Podcast Summary
Atheists Surprisingly More Politically Engaged Than White Evangelicals: During the 2020 election year, atheists showed higher political engagement levels than white evangelicals, with half donating to a candidate, 27% putting up political signs, and 37% contacting public officials.
The focus on white evangelicals as the most politically engaged religious group may be misplaced. According to new data from the Cooperative Election Study, atheists actually have a much higher level of political engagement. Half of atheists reported donating to a candidate in the previous month, and they were the most likely to put up political signs (27%). Additionally, 37% of atheists had contacted a public official in the previous month. It's important to note that these results were from a survey conducted during the 2020 presidential election year, so the political engagement levels may differ in non-election years. However, the data also shows that atheists overwhelmingly identify as Democrats (nearly 80%), and agnostics, who are also politically engaged, also lean Democratic. This new data challenges the notion that white evangelicals are the most politically active religious group in the United States.
Misconception about politically active religious groups: White evangelical Christians are not the most politically active religious group in the US, with groups like atheists, agnostics, Jews, mainline Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and non-white evangelicals being more engaged.
Despite common perceptions, white evangelical Christians are not the most politically active religious group in the United States. In fact, they rank in the middle of the pack on political engagement, with groups like atheists and agnostics, Jews, mainline Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and non-white evangelicals being more politically engaged. This misperception may be due to the large number of evangelicals in the population, but historical data shows that this is not a new trend. Sociologist Brad Vermerlin suggests that atheists and agnostics may be politically active as a substitute for religious engagement, finding community and social engagement in their political activities. Conversely, evangelicals have a full worldview that includes religious beliefs and practices, which may not leave as much room for political activism. Social scientists have been challenging the conventional wisdom on this topic for a few years now, and it's important to recognize that the political landscape is more complex than it may seem at first glance.
Perception vs. Reality: White Evangelicals' Political Activity: The stereotype of white evangelicals as politically active is more a matter of personal bias than empirical data. In healthcare, critical drug shortages are affecting 300 active prescription drugs, including essential medications, causing delays in treatments and prompting action from Congress and the White House.
The perception of white evangelicals as politically active is more rooted in personal biases than empirical data. Vermeerlyn, a researcher, points out that the stereotype stems from a dislike for the political positions taken by white evangelicals, rather than any concrete evidence of excessive political activity. Meanwhile, in the realm of healthcare, the US is experiencing critical drug shortages, affecting nearly 300 active prescription drugs. The shortage is most pronounced in the generic drug market and includes essential medications like Adderall, Tylenol, antibiotics, and anticancer drugs. The shortages are causing significant delays in potentially life-saving treatments, and Congress and the White House are working to address the issue. However, the root causes of the shortages remain complex and multifaceted, involving regulatory hurdles, manufacturing issues, and supply chain disruptions.
Essential medication shortages in the US: Complex causes: The US faces essential medication shortages due to a lack of profit motive, high demand, global supply chain delays, and domestic causes like overprescription and panic buying. Regulators and policymakers must address these complex issues to ensure patient access.
The shortages of essential medications in the United States have led to difficult conversations among doctors about rationing doses, and in some cases, harm and even death for patients. The causes of these shortages are complex and multifaceted. While there is a lack of profit motive for producing some generics, there is also a high demand for certain drugs due to their popularity for alternative uses. Additionally, global supply chain delays and a lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry contribute to the issue. About 80% of pharmaceutically active ingredients are manufactured outside of the US, making the country vulnerable to disruptions in foreign economies. Domestic causes include overprescription of antibiotics and panic buying, which can exacerbate shortages. It is crucial for regulators and policymakers to address these issues to ensure patients have access to the medications they need.
Pharmaceutical industry challenges: drug shortages and low prices: The consolidated pharmaceutical industry, with narrow profit margins and significant buyer power, leads to drug shortages and low prices, despite high demand for certain generic drugs.
The high consolidation and market dynamics in the pharmaceutical industry contribute to the persistent issue of drug shortages and low prices. Despite the high demand for certain generic drugs, narrow profit margins discourage new entrants, and established players may cut corners or stop production when faced with supply chain issues. The highly consolidated market, with a small number of buyers having significant leverage, and government price regulations, create unique challenges for pharmaceutical companies. Consequently, prices do not always align with demand, and shortages persist. Additionally, the US, despite having a high obesity rate, did not make the top 50 in a recent World Health Organization report on childhood obesity rates.
Childhood Obesity Rates: A Global Concern: 3 in 10 children under 5 in Libya, 22% in Australia, and 8% in the US are overweight. The WHO warns of increasing obesity rates, with 37 million affected children in 2020. Factors include poor diet, lack of exercise, and Western diets. Healthcare costs are high, and obesity leads to health issues.
Libya has the highest rate of child obesity, with 3 in 10 children under 5 being overweight. Australia follows closely with 21.8% of children overweight. The US ranks 52nd with 7.9% of children overweight. The WHO warns that the prevalence of obesity is increasing globally, with 37 million obese children under 5 in 2020, up from around 33 million at the beginning of the century. Factors contributing to childhood obesity include poor diet, lack of exercise, and a shift towards Western diets with processed foods. Breastfeeding can help lower a child's risk of becoming overweight, but many countries with high obesity rates have low rates of breastfeeding. Egypt, for example, has launched programs to encourage healthier habits, but progress has been slow. Obesity places a significant financial burden on healthcare systems, with the US estimating that it costs nearly $173 billion annually. Obesity contributes to various health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.
US obesity prevalence on the rise, with 42% of children under 5 overweight or obese: Despite progress in reducing childhood obesity under 5 in the US, obesity rates continue to rise, with over 40% of children affected and 74% of adults being overweight or obese. Global obesity rates are also increasing, emphasizing the need for action.
Despite the US not currently leading the world in childhood obesity under 5 years old, the trend of obesity prevalence in the country is a cause for concern. According to the CDC, obesity prevalence in the US increased significantly between 1999 and 2020, from 30.5% to 41.9%. Furthermore, in 2020, 74% of American adults were either overweight or obese. These statistics suggest that the US is not making sufficient progress in addressing obesity, and other countries may soon surpass it. This issue is not unique to the US, as obesity rates are rising globally. It's essential to recognize the severity of this issue and take action to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity. If you want to stay informed and support our mission to bring more balance to the national conversation, consider subscribing, giving us a 5-star rating, and sharing our podcast with a friend. We'll be back later with more insights on Morning Wire.
