You're absolutely right it is not the point. As "anon" says we need to go beyond existance and cultivate joy. I agree that the ambulance service should be better funded. I work in health in New Zealand and know how frustrating it is when the priorities seem upside down. Here they have also just decided to cut special advisors to schools on anything other than the 3 R's (they have already cut 80% of the adult education budget again leaving the 3 R's). I think this is analagous to your point in that I feel it is a pseudo "going back to basics" it is IMO stripping away at the things that give life meaning if we refuse to fund arts and science because we have health needs.