):
and in the best case scenario,we're divided over tactics.
You know, I'm not.
I'm for a border wall, I'magainst the border wall.
I'm for Medicare for all.
I'm against Medicare for all.
And we lose sight of the factthat, when it comes to end
results, we actually want thesame thing.
So I was administering anditerating on a survey on
(12:49):
Americans the goals that weshare or do we share?
Do we have common goals?
So things like, okay, we don'tagree on Medicare for all, but
do we all want a health caresystem that is high quality and
affordable for everyone?
Like, is that the end result wewant to?
(13:20):
Vast majority of us think weshould be able to know and
determine who is coming in andout of the country.
We don't most of us don't wantan open border.
We want to have some control.
The various issues in thepolitical sphere.
If you ladder up, if you riseabove the political
(13:41):
personalities and above thetactics and say what are the end
results we want to achieve,it's like we agree on everything
.
I mean, it feels like we're ata beach and there is this
beautiful sunrise in front of us, but we're turned around
looking at the garbage canthat's been kicked over on the
beach and spewed garbage on thebeach and think that that's the
totality of our reality.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But we have a very interesting correlation Now
within your website.
The stated mission of yourorganization is to replace
politics with problem solving.
But I'd like to begin with theidentification.
What do you see?
Are the problems today inAmerica?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
The problem that we're focused on is the problem
of how we solve.
Problems can be broken downlike this Someone walks in the
(14:44):
door with a solution.
They propose a piece oflegislation.
A lot of people don't like thatsolution, and so the second
step is there's a big fightabout it, and the third step is
we hope a compromise emergesthat serves the common good.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
That is good luck with politics today, but anyway,
please continue Right.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Well, that's I mean, but that's that is I mean.
That is a.
That is a pretty, prettyaccurate breakdown of how not
just how it is now, but how ithas been since the first
Congress.
That is the political approachto problem solving.
It is not a great approach, butright now, if you say, well,
(15:31):
how else might we solve ourproblems without politics?
That's like asking what elsemight we breathe other than air.
It's just not a question thatanybody's ever been asked.
But it turns out there issomething else we could be doing
.
There is something else wecould be breathing.
And the other approach beginswith, instead of beginning with,
(15:52):
here's my solution.
It's a border wall, or mysolution is Medicare for all.
You start by clarifying what isthe goal that we share.
Let's start there.
Do we want to reduce violence?
We all agree.
We want to reduce violence.
Do we all agree we want toensure the cleanliness and
safety of America's air, landand water?
Do we want to make sure thatthose who are released with
(16:15):
prison leave with the tools andopportunities they need to
become productive citizens?
By the way, these are allexamples of survey questions
from our program called theUnified Challenge, where
citizens get together to talkabout these things.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Right, and I'm going to ask you about that.
But basically, you see, theanswer then to solving the
problems is by basically beingable to reach agreement on
exactly what the problem itselfis and then obviously trying to
discuss what the solutions arecorrect.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
That's exactly right.
You begin with, you start theprocess very deliberately with
what is our shared goal, andthen the next step is well, if
we have a shared goal, we don'tneed to demonize each other.
Now we're just talking abouthow to do it.
And then you next step is well,if we have a shared goal, we
don't need to demonize eachother.
Now we're just talking abouthow to do it.
And then you look at lots ofdifferent solutions and narrow
(17:06):
down together throughdeliberation, which is what our
founders wanted us to do todeliberate from many solutions
to a shared set of solutions andthen implement that.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Well, that makes a great deal of sense, no question
.
Now you've stated to quote you.
Well, somewhat, quote you outof context perhaps, but to break
down the barriers to divide us,we need to become better
versions of ourselves, and to dothat, you've developed a civic
gym.
Is that where people sort ofwork out their differences?
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Well, the civic gym is if we're going to solve our
problems together and I thinkit's clear like we're not going
to solve our problems byfighting each other so we need
to develop and adopt a system bywhich we solve our problems
(18:04):
together.
In order to do that, we need tolearn how to listen to each
other better.
We need to learn how toovercome our biases.
Now, many of your listeners maybe familiar with things like
confirmation bias, like thetendency to only see evidence
that confirms our own point ofview, but also recency bias.
