Harsh reality:The real tragedy of this financial crisis is that people will die

[n2doc]

THOMAS KOSTIGEN'S ETHICS MONITOR
Harsh reality
Commentary: The real tragedy of this financial crisis is that people will die

By Thomas Kostigen, MarketWatch
Last update: 8:25 p.m. EDT Oct. 23, 2008Comments: 375
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- The harsh reality of the economic fallout isn't that Joe the plumber can't buy his business or that people's retirement funds are being lost or that unemployment is rising; the harsh reality is that people will die.

Already, since food prices began to rise 100 million more people have been pushed into poverty, according to the World Bank, with as many as two billion on the verge of disaster. Almost half the world's population, let's remember, live on less than $2.50 per day. Millions die annually of hunger and starvation, and more than a billion do not have access to fresh water.

These numbers are poised to rise dramatically with population growth, dwindling natural resources and higher consumer prices across all goods and services. So as the stock market tumbles and the world economy falters, it's important to remember that it's more than financial losses we are talking about, it's the loss of life.

And increasingly it isn't just people in far-off places around the world who are succumbing to such extreme hardships. Note this: Job losses in the state of Indiana have caused the child poverty rate there to spike 29% since 2000. The wealth gap in the United States and around the world is at record levels -- and it has serious consequences.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported this week that the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger around the world, and that the U.S. is experiencing the biggest dichotomy.

more:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/real-tragedy-financial-crisis-people/story.aspx?guid=A02D915A-E3DB-4E24-AAC7-E5F8EA18DA75&dist=SecMostRead
We are experiencing the largest wealth gap in history. Further erosion of the economic floor will only send more people plunging into destitution.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Time to keep an eye on those suicide rates.

Does anyone have a handy chart that can show the progession from the 90s to present time?

[nichomachus]

3. It's not just suicide

In colder areas -- with the high price of heating oil -- people will do unsafe things trying to heat their homes. This can cause fires and CO poisoning.

I live in the desert. When we went through the energy rip-off -- thanks to Bush and Kenny Boy -- several older folks died because they couldn't afford to run their AC in the 120-degree heat.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Ugh. I remember.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. K&R

[Hydra]

5. Doomsayer 62, Naysayers 0

People not even two months ago refused to accept that people would starve and such during this economic downturn.

I hate being right.

[Javaman]

6. why do the poor and hungry hate america?

oh yeah...

[machI]

7. Food and Health Care are some of the first necessities cut back during financial hard times

There is no way to measure the ill effects of postponing needed medical treatment in marginally serious instances. Couple that with some malnutrition and cold indoor temperatures, and people start dieing. The medical examiner will find the primary cause of death, but never mention the the death could have been prevented by not cutting back on a few necessities.

[Poseidan]

8. death is tragedy?

must be a miserable universe