On Health, Education And Income, We're Falling Behind

Less than a week from now, thousands of men, women and children will make their way to the Wise County fairgrounds.

They will come, not for entertainment, but for free medical and dental care at the ninth annual Remote Area Medical Clinic. For some, it will be the only time they see a doctor all year.

The free clinic bears striking resemblance to the sort of medical charity work performed in Third World countries. It is a remarkable undertaking – both heartwarming and heartrending.

It is impossible to feel anything but warmth toward the doctors, dentists, nurses and others who volunteer their time and their talents. That such a charitable effort is needed in a prosperous, developed nation like ours is a crying shame.

But America isn’t a land of equal opportunity for all. That’s the upshot of a new report, “The Measure of America,” released last week.

Stemming from Columbia University research, the report ranks every congressional district in the nation based on the health, educational levels and economic condition of its residents. The news isn’t good for this region.

Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District ranks 421st out of 436 districts. Virginia’s 9th District does slightly better with a ranking of 400.

Some of the districts that fared worse included the Bronx in New York, the greater Houston area, and, not surprisingly, the coal counties in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. In general, underperforming districts had a strike or two against them. Many are rural, all are poor, and in a number of cases, they are districts where the majority of residents are racial minorities.

If John Edwards was still on the campaign trail, he would cite the report as conclusive proof of his “two Americas” theory. He wouldn’t be far off base.

In general, residents in the low-ranked districts make less money, are less educated, are sicker and die earlier than their well-off peers.

The particulars for this region include:

* A life expectancy of 74.9 years for Tennessee’s 1st District and 75.1 years for Virginia’s 9th District. The national average is around 78 years.

* Twenty-two percent of 1st District adults don’t have a high school diploma. In the 9th district, more than 25 percent of adults lack a diploma.

* In both districts, just 17 percent of adults have a bachelor’s degree. A mere six percent of 1st District residents have a graduate degree; in the 9th, its 6.9 percent.

* In Tennessee’s 1st District, slightly less than 77 percent of children under age 18 are enrolled in school. The 9th District does better, with 86.9 percent enrolled.

* Median earnings are about the same in both districts – $21,639 in East Tennessee and $20,808 in Southwest Virginia. A family of four with an income of $21,200 or less meets federal poverty guidelines.

But it isn’t just in comparison with the nation as a whole that the region looks bad. Some of the best-performing districts are located in the affluent Northern Virginia suburbs. Virginia’s 8th Congressional District ranks second overall.

Perhaps Southwest Virginia lawmakers ought to be worried about two Virginias, not just two Americas.

The study’s authors hope it will be used as a starting point for a national, political debate on important, yet controversial issues. These include health care access and insurance for all Americans, public health initiatives to combat obesity and smoking, expanded early childhood education, parenting programs and efforts to make college more affordable for the middle and lower classes.

“The American Dream has drifted beyond the reach of many, while fading from view among others. To reinvigorate it ... the stagnation and decline of middle and low incomes must be reversed, and opportunity must once again reach down to the lowest rungs of society,” the study’s authors write.

The region’s leaders – including those seeking the 1st Congressional District seat – need to ponder this report’s conclusions. The region isn’t faring too well; its people need help.

That help cannot be found in the usual partisan way of doing things. It’s time to reach across the aisle, fashion constructive, creative solutions or resign ourselves to being little better than a Third World country.

Andrea Hopkins is opinion editor of the Bristol Herald Courier. She may be reached at ahopkins@bristolnews.com or (276) 645-2534. To read more about the report, go to MeasureofAmerica.org.