(18:28):
If there's a lot of crime in myarea that I've heard of
recently, well, crime is out ofcontrol, but really, crime may
or may not be out of control.
Maybe just what you've heard.
There's all these biases thatcloud our thinking and that can
get in the way of good decisionmaking.
So, overcoming biases we need tounderstand how science works.
(18:50):
When we think about decisionmaking.
We need to understand how dataworks.
When we think aboutdecision-making, we need to
understand how data works interms of decision-making.
We need to understand thatthere are lenses when we are
making decisions, civicdecisions that we are always
going to be wrestling with, likethings like the relationship
between responsibility andfreedom.
The relationship betweenresponsibility and freedom I
(19:14):
mean that comes up all the timewhen we're making policy.
So the civic gym is yeah.
How do we become betterversions of ourselves?
How do we become clearer seeing?
How do we listen to each otherbetter?
How do we work together better?
How do we make wiser decisionstogether?
Speaker 3 (19:28):
So I think we'll get to the next point.
Does it now relate to thebeginning of the Civic Gym?
Is this where your Unifychallenge comes in?
I mean, it sounds a bitaggressive, but apparently does
it work well.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yeah.
So let me explain what it is.
It's we bring two Americanstogether in a video conference,
match them ideally so thatthey're really different from
each other If we can match themso that they're politically
different and they votedifferently.
That's sort of the ideal.
But otherwise people who areunlikely to have met each other
(20:04):
otherwise, you know, that's ourgoal.
And then we give them a seriesof these survey questions that
they go through together aboutgoals for the United States.
In some cases it may be evenmore specific, maybe goals for
the state we did the UnifiedChallenge in Colorado and we had
(20:26):
goals for the state of Coloradoand people who have different
perspectives, just one-on-one inthis video conference, answer
these survey questions.
But before they answer them,they talk about them.
They have the opportunity tosay well, you know, I agree with
this particular statement andhere's why.
And it's like well, you know, Idisagree and here's why.
And often these areconversations that lead one side
(20:50):
or the other to, if not changetheir point of view, at least
deepen their understanding ofthe issue.
And they're always civil and tothe other person's point of
view as well.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Understanding how someone feels and thinks is so
important to ultimately gettingto know them better and then,
hopefully, if you've identifiedthe problem, getting closer to
the solution, correct.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Yes, that's exactly right.
I mean we have to be able totalk to each other.
It turns out it's not nearly ashard as we think.
People are very nervous abouttalking to people who've got a
different kind of voting historythan they do, but you put two
people together.
We are built to get along inone-on-one situations without
(21:35):
groups and rallies and peoplepushing us around, but just two
people together.
It's amazing how well peoplelisten to each other, are
respectful to each other.
You don't really need to domuch.
You don't have to sort of scoldpeople into doing the right
thing.
We sort of just do it naturally.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Well, you can learn more about Harry Gottlieb's
approach to healing our nation'sdivision by going to his
website, unifyamericacom.
I'll be right back with someconcluding words that you just
might wish to hear.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
You can find out more information about Unify America
, along with other enlighteningpodcasts and informative blogs,
by coming to our website,jamespolikoffcom.
Remember.
A new episode of Live HealthyLonger is broadcast each and
every Wednesday on 22 audioplatforms, including Spotify,
(22:34):
iheart, google, as well asYouTube.
But the easiest way to get usis on our website.
Visit jamespolakoffcom.
That's jamespolakoffcom.
And remember, let your familymembers, friends and neighbors
know about Dr Jim's amazing newpodcast focusing on the
(22:58):
challenges that face our country.
Have them join us atBoomersForAmericacom.
Now back to Dr Jim.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I'd like to leave you with two quotes and a final
thought.
Leave you with two quotes and afinal thought To demonstrate my
sincere intentions to listen toall persuasions in podcast
episodes to come.
Let's begin with the words of acherished Republican, Senator
John McCain.
He said Americans never quit,we never hide from history.
(23:29):
Never quit, we never hide fromhistory, we make history.
Senator McCain was so correct.
While we may wonder ifprotesting really works, I call
your attention to the VietnamWar demonstrations which forced
the then-President, LyndonJohnson, not to seek another
term.
