Capitalism perpetuates inequality, and the consequences of that are deadly. Poverty, lack of access to healthcare, homelessness, and food insecurity are all byproducts of a system that prioritizes profit over human needs.
The World Health Organization and various human rights groups point out that millions die every year because of preventable diseases, lack of healthcare, and starvation, all of which are exacerbated by capitalist policies. For example, in the U.S. the lack of universal healthcare results in tens of thousands of deaths annually due to people being unable to afford treatment.
A study from the American Journal of Public Health estimated that 45,000 deaths occurred in 2009 alone due to lack of health insurance. The poor are disproportionately affected by these systems of exploitation, showing how capitalism’s refusal to provide for the basic needs of everyone leads to death. And that’s just one example. It’s also worth noting that capitalism doesn’t just kill through neglect.
The pursuit of profit often leads to direct harm–exploitation of workers, environmental degradation, and wars fought over resources–leading to untold suffering and loss of life. The damage isn’t just in terms of mortality, but also in the lives destroyed by the system’s inherent inequality and disregard for human dignity.
Sisyphus Shrugged 