The literal meaning of poverty is a state of being extremely poor. The inability to afford even the basic necessities of life indicates poverty (Brunswick Canada). Nations have a standard of poverty. In other words, if people are unable to afford staples they are declared as living in poverty, depending upon the nation’s definition of poverty. It is possible to suggest that poverty has a subjective meaning and people may define poverty in their own terms; however, the basic common element of poverty is the limitation in the goods that are affordable by those individuals. In certain third world countries, the level of poverty may be different as compared to poverty definition of developed countries. For instance; in Africa poverty may have a different connotation as compared to poverty in America.
I feel a sense of pity towards the people living in poverty. Money is not the scale for measuring a person’s personality and potential. I also feel that sense of detachment from the poor is a very dangerous outlook. The people living in poverty do not deserve this life. If people in the society forget about poor, and do not acknowledge them, then there will be lesser chances of these people to have a better life.
Poverty is not an irreparable dilemma. If people want they are able to come out of their state of poverty; however, it may demand hard work and commitment. Education is the key to escaping poverty in today’s world. If individuals realize the importance of education to succeed and improve their living standards then they may escape poverty in the future. On the other hand, people who are poor have different priorities, and education is not one of them. Younger children of poor households are forced to seek employment to contribute towards the family income; therefore, their education is compromised. In such a situation, it is impossible for the poor to benefit equally from the opportunities available in the market.
There are free of cost community programs that help drop out children learn the skills essential for certain jobs. A lot of free medical camps are set up where poor people can have their health evaluated and get free supplements and drugs. Poor people can even have their shelters transformed to being energy efficient free by local utility offices.
Supporters of Marxism hold the viewpoint that poverty is an inevitable feature of capitalist society. There is inequality in society, and only two classes exist the bourgeoisie and proletariat. The proletariats are never able to come out of poverty because they are constantly suppressed by the bourgeoisie. As long as capitalism exists, there would be poverty in society. However, communism is a solution to end poverty and only then would there be equal opportunities for every group in society. Critics of Marxism suggest that people who are being suppressed would stand up and fight for their rights, but they are not bothered. The laid back attitude of the poor people is the main reason for them being stuck in their low position in society. If people stand up and voice their concerns then the powerful groups of society may feel threatened and give in to the demands of the poor. Equal job opportunities, and before that, equal educational opportunities, are essential for poverty to end. There are examples of people who have come out of the state of poverty because of hard work and commitment to a goal. Elon Bomani is a prime example of how she came out of poverty through getting credit for her business plan (Lankow, 2008). Controlling expenditures and prioritizing expenses was the key to Bomani’s success. She ensured that she did not spend unnecessarily even though she had credit on her hands; rather she first started making revenue before spending money on herself.
Children who are raised on the streets are often more street smart than children who have sufficient financial support from their families. This does not mean that people should live poorly to become street smart; rather, it suggests that people who have the street smart skill should take advantage of their talent. Street smart individuals are able to impress others and if they explore themselves they may be able to escape poverty. Some poor people often resort to gaining sympathy from wealthy individuals and may turn to begging. If people get used to begging, they may never work hard to achieve something. As people know they would be helped by others they may become dependent and then never come out of their state of poverty. Begging is a common profession for people of the Asian region and poor people in the region believe it is their right to seek help from wealthy individuals. If the poor people realize that they are capable of doing something, they may actually be able to achieve something in life. Education is not always important, but the ability to understand one’s capabilities is more important.
I feel that yes, as long as people depend upon others, and true equality does not exist in society, the poor will comprise a prominent part of society. We will always have the poor with us. If the fortunate class of society continues to exploit the less-fortunate or poor, then poverty will persist. The wealthy of society may help the poor through providing free education, assistance in starting a business, or providing jobs at the peon level in their organizations may be a step towards ending poverty. People should be self sufficient because otherwise they would resort to begging and crime in worst case scenarios.
References
Lankow, J. (2008, August 28). Connect With Us. MintLife Blog. Retrieved June 2, 2014, from https://www.mint.com/blog/trends/5-radical-real-people-who-escaped-poverty/
What is poverty?. (n.d.). - Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/esic/overview/content/what_is_poverty.html
