Originally posted on Meerkat Musings.
Not for the first time, Jill Dennison has written an excellent post, regarding the myriad of problems that countries run into, when they let the super-rich pretty much rule unchecked. Is the USA, as it currently stands, truly a democracy? For that matter, is the UK truly a democracy (for we share many of the traits that have turned the US into a plutocracy)?
Jill highlights many of the problems with a money-led society. The cost of insulin is but one example of how profit is more important than people. For diabetics, insulin is vital to survival, but in the USA, they are often placed into situations where they have to choose between the medicine they need to survive, or putting food in their stomachs. It shouldn't be that way. I've compared this cost before. At this site, there is a list towards the bottom of the page, and it shows how much more expensive insulin is in the USA, compared to elsewhere. Keep in mind this list appears to be from 2018, so some of the exact pricing will have changed a bit. This Daily Mirror post from a couple of years back also shows the stark difference in costs of medicines, between the USA and UK.
There is a post I wrote for the Coalition of the Brave site, which makes for painful reading, but it shows that even families in the grip of terrible tragedies are expected to pay extortionate medical bills. Even in times of accidents and deep, horrible grief, it seems everything comes back to money, because people have no choice.
And, naturally, despite corporate profits surging upwards, wages are not rising. This is true of the USA and the UK (here, we have energy bills skyrocketing, even though in Europe, they're not, and that tells you how the Tories value profit over people).
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There. Is. Enough. To. Go. Around. People can be paid a decent, living wage, and the rich owners can remain rich, just maybe not quite as rich as before. The Musks and Bezos's and Zuckerberg's of this world can continue to have comfortable lives, and through their collective wealth (and the wealth of other billionaires), serious dents can be made in the problems of poverty and homelessness. What is lacking is the will, and that reflects poorly upon humanity.
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