End of Poverty: Possible?
Is it possible to end poverty?
Perhaps to answer this question we must begin with another…what is poverty? Measuring poverty or deriving a “poverty level” seems a fool’s errand. Is it poverty to lack an iPhone, Sony Bravia or Jaguar C-X75 (with “Aerodynamic Purity”)?
Or is poverty more akin to lacking a roof over our head, sufficient sustainable healthy food, water and air? Perhaps education and a job plus access to timely excellent health care? What about security of self and our stuff (including a bigger roof over our head)? Should we throw in life-long job security, a large government pension with early retirement, free gender reassignment surgery (only if desired of course), eight weeks of vacation a year and a limitless supply of Ritter Sport chocolate?
You need to have a poverty of the imagination to not be able to add to this list. Where does it begin and end? Does it extend to love life, sex life and long life?
We will always have the poor among us, it is inescapable, we do not have the capacity for otherwise. No human devised system can migrate our abilities to the point of no human lacking (we will always have those who are jealous of others, those who are greedy, those who are lazy, those who have mental and/or physical disabilities etc)… While communism tends towards robbing from all but an elite “leadership” capitalism and democracy blend together opportunity for all but not all want to engage with such opportunities (and not all are capable of embracing such opportunities). Some people knowingly choose to exclude themselves from possibilities that could be considered beneficial. We may all be created equally but we do not live equally…or make equally profitable choices with our lives…Equal rights does not mean equal abilities or entitlement to equal stuff…
No I am not a cold hearted bastard (well I am a bastard but that’s another story). I volunteer with the disabled, the poor and homeless, I actively support organizations that help such persons both locally and globally with both my funds and my time. Helping people is close to my heart and I encourage others to do likewise (yes that means you). The end game of the task may be insurmountable for our collective effort but that does not mean we should not aspire to such greatness…
The sheer scale, scope and complexity of the issue is humanly insurmountable. Even if the entirety of the human family determined to vigorously work towards this task it could not be accomplished. Our resources, our abilities and imagination are far too finite to win this goal…we are poverty stricken as a species to slay this beast. Even the supposed panacea of Star Trek’s society fails the mission…
Currently capitalism harnessed with democracy is our best model for economic success tendering the offer of diminished poverty though not its eradication. The end of poverty is mission impossible for humanity…yet what a noble goal! As long as we aspire tenaciously to better ourselves and the aid of others we hold a dignity that provides a taste of the glory that we can only sniff a hint at as that of the Other…if we do it for His glory alone we are then at our best…
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I was a member of the smug rich classes until you mentioned the Jaguar C-X75.
One thing I have pondered is the need to give charity in a way that involves us more in the lives of others. The bulk giving seems nice as an industrial process where money is simply provided and there is no need to be bothered with the messy details of the recipients life. That doesn't strike me as the way Jesus does things.
On the other hand, it is difficult to help when I live among smug people looking to buy their next Jaguar.
Should we adjust our life to make for more access to those needing charity?
Hi LSus :D!
What is poverty indeed? Many people would define poverty as lacking the material things you mentioned: iPhones, Sony Bravia, Jags, mansions etc - I'd call this type of people "Poors of the soul".
Others would define poverty as not having a proper house to live in, with the proper conditions...but then again, there are some people who rather live outdoors than in a house (and consider themselves rich, because their soul is a millionaire) - ask the ascetics, in India.
There are many types of poor people: intellectually poor; spiritually poor; politically poor; mentally poor; materially poor (regardless the amount of money one might have or lack); visually poor; existentially poor, emotionally poor etc.
It is a very complex issue, however society in general tends to make it so linear that, without realising it, they banalise the problem.
And because of all that was said, poverty will never end.
"We may all be created equally but we do not live equally…"
Created equally yet we are not born equally.
"No I am not a cold hearted bastard (well I am a bastard but that’s another story)."
LOL LS...*nodding*...I like the way you always find a way to inject some humour in your texts. Anyway, we are all bastards of some sort...if you know what I mean ;).
Everybody should help his/her fellow-human; and volunteering is a fine way to do it - in the lack of any other method.
LS, I thoroughly enjoyed your article; thank you for making us ponder even further about this important theme *bowing*.
Cheers
@Looney…
LOL Well what if the person with the Jag gives away 90% of their money but still can “afford” the Jag? (The real question is why would anybody drive a Jag when they could drive a Honda? Obviously wealth has little to do with wise choices in vehicles ;)
You bring up some thoughtful points…I suggest that we should both “volunteer” our time and riches…Certainly local volunteering and donating is important…face to face…but I think that a good argument could also be made Biblically for long distance bulk donations:
1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
- - 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NIV)
One of the reasons I suggest Operation Christmas Child is that I have found that it can act as a catalyst to future charity of time and wealth…it is also great to work on with small children who learn the lesson of helping others in a clear way…
There are many ways of doing these kinds of things…my wife works hard to get people at her work place to also give towards OCC with sponsoring medical supplies and water filtration systems for World Vision and Samarians Purse (a lot of her colleagues own “Jags”)…I volunteer with World Vision locally helping with child sponsorship etc…We help support a child thru Compassion…but we also volunteer in our local Church and even with our municipality etc…
Certainly it is important to be wise in our stewardship but it is also wise to do something…we must love our neighbour…how did Jesus define them? Some of us may be better at acquiring funds to give to others…some perhaps are good with people steeped I compassion etc…yet I deeply feel that some contact with those who are needy is enormously helpful…
We work very hard for our earnings…and do quite well…however I don’t have a Jag…my personal conviction is that we are to live well within our means…I am a fiscal conservative (I believe this is Biblical, which to me also entails charitable giving, should more come from individuals than the government?)
This is another reason why I do not like government irresponsibility in economics…for example the Obama administration is a horror story…wealth is better “redistributed” by the individual…
I view money more as a river or conduit than a lake or pond…at the same time we must take care to also take care of ourselves as that is personal responsibility.
Hi Maximus :D!
In Canada we have what is called the “poverty rate”, it is a moving scale…so the richer the population gets the poorer the poorest become on the scale…it therefore yearns for equalization even if the poorest are still housed and fed. Thus it leans towards socialism or communism in that it does not celebrate success but frowns at it…So best case scenario if everybody was a millionaire in Canada still those with the least would be designated as being in poverty…Recent graduates form high school are the poorest and this is seen as children under the poverty line yet most live at home, university is relatively cheap as it is largely paid for with tax payer money and most young people live at home to start…plus at that point they have little education or experience so they make little money…such is life…get educated, work hard and you may get ahead…it’s a possibility not a promise…it is not a guarantee which many people want…
I personally know many people who are very generous at every level of wealth…as far as money and materials go…I also know a lot of smart people…most of the people I know suffer from spiritual emaciation….
LOL well I also enjoy your injections of humour…we have blogging friends that have some good wit and generous smiles…
I like volunteering as it makes situations into people not problems…
Great topic you suggested for this month Max…we seem to be in essential agreement…hmmm…
Beers to you! Oh I see that it is…cheers…ok…Cheers then ;)
FYI
I will be posting throughout the evening with Election Coverage at Politics on the Blade Tuesday evening…
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