(CL) How Can We End Poverty?

That seems like such an abstract concept.

Eradicating poverty is such a complex thing to do that it seems virtually impossible. Sure, there have been attempts with many programs that seem so promising. But it is far too broad in reach to find a simple solution for.

One thing that prevents this is the treatment of the poor as without dignity or as if they have no personhood. It is an unfair kind of treatment, but it is realistically, what happens frequently in the world today. Those who do have money look with disdain on the people who are unfortunate enough to not be able to take a bath and look properly fed and be properly dressed. The disgust that seeps off them in waves prevents them from lending out a hand to help, because there's such a distance between them, that sometimes, they don't want to breach for fear of something...perhaps the distrust, as poverty is later associated with crime.

Locally, when political candidates like the presidentiables this 2010 promise to eliminate poverty, I am loathe to believe them. It is not as simple as many proclaim it to be. Poverty cannot be eliminated by one person's principles, integrity, or experience with it. Ending poverty is going to take a lot more than just words. It's going to need a very long-term action plan that many do not have. I wish they did, but most seem intent on just using it as a platform to rocket themselves into position with no promise to results.


EDIT:

Ending poverty seems like such a hopeless cause, but all it needs is the active participation and brainstorming of humanity as a whole.

I just came across one of the campaigns that seek to take steps in easing the difficulty experienced by the less fortunate. Albeit being in the United Kingdom, I think this is quite a sensible kind of campaign.

The Robin Hood Tax is a tiny tax on banks, hedge funds and other finance institutions that would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, at home and abroad.

It can start as low as 0.005 per cent – and average 0.05 per cent . But when levied on the billions of pounds sloshing round the global finance system every day through transactions such as foreign exchange, derivatives trading and share deals, it can raise hundreds of billions of pounds every year.

And while international agreement is best, it can start right now, right here in the UK.

That can help stop cuts in crucial public services in the UK, and aid the fight against global poverty and climate change.

from http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/how-it-works/


click for full view



I think it's something that makes sense, even here in the Philippines. Because it seems that those who escape taxes more here in the country are the rich, which really tilts the table even more in their favor. It perpetuates the "rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer" thing that we continuously experience here.