Health better, but rich-poor gap remains
A study by the Montreal public health agency shows that while overall health and life expectancy have improved since the last big survey in 1998, a gap of as much as 11 years of life expectancy exists between rich and poor on the island of Montreal. People on welfare simply do not get enough money to take proper care of their physical needs, and children who grow up in poverty can be plagued by problems all their lives. The reports and summaries are on the agency site.
Bill Binns 11:49 on 2011/11/29 Permalink
I think the poor decision making skills that result in people being on welfare can also lead to poor choices regarding food, health and child rearing.
David Tighe 13:49 on 2011/11/29 Permalink
If you are on welfare I don’t think you have any possibilities at all to make choices. Your overriding aim must be survival. I find it despicable that in a reasonably rich society such as ours the poor must rely on charity to survive.
William 23:47 on 2011/11/29 Permalink
It’s my belief that we should concentrate our health and social resources on children – nobody asks to be brought into this world, and the consequences of a disadvantaged childhood are life-long. The flip side is that the right interventions at the right time can break a poverty cycle forevermore.
qatzelok 11:19 on 2011/11/30 Permalink
Bill Binns: “the poor decision making skills that result in people being on welfare” Let’s not forget the poor decision-making skills that lead people to trust a status-based society to provide most people with a dignified existence.