poverty reflection

The buzz word in this week's class was poverty-something we really hadn't adressed up until this point. I think it is a topic worth mentioning and spending time on, because it really is a problem in our world. Sadly, as long as there on this Earth, there will be extreme gaps in wealth, from the rich to the poor. Whether or not you care to believe it (I don't like to), it seems poverty is inevitable. Unless we created some kind of worldwide socialism where everyone gets equal amounts of everything, we cannot fix poverty. After all, isn't capitalism and competition what makes the world keep turning? What would be the motivation to keep working if everyone had the same means as everything else? Ok, so that's probably not really what I think. Truthfully, those who are impovrished are not "lazy"; there are a number of things that go into the equation. Programs like soup kitchens, bread for the city, and Doctors without borders (just a plug for our simulation), are all playing a part in the fight.

I thought that friday's simulation was a good way to see difference in priorities. Our group was fairly split, with Ian and Caitlin advocating spending all ten "simoleons" on global education standards. Now, I am all for education but I don't think that will solve poverty. I think you need basic needs such as food, clean water, and shelter before you can worry about educatoin. And anyways, a high school education isn't going to do any good if you're country doesn't have the basic infastructure it needs to survive in the world. So, I agree that we do need literacy and education throughout the world, and I belive that is an important step to curbing poverty. I just think that there are other needs that come before that. You need to be able to sustain your self before you can go to school and things like that. It will be interesting to see in the next simulation what priorites and interests rise above the rest. As I saw when reading the Copenhagen article, it is nearly impossible to get people agree on something unless personal values and opinions are cast aside. Is it possible to view poverty from a stricly business like view? Probably not, but perhaps that is the best path to take to try and fix it.