When congressional candidatesbecome concerned about their
(23:52):
re-election, they might oftenfind the spine to speak out,
rebel and vote for new policieswhich reflect the actual will of
the people.
On the other side of the aisle,it was Senator Cory Booker,
during his 25-hour blockbusterspeech, who I rise tonight,
(24:13):
because silence at this momentof national crisis would be a
betrayal of some of the greatestheroes of our nation, Of all of
our country's generations.
We boomers have lived thelongest, seen the most good and
bad and should by now knowbetter.
It's really up to us, duringthis time of crisis, to lead.
(24:35):
This is Dr Jim Polikoffreminding you that together we
can make a difference.
Together we can heal.
Thanks for joining me andthanks to the grannies who
remind us what we must do.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
And thanks to the grannies who remind us what we
must do.
Aging cause now you pissed offgrandma.
You gerrymandered our electionsand it's harder now to vote.
You'd rob women of their rightsto plan their families Gay or
straight or trans or poor.
We're worse off than we werebefore.
You've ignored us.
So now you pissed off grandma.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Social security's in danger and our Medicare is too.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Folks are dying every day for lack of health care.
You keep prisoners locked incages.
Workers can't get living wages.
This is cruel and we're reallypissed off, grandmas.
Well, you're stealing publictaxes to support those private
schools and you're banning booksand teaching whitewash history,
(25:53):
with our teachers unsupportedand our immigrants deported.
Feel the wrath of these trulypissed off grandmas.
We see fat cats getting richeron the spoils of your wars.
You buy bombs and drones whilekids can't get school lunches.
We say stop your racist warsand start listening to the poor.
(26:16):
Wake up and hear us, becausenow you've pissed off, grandma.
We've heard you claim you'repious Christians, as the
righteous as can be.
While our veterans sleephomeless on our sidewalks and
while folks are going broke,you're concerned about who's
woke.
We'll keep singing through ourpain with the Poor People's
(26:37):
Campaign and vote you out, causeyou really pissed off Grandma.
We'll vote you out now becauseyou pissed off Grandma.
We were angry when you raised all those taxes on
the floor.
We were outraged when youauthorized those pipelines.
Our infrastructure's gone topot and our grandkids are
getting shot.
So we're raging cause now.
You pissed off grandma.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome to another episode of Live Healthy Longer.
You've just heard the firstverse of Now You've Pissed Off
Grandma, performed by thePiedmont Raging Grannies.
Thank you, ladies.
In the meantime, I have animportant announcement for our
listeners.
Dr Jim Polakoff has decided hemust speak out about harmful
(00:41):
acts and division that areendangering our country.
As a result, he's hosting a newpodcast Boomers for America.
This new weekly podcastdemonstrates how the baby boomer
generation can lead our nationin overcoming dangerous
challenges and heal our division.
(01:01):
Dr Jim will continue to hostepisodes of Live Healthy Longer,
but we are encouraging ourloyal audience to reach out to
family members, friends andneighbors and ask them to tune
in to Boomers for America.
Here are our Boomer Grannies,with one more brief verse to
explain why.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Social security's in danger and our Medicare is too
Jim Polakoff, to shine the lighton today's greatest healthcare
crisis.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
This is Dr Jim Polakoff, and, just like the
sweet grannies we've heardsinging, I too am pissed off.
I can no longer simply remainon the sidelines as we are
confronted with overwhelmingchallenges that threaten the
needs, well-being and stabilityof our nation.
Furthermore, americans havenever been more divided.
(02:11):
As a health care professional,I feel compelled to help and
find ways to heal our country.
As a result, while I willcontinue hosting Live, healthy,
Longer episodes, please do joinme in my new podcast series
Boomers for America.
(02:31):
Now you might be curious aboutthe title.
The majority of you who arelistening are mostly members of
the Baby Boomer generation, asam I.
There are over 73 million of us, which represents a formidable
force to confront issues whichimperil our nation.
(02:52):
Of course, boomers are aspolitically divided as any other
generation in our country, butI happen to be a registered
independent voter and I'mdetermined to host episodes
which are autonomous in nature.
I believe it's not about leftor right, but instead doing
(03:14):
what's right, so I hope myaudience will join me as we
tackle America's most pressingchallenges each and every week.
