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« Learning Circles | Main | Closing the Barn Door »
April 18, 2008 |Permalink |Comments (0)
Top Comment
DeanOR gets it right with reference to the workforce issue. This is why addressing the meaning, worth and value of ELDERHOOD is key to solving these other problems...
I think those who serve the elderly, like those who serve the poor, have low status (which also determines their income and the attractiveness of the professions to potential recruits) because the group they serve has low status. That in turn seems to stem from our society viewing the worth of every person in terms of their economic value. Even those who serve children, despite the children having economic value in the future, have lower status because economic value is judged more in terms of immediate profit-making than in terms of potential contributions. Those of us who are younger or wealthier keep this system going through psychological denial, imagining that we will never be old and needy, or that if we are we will have all our needs met through our money, and by keeping groups such as the elderly and the poor out of sight and out of mind. We also tend to turn lower status professions over to women, who in turn have lower status. Lower economic status also means less influence over the politicians who could help solve the problems.
I don't usually rely this much on the concepts of sociology or political theory in analyzing problems, but this is how it looks to me. That does not mean that problems are insurmountable. Raising awareness, through activities such as this blog is one way to promote change. Raising hell helps too.