In first-world countries, most calculations value human lives in the millions of dollars. A bit less for infants and elderly, a bit more for young adults. http

In first-world countries, most calculations value human lives in the millions of dollars. A bit less for infants and elderly, a bit more for young adults. http://squid314.livejournal.com/260949.html http://squid314.livejournal.com/260949.html explains the math pretty well: Contrary to popular belief, you can put a dollar value on human life. That dollar value is $5.8 million. Denying this leads to terrible consequences. Let me explain. We can do the same sort of thing with the environment. Of course, people get outraged if you frame it the wrong way, since they don't like trading "sacred values" for secular ones. (http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/tetlock/Vita/Philip%20Tetlock/Phil%20Tetlock/2001-2003/2003%20Thinking%20the%20unthinkable....pdf http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/tetlock/Vita/Philip%20Tetlo...)