What Is the Value of Humanity?

There are many ways to calculate the value of human life.

• $4.50 - The component chemicals.
• $2,500 - An innocent Iraqi or Afghan killed by American forces.
• $50,000 - By insurance companies for one year of quality life.
• $129,000 - One year of quality life as calculated by the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
• $229,000 - The value of a human body as parts.
• $1.54 million - As calculated by a Princeton economist, as it relates to automobile speed limits.
• $7 million - By the EPA when deciding whether or not to clean up or prevent pollution.

It is rather disconcerting to realize that to my health insurance company I am worth more as marketable replacement parts than as a living individual. But the real value of human life is in the caring.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. ~ Emily Dickinson