May 9, 2020
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The value of ours lives (2020)

The Covid-19 pandemic has given us a chance to know what our leaders think of the value of ours lives. If this isn’t cool, it is at least interesting.

Yes, life is complicated and we know, priceless. Nevertheless, there are methods to assess the value of a life, which is also a complicated thing to do. Different economists will come up with different results. It all depends on the angle that is chosen. Two basic and often quoted methods to monetize and estimate the value of a life are the VSL (value of statistical life) and the QALY (value of a quality-adjusted life-year). In the U.S., the Office of Management and Budget puts the value of a human life in the range of $7 to $9 million. We can assume that the numbers in Canada are near those of the US. As we also know how much money the governments have thrown at the coronavirus crisis so far, we should be able to calculate how far our societies will go to preserve life or decide to let some go.

The whole situation is a conundrum at best or a Hobson Choice at worst: we live next to a factory that spews toxins over our communities, but that is where we work.

See also: The Cost of a Human Life, Statistically Speaking

Photo, Library of Congress: Residents of shack town making daily round through the city dump looking for anything of value. Dubuque, Iowa | Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer


 

Your Life Is Worth $10 Million, According To The Government
NPR, July 17, 20208:01 AM ET

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/07/17/870483369/your-life-is-worth-10-million-according-to-the-government

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Daniel H. Dugas

Artiste numérique, poète et musicien, Daniel H. Dugas a participé à des expositions individuelles et de groupe ainsi qu’à plusieurs festivals et événements de poésie en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, au Mexique et en Australie. Son treizième recueil de poésie « émoji, etc. » / « emoji, etc. » vient de paraître aux Éditions Basic Bruegel.

Daniel H. Dugas is a poet, musician, and videographer. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions as well as festivals and literary events in North America, Europe, Mexico, and Australia. His thirteenth book of poetry, 'émoji, etc.' / 'emoji, etc.' has been published by the Éditions Basic Bruegel Editions.

Date : Mars / March 2022
Genre : Poésie / Poetry
Français / English

émoji, etc. / emoji, etc.

Date: Mai / May 2022
Genre: Vidéopoésie/Videopoetry
Français/English

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