All humans consume, we can move past this point, this is the major point behind why all humans have economic value, either they are consumers or producers. We assume proper skills provided or will be provided to better themselves. This is a justification in a purely Capitalist sense. People also share their experiences when they are underprivileged or struggling no longer (or for any other reason), allowing art and culture to thrive. A source of production is needed to support a source of consumption. The purpose of every capitalist system is to extract the maximum possible value from every human in existence, has existed, or will exist.
- Why abled bodied humans have economic value.
Able-bodied humans have economic value because they generally spend most of their lives carrying out productive work without large breaks. They found the foundation of inter-generational financial support, for those behind them, the children and for those after them, the seniors. Providing this class of workers with good support, ensures that they can support everybody else.
- Why the unemployed have economic value.
The unemployed by the very virtue of their existence provide value by consuming goods and services and growing the economy. They also provide an easy buffer, so that when somebody loses a job they can potentially take, allowing for the smooth operation of society.
- Why children have economic value.
Children have economic value because they eventually grow to become larger consumers and producers, they are growth potential.
- Why do the elderly have economic value?
They bequeath their skills and wealth to those who are coming before them (adults and children) which will allow them to promote growth or remain sources of future growth when they are unable to work. They also keep the healthcare industry employed and functioning due to their longer lifespans and their requirement for further treatment, without which these workers would be unemployed and would not be able to consume as greatly as they could when employed. They also prevent institutional decay.
- Why do the poor have economic value?
At some point with the right policies, luck and hard work, the poor become the middle class, and represent potential large future growth.
- Why do the disabled and the diseased have economic value?
The disabled and the diseased allow as the elderly do to keep the health industry functioning and employed, allowing them to consume. Their care and maintenance also indicates being cured at some point and to represent future consumption and production. If there is a product causing said disease/disablement, the individual affected is providing consumption for this production, and hence growth (tobacco, drugs, etc.).
- Why do the unborn (with reasonable exceptions) have economic value?
Their parents need to consume more to support their growth inside the mother and for their future growth when they are born. Furthermore, the larger the pool of humanity, the greater there is a chance for some great intellectual or visionary to come into existence. A Tesla, Einstein, Musk, etc. In fact one could argue, that abortion is denying the state or other polity with potential revenue, growth and so on. Denying businesses producers and consumers, and denying the larger macroeconomic trend with someone who could potentially bring about disruptive change and prevent the collapse of the pension ratio.
- Why does the criminal have economic value?
Even though the criminal undermines established and dominant capitalist systems, the criminal provides services which are illegal, hence fulfilling a market purpose. When captured, a criminal provides the prison system with business (whether state or otherwise).
All of this provides the state, or any other polity with revenue to govern and provide public goods which are prone to market failure (with exceptions).
- Why does welfare have economic value?
It prevents the unproductiveness of the many engines of economic growth, i.e. humans, as they are fragile little gremlins who are affected by cold, heat, disease, disability, etc., preventing growth.
- Why waste and recycling both have value.
Waste allows people to quickly consume more, recycling allows people to waste more efficiently, it makes people feel less guilty, which is very important for consumption, and gives the polity some revenue to support other growth-focused activities.
I’m sure I’ve missed some things, so people can add to this.
These vids give a reasonable example of what to expect from pure capitalism.
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The Smoking Ban | Yes, Prime Minister | Comedy Greats - YouTube
(for the value of tobacco and drug users in a purely capitalist sense) -
Sir Humphrey Appleby on the Proper Function of Government - YouTube
(government could just be replaced with capitalism, and it would be the same).