----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck0" <chuck at tao.ca> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2002 9:51 PM Subject: Re: Who Does No Work, Shall Not Eat
ppillai at sprint.ca wrote:
> What about insulin Chuck? or would that be provided by the local
> herbalist or apothecary.
> And what ever would they use for a DIY centrifuge? -- maybe a resin
> coated goat-skin sack spun around over their heads perhaps?
First of all, let's assume that once a revolution happens, that there will be lots of technology around that will continue working as long as there is power and parts. Then the question becomes what types of technology and manufacturing need to be kept going to meet basic needs. If we are going to continue to talk about medicine, let's also questions our assumptions about what part of medicial technology and pharma we need to keep around. Many people, including many Western leftists, assume that we have to keep the current medical system, only run it in a collective, communist, or anarchist fashion. Of course, this ignores the scientific research that demonstrates that most health problems in Western society are caused by bad diet, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyles, and probably by the ill effects of civilization (pollution, stress, violence, etc.). Once we start addressing these problems in a preventative fashion, then we've eliminated many of the reasons to maintain a high tech medical infrastructure. Then the question becomes one of community values, priorities and ethics. Perhaps a region of communities will decide that diabetes caused by genetics is a problem worth fighting with insulin. They may also decide that heart surgery for people with bad lifestyles is not going to be covered.
I haven't even started talking about all of the non-Western medicine and healing techniques that don't require high tech medicine.
<< Chuck0 >>
=======================
How do anarchists plan on preventing multiple sclerosis and cavities? What are basic needs and what happens when millions of people can't agree on what they are?
Ian