Thursday, August 11, 2005

Let them eat burgers

How would reducing wealth inequalities, presumably through more wealth redistribution, reduce health inequalities? Increasing the wealth of the lowest 20% of the population will not increase their life expectancy, it could even curtail it if this new wealth is primarily spent on more fast food, alcohol and cigarettes!

If the poorest 20% of the population are unconcerned about something as fundamental as their own health, how can anyone else ever expect to improve it? As so many poor families can already afford fast food meals, they should also be able to afford good food, it's a question of priorities. Education is required, not more money.

3 comments:

Tiddles said...

Hear, hear! Fast-food junk is actually more expensive than decent, home-cooked food. The problem is that many don't know how to boil an egg.

Mike D said...

Maybe we should provide healthy food rather than cash. You know...eat as much as you like but it's got to be brocolli and oiley fish.

Snafu said...

Wat, how about health food vouchers?