The Term Cost of Living is Horrible

We are all humans and should be able to live with food and shelter

With inflation skyrocketing to over 10% pa in some countries, people are genuinely hurting financially, particularly those on a low wage (which is nothing to be ashamed of). Due to inflation, there has been a lot of attention to the cost of living in the media. It got me thinking more about the term “cost of living,” which sounds horrible.

Firstly, the term “Cost of Living” has been widely used to refer to the average expenditure that an individual or family needs to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. However, this term fails to acknowledge that these basic needs are not just commodities that people can choose to buy or not but essential components of a dignified life that should be guaranteed to all individuals, regardless of their economic status.

Using the term “Cost of Living” implies that these basic needs are just another item on a shopping list, and it reinforces the idea that people should only receive what they can afford rather than what they deserve as human beings. This mindset can lead to the normalization of poverty, inequality, and social exclusion, as it shifts the responsibility for meeting basic needs from society to the individual.

Secondly, shelter and food are fundamental human rights that should be guaranteed to everyone. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to an adequate standard of living, which includes access to food, clothing, housing, and medical care. This means governments and society must ensure everyone has access to these basic needs, regardless of their economic situation.

Furthermore, denying someone access to shelter and food violates their human rights and undermines their dignity and sense of self-worth. It can lead to homelessness, hunger, and malnutrition, which have severe physical and mental health consequences. It can also contribute to social unrest, crime, and instability, as people who are denied basic needs are more likely to resort to desperate measures to survive.

The term “Cost of Living” fails to acknowledge the importance of shelter and food as fundamental human rights that should be guaranteed to all individuals. It perpetuates the notion that basic needs are just another item on a shopping list and reinforces the idea that people should only receive what they can afford rather than what they deserve as human beings. It is time for society to recognize that shelter and food are essential components of a dignified life and to ensure that everyone has access to these basic needs, regardless of their economic status. Unfortunately, I don’t have all the answers, but I want your thoughts.

Until next time.