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? ___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com --- from list marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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