Destination SkillQueue
Are We There Yet
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Posted - 2010.10.20 14:31:00 -
[1]
 Originally by: Brutorr
Capitalism. It's a wonderful thing when you have money. The could do it for free, but why? When the only incentive to do anything is money, and the guy with missing fingers is also missing money, he's SOL.
Having such a narrow and individualistic interpretation of it doesn't make much sense though. First because having a functional society requires paying some maintenance in order to keep things working. These costs are unavoidable no matter what your ideology. For example having basic healthcare that prevents the spread of disease is cheaper, more humane and more efficient, than allowing the disease to spread in an urban area because some people couldn't afford the treatment. Treating people early even if they can't pay for it is always better than allowing the problem to grow and face huge human and financial losses later. Preventing the injury/sickness beforehand would be even better.
Second, because sewing a working man's fingers back in place is propably much cheaper, than the productivity loss suffered by the society because of the loss. Untreated injuries can also lead to future complications, that could end up being even more expensive to treat. This favours early treatment, so people can get back to work faster and be more productive while at work. Not treating people will also lead to resentment against the system. This resentment will be created to some extent by all instances of such issues that people come aware of and not just the ones they experience for themselves. I can't quantify any specific negative consequenses from that resentment, but people have to vent it at one point or it might erupt in violent outburst and that would be bad from everyones point of view.
I guess this is less about capitalism and more about lacking a good system for the society to cover such costs and instead leaving them to individuals and organisations to pay for. This leads to individual organisations having to pass on the blame and the costs on anyone else but themselves. It sucks and leads to rediculous situations at times, but why should they pay the bills when the larger society isn't willing to.
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