more class warfare

[arguchik]

fyi, here's another article about the reinforcement of class difference. this time the focus is on how the (often working) poor are affected by the inaccessibility of even basic dental care. of course, as i should have mentioned the other day, class stratification and racialization articulate together in the u.s., to produce our society's hierarchical structure along both of these axes.

Comments

[alice-at-night.livejournal.com]

"For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them."

sure, it sucks to be poor in this country, a bit more than in sucks to be poor in other affluent countries. But also certianly less than it sucks to be poor in other less prosperous places.

A society can't fund everything. I'm finding it hard to value dental care for the adult working poor above other things, like education, child welfare, environmental issues . . .sure, our rich may live too well - but seriously - dental care? funding for expensive root canals over cheaper extractions because they are cosmetically preferable? what next - public funding braces? (Boob jobs?) I'd rather public funds go elsewhere.

"Most Washington adults who qualify for Medicaid can get some free dental care, including checkups, cleaning and fillings." (though not "many root canals and crowns") seriously, and we're complaining?

ok, some tweaks seam in order, so guy with "four inflamed, infected wisdom teeth" should be able to get help before things get worse. But other than that, dunno, hard to buy into this being a serious frontline issue. Going back to: a society can't fund everything.