Water, Water, Everywhere

Fluoride stands out as the most recognized supplement distributed nationally. Since 1948, the UK Government has been adding small amounts to drinking water, backed by solid scientific evidence that it reduces dental decay. Given the UK's need for improved dental hygiene, this initiative is crucial.

Regulations concerning flour also mandate the addition of thiamine, iron powder, calcium carbonate, among others. These minor health adjustments can lead to significant benefits.

Meanwhile, the Swedish Food Agency advises that all individuals over 75 should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 20 micrograms, primarily for bone health rather than political motivations. Nevertheless, it is indeed a tablet supported by the state.

The Impact of Banned Substances

The most significant psychological effects come from prohibited products. The impact of lead in gasoline pales in comparison to other harmful chemicals that can deteriorate health and mood.

Hogarth’s "Gin Lane" vividly illustrates the societal decay wrought by alcohol sellers. British gin regulations remained in effect from 1751 to 2009. If intoxication were rampant, how would it affect our voting behavior?

The global rise in antidepressant use inherently influences patients' mental states.

Traditional antidepressants like lithium are surprisingly suitable for widespread use, not just in batteries. Additionally, the coffee culture's recent boom has heightened caffeine consumption, making coffee the second most popular beverage globally (after water). Convenience stores in the West are overflowing with energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull.

Caffeine's side effect is anxiety, and both the U.S. and the UK are grappling with an anxiety epidemic, which undoubtedly heightens fear among voters.

Your Health Influences Your Vote

Poor health outcomes in Europe have been linked to the rise of right-wing populist parties. Individuals rating their health as very poor are 25% more likely to support hard-right candidates, with disabled voters being 13% more likely.

In essence, a hard-right voter in Europe often appears unwell.

In terms of happiness, those who report higher satisfaction tend to vote for incumbents. Discontented voters in France often lean towards hard-right or extreme left alternatives.

As we move past the pandemic's upheavals, it's time to reevaluate health trends. The Western world experiences significant disparities, evidenced by nearly 10 million individuals in the UK on healthcare waiting lists—15% of the population. The U.S. reports 34 million individuals identifying as disabled.

It's not unreasonable to predict an increasing number of discontented citizens.

Why This Matters Now

While it may seem dystopian to propose that a government could enhance the water supply with supplements, the potential benefits are worth contemplating. At what point does this become the fastest method to tackle their ultimate challenge: re-election?

Financial resources play a crucial role in such extreme measures. The political landscape is witnessing unprecedented funding, with projections of $10.2 billion for the 2024 U.S. presidential race, compounded by rapidly evolving partisan media.

In the UK, regulations are stricter, yet they often favor parties with significant media influence. It's challenging to reconcile a £1.5 million election spending cap with instances of parties auctioning off dinners with the Prime Minister for £120,000.

The victorious party in the 2020 U.S. election received over $70 million from Sam Bankman-Fried, now sentenced to over 25 years in prison for fraud. Clearly, the boundaries governing campaign finance are rapidly vanishing, paving the way for more clandestine funding and inventive strategies.

Moreover, skewed democratic systems render certain votes significantly more valuable than others. Swing states hold the key to presidential elections, so if you reside in California, consider taking the day off this November.

For residents of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin, brace for the flood of political advertising, which concentrates on undecided voters, that slim slice of potential supporters. Each voter could be targeted with thousands of dollars in campaign spending to sway the outcome.

In the UK, the disparity is just as pronounced. A voter in Knowsley, Liverpool has a voting power rating of 0.005, while a voter in the marginal seat of Swansea West holds a rating of 1.115—an expertly crafted gerrymander.

The Takeaway

Implementing publicly accepted medications, even Omega-3 supplements, presents considerable challenges. The political debates surrounding the inclusion of full-fat milk in schools illustrate the politicization of nutritional choices. It is similarly difficult to envisage modifying the water supply when researchers struggle to access sewage systems for studies.

However, nothing prevents a Super PAC from distributing free over-the-counter supplements to selected voters. Instances of unsolicited packages arriving via Amazon to boost a company's rankings demonstrate that recipients often keep such items, regardless of their origins—63% do so.

Targeting specific geographic areas for maximum impact, based on high opposition and swing states, could yield favorable polling results.

Cost-effectively, this strategy surpasses traditional advertising campaigns and may incur no expense at all—an incumbent could redirect taxpayer funds to secure localized votes through targeted health expenditure, embodying classic pork-barrel politics.

Since the mid-90s, James Carville's famous phrase has resonated through political campaigns:

“It’s the economy, stupid.”

Yet, as we look ahead, nine of the ten states with the highest healthcare ratings currently back the incumbent. Conversely, states with the weakest healthcare systems are trending heavily rightward and are yearning for change.

What if the secret to maintaining power lies not in financial contributions, but in something more closely tied to government actions—the health of the population?