angryThe current trend towards "every man for himself" is not, in fact, a society at all. It's an anarchist principle. It leads to the disintegration of vital social and cultural infrastructure in ways that harm everyone.
Here's an article about the further loss of retirement funds.
Retirement Savings Lose $2 Trillion in 15 Months
Nancy Trejos, The Washington Post: "The stock market's prolonged tumble has wiped out about $2 trillion in Americans' retirement savings in the past 15 months, a blow that could force workers to stay on the job longer than planned, rein in spending and possibly further stall an economy reliant on consumer dollars, Congress's top budget analyst said yesterday."
Remember that few people have a real pension anymore; instead, they're expected to gamble successfully and retire on the winnings. Except now the market is crashing, so people are losing instead of winning. That means they'll have to retire later, or not at all. This is a moral problem, because it's indecent to force elders to keep working until they die, especially if they're not really up to it. It's a practical problem, because many elders aren't healthy enough for a job that will actually support them, and many are forced out of the workplace for being old. Even if they retire, they may not be able to afford the skyrocketing costs of food, medicine, and utilities. That's a disgrace, and it's not the elders who should feel ashamed when they can't pay their bills. Those who have already given a lifetime of work should be supported in their old age, and if they are not, shame on the younger generations.
Here's an article that talks about how women are disproportionately impacted by poverty and the withdrawal of social services.
The Terror of Loving and Losing
Cathy Albisa, On the Issues Magazine: "Data and common experience reveal that it is women who primarily take care of the sick without pay, raise and nurture children, or make sure the elderly in their orbit eat well, get medical care and are protected from the threat posed by loneliness and isolation. As a result, the benefits and deficits of the system of social support - and the level of protection of economic and social rights - have a disproportionate effect on women."
Are you a woman? This doom could happen to you. Are you a man? Think of the women you love: your mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, wife or girlfriend. This could happen to them. Most teachers are women; most nurses are women. Do you want them to be healthy, lively women capable of doing a good job? Or do you want them to be miserable broken wrecks limping through life and maybe hurting your or yours because they're too shattered to do things right? This, too, is unnecessary human wreckage. This, too, affects everyone and diminishes everyone, if not directly then indirectly. It is wicked for a society to withhold the resources people need for a decent life and then punish them for not having said resources.
October 9 2008, 15:29:42 UTC 12 years ago
Deleted comment
Hmm...
October 9 2008, 16:35:09 UTC 12 years ago