Reflections on Poverty
I’ve got something a little different today. I was reading some articles on Helium this morning and came across this one, entitled Reflections: Poverty. It was written by Toni Doswell. I found it to be an extremely interesting read, and it prompted me to think about some of its issues.
With Toni’s permission, I have included her article below. If you would like to read more, please visit Toni’s helium page.
Reflections: Poverty
by Toni Doswell
Poverty is a destructive force. Deprivation and lack of resources and finances have been the underlying reason for millions of deaths worldwide. Poverty is a force that must be reckoned with if we are to advance as a civilization, or even in our personal day to day life.
I have seen poverty stretch its morbid hand out to grab victims. If only they had had the resources to procure what they needed to live, pay a bill, buy a car, pay rent, buy food or clothing, they would not have had to suffer the consequences of being without.
Proverbs 10:15 states, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. You can see it every day as you walk the streets of any large city. You can see it at the homeless shelter, in the cracks and crevices of abandoned buildings; you can see it stalking the people lined up at the soup kitchens across the nation. You can see it just about anywhere in the eyes of those who are without the necessities of life.
The whys of poverty are many. Sometimes it is a sickness. Perhaps it is a mental illness which prevents one from moving forward to gain the necessities of life. Many times it is living above one’s means, or going into business transactions which cause great loss. All too often it is laziness. Of all the reasons for poverty, it is my opinion that laziness, in many cases, is the culprit. When a person is lazy, they expect society to take care of them, but they do not want to take care of society. They have their hands out, and never extend their hands to help others, except they be recompensed. The lazy are also selfish. Laziness indeed is a big factor in being impoverished.
People who work, whether at a minimum wage job, or a higher paying job, will be able to eat and enjoy some quality of life. It may be termed poverty according to what socio economist call it, but a working person, who lives within their means, will do better than a wealthy person who lives far above his/her means. I have seen this. I have seen people who have small incomes bring relief to their family members who way above their incomes. That is a travesty, but a reality.
Money management is as much a science as any other study in life. Tips and courses on money management should be an initial part of the educational curriculum as reading, math, science, English, and social studies. It will pay off in the long run and help many young people not to fall into traps which wreck their lives.
Poverty can be helped. People who are in poverty do have ways out. Sometimes it means getting up out of the bed and going to work, or managing money so as to get the optimum out of it, or learning valuable successful techniques which work to alleviate one’s level of poverty. Educational programs should be in every locale to teach people how to reduce poverty. Simply giving money to impoverished families is not the answer. Helping people to work and appreciate, and manage their earnings, I feel, is the best way out.
We will never eradicate poverty, I don’t feel, but we can do some things within our scope to help ourselves and others not become a victim in its clutches.
Toni takes quite a different view of poverty and it’s causes than I ever have. Can we attribute ‘laziness’ to all forms of poverty? Certainly this thinking applies in some circumstances. But all? Can you ‘manage money’ when you have done? I’m not trying to be condescending here, not at all. I’m merely trying to understand a view entirely different from my own.
I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts on this. Please leave a comment on this post with your opinion.
OK, let’s lighten the mood a little now, and why not head over to Globally Green Living and learn about the spotted owl?
Til next time…
October 21st, 2007 at 7:40 am
When I started reading the article I thought “Oh no, not another one saying that the poor are helpless and that everyone is responsible for the poor.” But I was pleasantly surprised when Tony attributed some of poverty to laziness. I totally agree. There are poor who live in poor regions where there are no opportunities, no employment, once cannot get an education, etc. But then there are also those who live in places with opportunities and choose to receive rather than do for themselves.
I know this first hand because my sister is like that. She was a lousy student and dropped out of school on her own because she wanted to hang out with people. Now she’s chronically unemployed and every chance she has she exploits people. She says it’s not her fault no one gives her a job. But the truth is she does not even search for one. And every chance she has, she asks me why I don’t help her. It’s not my job to help her when she fails to help herself. And that should be the stand of the government.
It’s good when the government can help but that should not be a rule, that should be an exception and certain conditions should be met before the government intervenes (disease, lack of opportunities in the private sector, discrimination, etc.).
One of the biggest weapons against poverty in LDC’s is micro-loans. And this has been really successful and creating an opportunity for people to help themselves and then pay back the loan so that someone else can benefit from that money. Free money is a dangerous thing!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
[...] Because, you know what? Despite the grace of God, there go I now, too. Possibly to the street corner with the cardboard sign-wielding guy. I’m not there yet, but it’s getting close. Not being dramatic or bemoaning my situation but, yeah, I may have to eventually make eye contact with the guy after all, maybe partner up for the sign-holding events and such. Take turns or something. (Hence the KC plug link for the Plaza above … 47th & Oak. If you’re in town, look us up, and thanks for your support!) Poverty sucks. [...]
November 14th, 2007 at 12:46 am
[...] Only you can help keep Austin off the Global Poverty Monitor. [...]
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