Simply come to our new website,boomersforamericacom.
By the way, you'll enjoymeeting my guest for this
episode, who heads anorganization dedicated to
(03:35):
healing the political divide inAmerica.
But first let's get back to thehealth aspect of this Live
Healthy Longer episode.
I'll begin by expressing thefact I had a great deal of
respect for the aspirations offormer President John F Kennedy,
as well as his brother, Bobby.
But RFK Jr is another story.
(04:01):
Unquestionably, I'm convincedthat his father and uncle would
be ashamed of the chaos and painhe is unleashing on America.
This is not a left or rightissue.
Robert Kennedy Jr is a lifelongDemocrat and now works for a
Republican administration.
My problem with RFK Jr is thehurt he is causing for the
(04:28):
citizens of our country.
Rfk Jr oversees 13 health andhuman services agencies, which
include the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, the Food
and Drug Administration and theNational Institutes of Health.
Kennedy has now eliminated some20,000 jobs.
That's one quarter of thisimportant department's workforce
(04:53):
.
Now, he recently commented that20% of these cuts were a
mistake and some will be rehired.
But come on, mr Kennedy, thesecuts were randomly made, just
like Elon Musk's firing ofessential nuclear scientists who
were deeply involved in a majoreffort to upgrade America's
nuclear arsenal.
(05:13):
Mr Kennedy, you failed toinform the public that
significant job cuts had alreadybeen made in the past few years
before the Trump administrationcame into power.
So your Department of Health'sworkforce was already lean
before you slashed key staffmembers and department heads
(05:35):
with vital tasks to protect us.
For example, rfk Jr fired sometwo-thirds of the National
Institute of Occupational Safetyand Health.
Their jobs are to protect ournation's workers.
Big layoffs also includemembers of the CDC, who research
(05:56):
and find ways to combat disease.
I can assure my listeners thatwithout their research expertise
, another COVID outbreak is justaround the corner.
In fact, rfk Jr just cut $11billion in funding for further
COVID research.
Additionally, kennedy's cutsare leaving America more
(06:20):
vulnerable to unsafe drugs andmedical devices.
And then there's pediatriccancer that's been taking a big
hit.
And please, let's not forgetAlzheimer's.
Considering that Alzheimer'sdisease is expected to more than
double, these cuts become amajor concern for we boomers as
(06:43):
well as Generation X.
So let's get down to somealarming, concrete concerns.
Kennedy is not a physician andhe has no medical public
training whatsoever.
In fact, he's made a name forhimself in recent years as a
vaccine disbeliever andcontinually promotes medical
(07:05):
misinformation.
But don't take my word for it.
Instead, let's explore somefacts.
The measles outbreak whichrecently began in West Texas
resulted in 40 patients quicklybeing hospitalized and an
unvaccinated child dying.
You may recall, kennedy said atthe time there was nothing to
(07:30):
be concerned about.
During an interview on Fox News, he stated he had heard about a
miraculous and instantaneousrecovery, which he attributed to
vitamin A.
He specifically mentioned codliver oil as the safest
application of vitamin A.
Now, after hearing this,parents who live in this measles
(07:52):
outbreak area immediately begangiving their children high
doses of the supplement.
Right after RFK Jr's Fox Newsinterview, drugstores in West
Texas actually struggled to keepvitamin A and cod liver oil
supplements on their shelves,and then, just a few days ago,
(08:13):
another unvaccinated child died.
Medical and scientific evidenceconfirms vitamin A cannot
prevent measles.
In fact, as a result ofKennedy's misinformation,
physicians at the Children'sHospital in Lubbock, texas,
revealed they've now treated ahandful of unvaccinated children
(08:36):
who were given so much vitaminA that they have signs of liver
damage.
Dr Susan Kressley, president ofthe American Academy of
Pediatrics, emphasizes thatvaccination is the most
effective way to prevent measles, but this expert information
fell deaf on Kennedy's ears,since it's not what he wants to
(08:59):
hear.
No, instead of supportingscientific studies which prove
the effectiveness of vaccines,rfk Jr recently hired a fellow
by the name of David Geyer.
Now, previously, geyer hadpromoted a debunked theory that
vaccinations are linked toautism.
