The WAR on disease- Why isn't it important?

[hollowdweller]

In my time I have seen the War on Poverty, The War on Drugs, and now the War on Terror. Yet of the two current wars, the one on Terror and the one on Drugs I can see that a War on Disease would save more lives?

Although I really believe in Comprehensive National Health Care just putting that aside for a bit what if the gov't put it's resources behind 3 initiatives.

Combatting obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

I review medical records all day and I think if the gov't just focused on these 3 things in say, 20 years or so we'd be saving so much money it wouldn't be funny.

The battle against obesity could start in grade school with increased phys ed and playground time. Tax breaks? Or some other enticement for being in the ideal weight range? Gov't paid health club dues?

Starting in Elementary school and going on up to adulthood pay for a physical for everybody every 3 years to screen for Diabetes or Hypertension and then if they are found free care and medicine to control it.

[Deja Q]

1. Plus other obvious psychological incentives...

Such as, "what's to be healthy for if the products we eat and use are poisonous or toxic because nobody wanted to spend the money or time regulating standards and quality?"

[OneBlueSky]

2. the medical and pharmaceutical industries make their money off sick people . . .

there's very little financial incentive in cures . . .