A recent political ad talked about the candidate’s commitment to address the cost of medications for seniors. No doubt prescription costs in the US are over the top, but is that the problem or the symptom of a larger issue? The irony is that medication often alleviates symptoms, but rarely addresses the cause.

Perhaps lowering the cost of prescription drugs is trying to solve the wrong problem. Instead, we need to look at the unhealthy lifestyles that permeate our culture and find a better way to live. Making better choices in our lifestyles will reduce the amount of medication people take for chronic conditions, freeing up our resources for something better.

Think about the biggest problems you would love to solve. Are you focused on a symptom or the cause?