(09:19):
Yes, geyer is the same man whofaced disciplinary action from
state regulators for practicingmedicine without a license.
It's just another layer ofaccumulating evidence that
Kennedy continues to be on thewrong side of science, which, of
course, is detrimental to thewell-being of our country.
(09:42):
I've shared this informationwith you due to my concern that,
with Robert Kennedy Jr at thehelm, our health is in jeopardy.
Yes, the health of our nationis in a critical state and must
be addressed.
A critical state and must beaddressed.
(10:04):
The good news is that recentpolls and the highly successful
hands-off assemblies in all 50states not only proves a
substantial number of Americansare upset, but that protesting
can work, particularly over time.
So let's not ignore our currenthealth care crisis and protests
.
Boomers must pay closeattention to this challenge.
(10:24):
We have more at stake in thisfight than any other generation.
Ultimately, achieving what themajority of us want can't happen
in the 2026 midterm elections,but nationwide voting is a year
and a half away.
In the meantime, we must makeour voices heard, but it can
(10:47):
also help to speak with yourneighbors who, by the way, may
have a different point of view.
Yes, it's important to speakout, but so is to heal the deep
division in our country.
One individual who's put hiswords into action to lessen our
divide is my guest for thisepisode Harry Gottlieb.
Harry is the founder of UnifyAmerica and has discovered that
(11:12):
by actually experiencing howmuch we have in common, division
can be overcome.
I believe you'll find myinterview with Harry Gottlieb to
be enlightening.
Now, harry, you launched UnifyAmerica in 2020.
Your goal was to reducecontempt and teach Americans to
work together.
(11:32):
However, before officiallylaunching, I understand you
first took a look at the pulseof America.
Tell us what you found.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
That we have.
This sounds cliche, but that wehave way more in common than
otherwise.
The question that I went onthat trip asking was are we
really as divided as it seems?
And I mean the answer is no,we're just simply not, but we
(12:07):
are.
It's sort of like we're justlooking at the wrong things.
You know, we're divided over, Imean basically, the animosity
that we have for the leaders onwhat we imagine to be the other
side, the politicalpersonalities on the other side,
(12:27):
and in the best case scenario,we're divided over tactics.
You know, I'm not.
I'm for a border wall, I'magainst the border wall.
I'm for Medicare for all.
I'm against Medicare for all.
And we lose sight of the factthat, when it comes to end
results, we actually want thesame thing.
So I was administering anditerating on a survey on
(12:49):
Americans the goals that weshare or do we share?
Do we have common goals?
So things like, okay, we don'tagree on Medicare for all, but
do we all want a health caresystem that is high quality and
affordable for everyone?
Like, is that the end result wewant to?
(13:20):
Vast majority of us think weshould be able to know and
determine who is coming in andout of the country.
We don't most of us don't wantan open border.
We want to have some control.
The various issues in thepolitical sphere.
If you ladder up, if you riseabove the political
(13:41):
personalities and above thetactics and say what are the end
results we want to achieve,it's like we agree on everything
.
I mean, it feels like we're ata beach and there is this
beautiful sunrise in front of us, but we're turned around
looking at the garbage canthat's been kicked over on the
beach and spewed garbage on thebeach and think that that's the
totality of our reality.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But we have a very interesting correlation Now
within your website.
The stated mission of yourorganization is to replace
politics with problem solving.
But I'd like to begin with theidentification.
What do you see?
Are the problems today inAmerica?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
The problem that we're focused on is the problem
of how we solve.
Problems can be broken downlike this Someone walks in the
(14:44):
door with a solution.
They propose a piece oflegislation.
A lot of people don't like thatsolution, and so the second
step is there's a big fightabout it, and the third step is
we hope a compromise emergesthat serves the common good.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
That is good luck with politics today, but anyway,
please continue Right.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Well, that's I mean, but that's that is I mean.
That is a.
That is a pretty, prettyaccurate breakdown of how not
just how it is now, but how ithas been since the first
Congress.
That is the political approachto problem solving.
It is not a great approach, butright now, if you say, well,
(15:31):
how else might we solve ourproblems without politics?
That's like asking what elsemight we breathe other than air.
