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This opinion leaves out many of the parts of living in modern society that go beyond what we can choose. Just as a quick example, in the US, you don't choose t
by poidos 7y ago
This opinion leaves out many of the parts of living in modern society that go beyond what we can choose.
Just as a quick example, in the US, you don't choose to get sick and fall into medical debt -- but capitalism underpins the health system that induces that medical debt (which is a major contributor to poverty [0].)
It seems like you may be confusing the situation of the people in your immediate circle with the larger, systemic problems that are directly related to the accumulation/hoarding of wealth.
To your last point -- the majority of people are not able to simply "make better choices." No one chooses to be born into poverty. No one chooses to lose their job. No one chooses to be ill. It is exceedingly harder, year after year, for working-class people to even have the ability to improve their lives meaningfully.
[0]: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2019/09/12/medicare-for-all-would-cut-poverty-by-over-20-percent/ https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2019/09/12/medicare-for...
- jumbopapa 7y ago> Just as a quick example, in the US, you don't choose to get sick and fall into medical debt Are you sure about that? Per the CDC: up to 40 percent of annual deaths from each of five leading US causes are preventable [1]. These are heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and accidents. The causes include: tobacco use, high blood pressure, obesity, drug and alcohol use, lack of seat belt use, lack of motorcycle helmets, etc. All of those could be prevented due to personal choices. > No one chooses to be born into poverty. No one chooses to lose their job. They very well may choose to keep using that anchor to their past as a justification why they can't make their future brighter. We need to encourage people to improve their lives and not tell them that they can't do something due to past circumstances. [1]: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0501-preventable-deaths.html https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0501-preventable-de...
- sol_remmy2 7y ago> you don't choose to get sick and fall into medical debt -- but capitalism underpins the health system that induces that medical debt (which is a major contributor to poverty [0].) The medical system not a free market. It is a hybrid of a state-controlled system and a capitalistic system. Here are some ways of how the system is state-controlled: 1. Hospitals cannot be freely constructed. One must apply for a "certificate of need" to gain permission from the government to build a hospital. This is not a free market. 2. Credentialism is BAD in our medical system. There is only one group of people approved by the government to do prescribe most medications and perform most surgeries - doctors. This is not a free market and greatly increase costs. Doctors earn a median of 300k/year and are the highest paid profession in every state. This is not a free market. 3. Hospitals are legally forced to treat anyone who shows up at their door - even if they can't afford the treatment. This is not a free market. 4. Medicare/Medicaid are forced to nearly buy any drug, regardless of cost, if it could save a live. Even if a drug is 500k/year, the system is forced to buy it. This is not a free market and greatly increases costs.
- jumbopapa 7y agoI enjoyed your point about credentialism. If anyone is looking for a good primer on the issue read the "Occupational Licensure" chapter of Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman.
- zip1234 7y agoI think with points 3 and 4 there are very difficult decisions. Turning people away or not trying treatments sounds pretty bad, but there doesn't need to be an entire new system just to solve them.