Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-winning economist and author of The Idea of Justice, discusses how it may be better to look for ways to lessen injustice than to hold out for the ideal.
Till I heard this interview, I'd always been fairly impressed with Prof. Sen.
But he finessed some major issues. He was less interested in reason (despite his claim) than in forcing his point. And his relentless comparison of today's lack of universal health coverage with pre-Civil-War slavery seemed foolish, ill-informed, hysteric, manipulative.
I did like his anti-ideology approach -- that arguing about specifics would distract from what he considers a widely-held view -- but only because it opposed ideology.
Oct. 02 2009 11:31 AM
Score: 0/0
oja
from NYC
It's incredible that there's much uncertainty about whether everyone should have access to healthcare. The US is getting a raw deal in terms of public health; paying more and excluding up to 15% of the population doesn't mean better healthcare compared to G20 or G8 countries. Check out this link for more info. http://thefastertimes.com/globalpandemics/2009/09/24/us-healthcare-paying-more-for-less/
Oct. 02 2009 11:21 AM
Score: 0/0
kai
from NJ-NYC
Of course we all know that _reason_ and justice don't play a part in recognizing how an ill, unhealthy, and uninsured society negatively effect the well-being of everyone, including you and your neighbor with insurance.
This thought extends to say that for those without insurance, it's your fault for dying.
They think: "400,000 people dead. At least it's not me..."
Oct. 02 2009 11:07 AM
Score: 0/0
hjs
from 11211
400,000 died last year because they had no health insurance
Oct. 02 2009 10:59 AM
Score: 0/0
effell
Hey, did I miss the words "Nobel prize" in the introduction?
Oct. 02 2009 10:54 AM
Score: 0/0
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Comments [5]
Till I heard this interview, I'd always been fairly impressed with Prof. Sen.
But he finessed some major issues. He was less interested in reason (despite his claim) than in forcing his point. And his relentless comparison of today's lack of universal health coverage with pre-Civil-War slavery seemed foolish, ill-informed, hysteric, manipulative.
I did like his anti-ideology approach -- that arguing about specifics would distract from what he considers a widely-held view -- but only because it opposed ideology.
It's incredible that there's much uncertainty about whether everyone should have access to healthcare. The US is getting a raw deal in terms of public health; paying more and excluding up to 15% of the population doesn't mean better healthcare compared to G20 or G8 countries. Check out this link for more info.
http://thefastertimes.com/globalpandemics/2009/09/24/us-healthcare-paying-more-for-less/
Of course we all know that _reason_ and justice don't play a part in recognizing how an ill, unhealthy, and uninsured society negatively effect the well-being of everyone, including you and your neighbor with insurance.
This thought extends to say that for those without insurance, it's your fault for dying.
They think: "400,000 people dead. At least it's not me..."
400,000 died last year because they had no health insurance
Hey, did I miss the words "Nobel prize" in the introduction?
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.