It's just not a question thatanybody's ever been asked.
But it turns out there issomething else we could be doing
.
There is something else wecould be breathing.
And the other approach beginswith, instead of beginning with,
(15:52):
here's my solution.
It's a border wall, or mysolution is Medicare for all.
You start by clarifying what isthe goal that we share.
Let's start there.
Do we want to reduce violence?
We all agree.
We want to reduce violence.
Do we all agree we want toensure the cleanliness and
safety of America's air, landand water?
Do we want to make sure thatthose who are released with
(16:15):
prison leave with the tools andopportunities they need to
become productive citizens?
By the way, these are allexamples of survey questions
from our program called theUnified Challenge, where
citizens get together to talkabout these things.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Right, and I'm going to ask you about that.
But basically, you see, theanswer then to solving the
problems is by basically beingable to reach agreement on
exactly what the problem itselfis and then obviously trying to
discuss what the solutions arecorrect.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
That's exactly right.
You begin with, you start theprocess very deliberately with
what is our shared goal, andthen the next step is well, if
we have a shared goal, we don'tneed to demonize each other.
Now we're just talking abouthow to do it.
And then you next step is well,if we have a shared goal, we
don't need to demonize eachother.
Now we're just talking abouthow to do it.
And then you look at lots ofdifferent solutions and narrow
(17:06):
down together throughdeliberation, which is what our
founders wanted us to do todeliberate from many solutions
to a shared set of solutions andthen implement that.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Well, that makes a great deal of sense, no question
.
Now you've stated to quote you.
Well, somewhat, quote you outof context perhaps, but to break
down the barriers to divide us,we need to become better
versions of ourselves, and to dothat, you've developed a civic
gym.
Is that where people sort ofwork out their differences?
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Well, the civic gym is if we're going to solve our
problems together and I thinkit's clear like we're not going
to solve our problems byfighting each other so we need
to develop and adopt a system bywhich we solve our problems
(18:04):
together.
In order to do that, we need tolearn how to listen to each
other better.
We need to learn how toovercome our biases.
Now, many of your listeners maybe familiar with things like
confirmation bias, like thetendency to only see evidence
that confirms our own point ofview, but also recency bias.
(18:28):
If there's a lot of crime in myarea that I've heard of
recently, well, crime is out ofcontrol, but really, crime may
or may not be out of control.
Maybe just what you've heard.
There's all these biases thatcloud our thinking and that can
get in the way of good decisionmaking.
So, overcoming biases we need tounderstand how science works.
(18:50):
When we think about decisionmaking.
We need to understand how dataworks.
When we think aboutdecision-making, we need to
understand how data works interms of decision-making.
We need to understand thatthere are lenses when we are
making decisions, civicdecisions that we are always
going to be wrestling with, likethings like the relationship
between responsibility andfreedom.
The relationship betweenresponsibility and freedom I
(19:14):
mean that comes up all the timewhen we're making policy.
So the civic gym is yeah.
How do we become betterversions of ourselves?
How do we become clearer seeing?
How do we listen to each otherbetter?
How do we work together better?
How do we make wiser decisionstogether?
Speaker 3 (19:28):
So I think we'll get to the next point.
Does it now relate to thebeginning of the Civic Gym?
Is this where your Unifychallenge comes in?
I mean, it sounds a bitaggressive, but apparently does
it work well.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yeah.
So let me explain what it is.
It's we bring two Americanstogether in a video conference,
match them ideally so thatthey're really different from
each other If we can match themso that they're politically
different and they votedifferently.
That's sort of the ideal.
But otherwise people who areunlikely to have met each other
(20:04):
otherwise, you know, that's ourgoal.
And then we give them a seriesof these survey questions that
they go through together aboutgoals for the United States.
In some cases it may be evenmore specific, maybe goals for
the state we did the UnifiedChallenge in Colorado and we had
(20:26):
goals for the state of Coloradoand people who have different
perspectives, just one-on-one inthis video conference, answer
these survey questions.
But before they answer them,they talk about them.
They have the opportunity tosay well, you know, I agree with
this particular statement andhere's why.
And it's like well, you know, Idisagree and here's why.
And often these areconversations that lead one side
(20:50):
or the other to, if not changetheir point of view, at least
deepen their understanding ofthe issue.
