Machiavelli said in The Prince that "men love as they themselves determine but fear as their rulers determine." When our rulers choose to focus our attentions on this of that particular fear, they put an issue on the agenda, amplifying that concern and muting others--and amplifying/muting the communities interested in focusing on any particular concern.
Sometimes this is leadership.
When we were attacked on 9/11, it was leadership to determine that we should focus our attentions on fearing terrorism (even if it was not leadership to choose to fight those not responsible for the attack). When auto accidents skyrocketed, it was leadership to focus our attentions on seatbelts.
When leaders encourage us to fear stranger preditor sexual assault, for instance, that is not leadership, since that is not the most likely source of risk to our daughters or wives, mothers or friends. So, what harms should our leaders be focusing our attentions on? Ask Makaveli.
4,609 workplace-related deaths in 2011 (Bureau of LaborStatistics) means an average a 13 workers die on the job every day. And it is estimated that there are nearly
50,000 worker deaths per year due to occupational diseases.
Compare 4,609 workplace deaths per year to the following
Tobacco 435,000
Alcohol 85,000
Prescription Drugs 32,000
Auto Accidents 26,343
Homicide 20,308
Marijuana 0
Alcohol 85,000
Prescription Drugs 32,000
Auto Accidents 26,343
Homicide 20,308
Marijuana 0
In terms of those harms that are not a consequence of
individual choice, or we are not already fighting a war against, perhaps it is
time for a war on the unsafe workplace?
And is it time to legalize marijuana?
No comments:
Post a Comment