Growing evidence suggests that the distribution of income, in addition to the absolute standard of living enjoyed by the poor, is a key determinant of population health. A large gap between rich people and poor people leads to higher mortality through the breakdown of social cohesion. The recent surge in income inequality in many countries has been accompanied by a marked increase in the residential concentration of poverty and affluence. Residential segregation diminishes the opportunities for social cohesion.
University of Chicago, Nov, 16-22, Sir Michael Marmot, The Social Determinants of Health and Disease Health
One of the dominant features affecting the health situation of all industrialized countries is the social gradient in health and disease. Analysts who approach this topic commonly think of it as a problem of poor health for the disadvantaged and good health for those who are not in the disadvantaged category. This is an inadequate way to pose the problem. The Whitehall Study of civil servants showed that, amongst people who are not poor, there is a social gradient in mortality that runs from the bottom to the top in each society. People in each socio-economic category have worse health than those above them in the hierarchy.
Impact of the Coronavirus on Health and Economics
Response to the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the inability of the private sector
to adequately contain a pandemic and diminish its deleterious economic effects.
Only a fully committed government can completely mobilize the public to subdue
a serious epidemic and arrange the nation's resources to assure its economic
health. In a socialized system, an epidemic will not lead to economic
uncertainty; the public will know that basic care will be provided. Nor will
there be confusion of for whom, how, where, and when health services will be
available. The Covid-19 epidemic revealed the capitalist system dropped the
ball, slowed to a walk, and finally was temporarily replaced by a quasi-Democratic
Socialist system that planned, controlled, and distributed resources to the
citizens, a prelude to governing the future.
The Future
A future of growing challenges climate change, pandemics, robotics
and artificial intelligence replacing workers, greenhouse gas emissions heating the atmosphere,
change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, prevention of nuclear
war, migration chaos, political polarization, and redistribution of the wealth
demand a realignment of the socioeconomic system.
Governments are needed that can assure the safety and security of all the worlds peoples, no matter their economic status, and no matter the hardships of the prevailing circumstances. Wealth will be immaterial, and escaping human extinction will be the motivation, requiring government action in many aspects of human existence. Capitalism will slowly evolve into a Democratic Socialist system that will be able to provide the structures for maintaining democratic substance and resolving the challenges of a difficult future.
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