I love to vote! #Votekids

Voting! I love to vote. I like exercising the right to get a say in the direction our government should steer. From the city, county, state to country level, as U.S. voters, we get a power that is not afforded to so many around the world. 

My father served many years ago in the MN State House. I remember how much time he spent going door-to-door talking with folks and understanding what mattered to them.  I probably got my first love of voting from those early campaign experiences, in small elections where every vote really matters and elections are won and lost by who encouraged their neighbors and friends to vote.

I also vote for those who cannot (yet!), THE KIDS.  Advocacy is part of the daily work of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. We have to speak up for kids and make sure they have all they need to be healthy.  We elect these people to work on our behalf, and they create the policies that affect the everyday lives of children and families. When the candidate I support wins, great!  I know they can look forward to hearing from me in the coming years on behalf of kids.  When a different candidate wins, they will still work to represent me, my family, my patients and my community and they will also hear from me on behalf of kids and families.

Voting is recognized as a “social determinant of health” which means: something outside the clinic or hospital or healthcare system that affects your or your child’s health. Other things on that list are food, housing, healthcare, employment, safe neighborhoods, transportation and education.

Why is voting on that list?  It is because 80% of health outcomes are determined beyond clinical walls.  Later today, I will tell my kid to put on his sunscreen (because I am lucky enough to be able to afford it) and take our dog on a walk in our neighborhood by himself (because we are lucky enough to live where it is safe to do that – good roads, places away from traffic to walk, personal safety is not a concern).  Those are all social determinants of health and all everyday reasons to #votekids!