And they're always civil and tothe other person's point of
view as well.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Understanding how someone feels and thinks is so
important to ultimately gettingto know them better and then,
hopefully, if you've identifiedthe problem, getting closer to
the solution, correct.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Yes, that's exactly right.
I mean we have to be able totalk to each other.
It turns out it's not nearly ashard as we think.
People are very nervous abouttalking to people who've got a
different kind of voting historythan they do, but you put two
people together.
We are built to get along inone-on-one situations without
(21:35):
groups and rallies and peoplepushing us around, but just two
people together.
It's amazing how well peoplelisten to each other, are
respectful to each other.
You don't really need to domuch.
You don't have to sort of scoldpeople into doing the right
thing.
We sort of just do it naturally.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Well, you can learn more about Harry Gottlieb's
approach to healing our nation'sdivision by going to his
website, unifyamericacom.
I'll be right back with someconcluding words that you just
might wish to hear.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
You can find out more information about Unify America
, along with other enlighteningpodcasts and informative blogs,
by coming to our website,jamespolikoffcom.
Remember.
A new episode of Live HealthyLonger is broadcast each and
every Wednesday on 22 audioplatforms, including Spotify,
(22:34):
iheart, google, as well asYouTube.
But the easiest way to get usis on our website.
Visit jamespolakoffcom.
That's jamespolakoffcom.
And remember, let your familymembers, friends and neighbors
know about Dr Jim's amazing newpodcast focusing on the
(22:58):
challenges that face our country.
Have them join us atBoomersForAmericacom.
Now back to Dr Jim.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I'd like to leave you with two quotes and a final
thought.
Leave you with two quotes and afinal thought To demonstrate my
sincere intentions to listen toall persuasions in podcast
episodes to come.
Let's begin with the words of acherished Republican, Senator
John McCain.
He said Americans never quit,we never hide from history.
(23:29):
Never quit, we never hide fromhistory, we make history.
Senator McCain was so correct.
While we may wonder ifprotesting really works, I call
your attention to the VietnamWar demonstrations which forced
the then-President, LyndonJohnson, not to seek another
term.
When congressional candidatesbecome concerned about their
(23:52):
re-election, they might oftenfind the spine to speak out,
rebel and vote for new policieswhich reflect the actual will of
the people.
On the other side of the aisle,it was Senator Cory Booker,
during his 25-hour blockbusterspeech, who I rise tonight,
(24:13):
because silence at this momentof national crisis would be a
betrayal of some of the greatestheroes of our nation, Of all of
our country's generations.
We boomers have lived thelongest, seen the most good and
bad and should by now knowbetter.
It's really up to us, duringthis time of crisis, to lead.
(24:35):
This is Dr Jim Polikoffreminding you that together we
can make a difference.
Together we can heal.
Thanks for joining me andthanks to the grannies who
remind us what we must do.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
And thanks to the grannies who remind us what we
must do.
Aging cause now you pissed offgrandma.
You gerrymandered our electionsand it's harder now to vote.
You'd rob women of their rightsto plan their families Gay or
straight or trans or poor.
We're worse off than we werebefore.
You've ignored us.
So now you pissed off grandma.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Social security's in danger and our Medicare is too.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Folks are dying every day for lack of health care.
You keep prisoners locked incages.
Workers can't get living wages.
This is cruel and we're reallypissed off, grandmas.
Well, you're stealing publictaxes to support those private
schools and you're banning booksand teaching whitewash history,
(25:53):
with our teachers unsupportedand our immigrants deported.
Feel the wrath of these trulypissed off grandmas.
We see fat cats getting richeron the spoils of your wars.
You buy bombs and drones whilekids can't get school lunches.
We say stop your racist warsand start listening to the poor.
(26:16):
Wake up and hear us, becausenow you've pissed off, grandma.
We've heard you claim you'repious Christians, as the
righteous as can be.
While our veterans sleephomeless on our sidewalks and
while folks are going broke,you're concerned about who's
woke.
We'll keep singing through ourpain with the Poor People's
(26:37):
Campaign and vote you out, causeyou really pissed off Grandma.
We'll vote you out now becauseyou pissed off Grandma.
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