File spoon-archives/marxism-intro.archive/marxism-intro_2004/marxism-intro.0409, message 28


Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 00:15:01 +0100 (BST)
From: Phelan-AT-pseud.pseud
Subject: M-INTRO: wealth over health!


The argument for health and wealth are interesting for
sure, but there seems to be an assumption that there
is a linear relationship between the two.  The values
of any society/nation and their reactions to the
wealth they receive are perhaps of utmost importance. 
For example; a nation that primarily reacts to the
accumulation of wealth by seeking more, will in fact
pursue methods to the detriment of health.  The point
at which the deteriorating state of national health
suddenly makes its way on to the agenda, is the point
at which an increase in wealth will correlate with an
increase in health.

To clarify this, perhaps confusing, argument we can
look at any developing nation and study what values
they have.  Are businesses/industries more inclined to
focus on making money or improving the health or their
workers.  What rights, in comparison to the United
States, does the average worker in Senegal have? What
level of protection is provided by the employer for on
site hazards.  Or compare instances of heart attacks
between the populations of two developed countries,
France and Japan.  Correlate this to the average hours
in a work week for each country and a better pattern
for health might be found then in comparing wealth
only.

I believe that in the modern world, wealth is of
primary concern, often at the expense of health.  But
there comes a point where people begin to use their
accumulated wealth to compensate for the degradation
it has caused in their health.  Some nations do this
sooner than others and so can be poorer but living
healthier.  The unhealthy lifestyle required to
maintain a wealthy country needs even more wealth to
pay for its treatment.  This is the conflict in a
capitalist society.  What is most important, the
survival of the economy or the survival of the
individual?



	
	
		
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