The value of human life is the individuals net worth + insurance.

[Changenow]

Not that this is a good thing but it certainly is the truth. This fact is obscured in the supposed “right to life” debates when the fact that people die in America every day because they are too broke to afford necessities to keep them alive is ignored.

This raises my question, how is there such a disconnect between the real value of human life and the supposed importance of each individual’s life. They are treated as separate issues when they aren’t separate at all. Why isn’t saving the most lives the critical value?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. so it seems.......sad but true in america

[camero]

2. Because our society is so money-oriented

Just read Marx's criticism of capitalism to find out why.

I have been going to a private charity for help with my diabetes and basically, they told me since I have no insurance, I have no rights as a consumer or a patient.

[denverbill]

3. According to Republicans, rich people's lives count for more.

They are trying to get that tort reform bill passed. It limits non-economic compensation in lawsuits, but it doesn't limit economic compensation.

That means, if little Joe Nacchio gets killed by an incompetant doctor, his estate can sue for his lost expected lifetime earnings (say $30 million/year X 30 years, or around $1 billion). If Joe the carpenter gets killed, his widow can sue for $40K X 30 years, or $1.2 million. Notice that limiting economic damages would have an ENORMOUS effect on liability costs. Pain and suffering, loss of companionship, etc, would probably amount to identical million dollar amounts for both Joe Nacchio and Joe the carpenter, but would nowhere near approach the $1 billion in economic damages.