Reply #116: Saying it's nonsense does not make it true

[laughingliberal]

There are many worthy endeavors which would contribute to a better society but if some publicly traded, for profit company does not see the value in paying someone to do it, we do without it.

Not just arts. Many things of value to humans have been lost to the culture that values only profit (and obscene profit, at that). I practiced as an RN for 25 years. It was once a respected profession that paid a decent wage. Our wages have stagnated and our work loads have doubled since I graduated. I guess the work of a nurse has less value now than it did in 1982. It's only worth what some for-profit corporation now says it's worth? Well, it's not worth it to me to prostitute my license and profession to do assembly line patient care. Wonder why there's a nursing shortage? I would guess the average hospital patient would see it as valuable to have enough nurses there to maintain quality of care. But the shareholders want their dividends, you know. Wonder why we see 300,000 preventable deaths and injuries in hospitals, now. I don't like this society where profit is the only thing worthwhile.

And it is not as bad in some other countries as it is here. There are countries where they provide health care for the entire populations and where the mentally ill don't sleep on the sidewalk. Even if it were true that it was the same everywhere (and it's not) that would still not mean it's right.