Editorial CE #3

This week’s editorial is from the Washington Post called “Recession’s Hidden Virtues” written by Michael Gerson. Basically, it is talking about how typically we would argue that a recession and unemployment leads to an increase in health problems. Traditionally, it could lead to stress smoking, unhealthy comfort foods, increased alcohol consumption, heart problems, depression, and possibly suicide. But this editorial argues that we actually become healthier in a recession. According to Christopher Ruhm’s studies at the University of North Carolina, it is confirmed that recession increases mental health problems. But he found that physical health improves. For every point of increase in the unemployment rate, there is a half point decline in the death rate. During tough times, people tend to increase exercise, drive less, smoke less, and cook healthier food. In other words, we try to control everything else in our lives that we are still capable of. There is also a parallel debate on the nation’s moral health. The editorial says that studies during the Great Depression show that there was a decrease in crime and divorce. During the prosperity of the 60’s and 70’s, crime rates shot up and families fell apart. James Q. Wilson hypothesized that the Great Depression pulled families together and this cohesion inhibited crime. In my opinion, I agree with this editorial. I would say that during tough economic times, people do tend to cut back on unnecessary things such as smoking, drinking, and any other perks that cause stress and waste money. The death rate decreases but that won’t be for long if this crisis isn’t reversed. Overall in that light, I would say that every cloud has a silver lining.