Poverty can make you RICH!
When you see the word
"poverty"
What do you think about?
Does it take your mind to something like 'the lack of having money' or 'homelessness', or do you perhaps think about 'not enough income'?
As a South African, I can say that I've seen poverty from many different views. Any South African would agree that "poverty" is a serious and real problem. No, I am not saying that all South Africans are poor and I'm definitely not saying that South African poverty is worse than other countries in the world, I'm simply saying that in a country with a shortage of job opportunities, we are used to seeing "poverty" every day and it has become such a general sight that it is, unfortunately, no longer a strange sight or a strange subject. We see "poor" people around every corner, whether they are jobless, homeless or don't have enough money to make it through the first week of the month. It is no longer a shame to say something like "I am poor" or "Can you borrow me money?". The same people who were once too proud to even admit that they are in financial crisis, are now no longer hesitant to say it out loud as the majority of people around them are in the same position as they are.
But poverty is much more than that!
Poor health
Poor housing
Poor education
Poor nutrition
Poor employment
Poor mental health
Poor transport
Poor access to services and facilities
Poverty has a knock-on effect to issues such as these. Less access to adequate healthcare because of poor finances means that more children and adults will suffer from health problems and be vulnerable to even more illnesses. Poor education leads to poor life choices and causes unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases . By not being able to receive an income causes more stress to provide for food, housing and transport which can lead to physical abuse within families, theft, burglary, suicides, drug abuse, crime, racism, murder. etc.
Taking away the basic needs for survival is what causes these actions, in my opinion.
Well, that and, of course, poor mental health.
CHILDREN
What they have now, should not define what they will be tomorrow.
Give them something that money can't buy!
Let's teach them to fight for a better future. The future is theirs anyways. We do not want them to follow in the footsteps of their parents who were unable to provide for them due to their circumstances.
Let's teach them compassion by showing compassion.
Let's not look down on them and define them for who they are now.
Let's develop their skills so that they can become breadwinners one day, even if they did not have proper education.
Let's teach them to be rich by heart.
Let's teach them, even if it means doing it for free!!!
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In short, get government out of the way and let free minds explore and find solutions. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that the South African economy isn't the freest around - 98th for trade freedom according to Heritage. That has a TREMENDOUS effect on poverty; if people aren't free to freely interact, they have missed opportunities
As far as I know, South Africa's economy is moderately free which I would say falls under 'socialism' rather than 'free'. State owns and control resources but it is available to the community. Businesses operate within free markets. The government is...how shall I say it without saying it?...corr...uhm...looking after their own needs and is not proving for the country as they should be. Many people are unable to find jobs and those who do not have the best of education are at the bottom of the food chain.
It doesn't fall under socialism. Read the definition, and compare:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism
I didn't say it is, I said "I would say". It's not a totally free market economy and it's not a command economy either. It falls somewhere in between which what I said above: "State owns and control resources but it is available to the community. Businesses operate within free markets."
None of the main economic systems occur in pure form, but as mixed economies. If that isn't true, then my University professor was wrong.
I agree. For instance in Scandinavia, where we have had a mixed economy closer to socialism than what you have seen in the U.S, but definitely not socialism in it's pure form, whatever that might mean, as there is no exact definition. I think these definitions are outdated anyway. Capitalism for instance, has in practice always worked as a synergy between capitalists and government, using corporate monopolies supported by regulations.
That is not fitting with the idea of free markets, but that's because they are a myth. In the real world however, it's clear that regulations of markets can be both good and bad, depending on circumstances.
I would like humanity put all of this behind us however, and develop a post -scarcity society. Make everything free, and work voluntary.
I don't mind saying it :) Unfortunately we are sitting with a corrupt government where the "President", imo, has surrounded himself with individuals that are corruptible and thus increased his protection and power. Many of them might well be thinking that "heck, this has gone too far now" however their hands have also been dipping into the honey pot. So, instead of being selfless and helping the majority they are being selfish and protecting themselves. Heck, who wants to end up in jail for corruption after all. We know our systems are failing. Increased crime, failing health, education - we're spending so much on education however most of it must be slipping down the wrong channels etc. Just about every government run entity is a mess (Eskom, Post, SAA, Transnet etc). Ohhh, what a world!! Lol, anyway, done rambling. The crux of your article is the important part and that is that it's the kids (and elderly) that are suffering. It's wrong. I teach my children to appreciate what they have and to give!! Since humans are selfish by nature this is a very important lesson every parent should be teaching their kids, TO GIVE :):) As per your article it's not just money that's important. It comes down to the old saying "You can give a man a fish and feed him for a day or you can teach him how to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime". Gg!!
Thank you for sticking to the point. It's not about what South Africa has and what they don't have. There is a bigger picture and that old saying you gave here, is the exact point I'm trying to make.
Piccata? Titicaca! I am Cornholio! I need piccata for my bunghole!
Its exactly the opposite. South Africa has been pushed to accept trade deals by the IMF and the world bank, to the detriment of their economy. Most successful economies have gone through a protectionist phase. And the main reason south Africa is poor is anyway colonialism, and neo-colonialism.
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Poor mental health.. lots of people are getting sick these days.
Perhaps its all the chemicals in our food and water ;)
...mmm...perhaps!
Thanks for reading @jimbojones
What an excellent post you wrote, so true.
Thank you @bigbear, once again ;)
Nice, post we sit with a huge and almost impossible task to turn it around, and corruption is not helping the cause. We need more schools and factories to beneficiate the countries many natural resources. Thanks for sharing
Governments are corrupt, people are selfish and money is in few hands. Being an individual, we could make a small difference. I take out 2% of my whole monthly income as soon as I get my salary and distribute the amount to poor and needy. Suppose if all people in the world would start doing the same, will we see any poor/needy on this planet?
South Africa has a race problem. And I'm not talking of the whites holding down the blacks. I'm talking of the blacks (and whites) holding down the blacks with government welfare programs going a long way back even before Mandela. All socialist-like welfare and substitutes programs in the name of equality.
This is "the lesser expectations racism" and is the worst kind, as it holds down the people that are suppose to be lifted, and at the same time, holds down the hole country.
You can see the same phenomena all around the world where the government tries to do this out of "good intentions" wanting a more "warm" society. Like the indians in the US. In the states where they are getting free money, they are poor, and in states where they don't they own properous businesses and are doing really good.
The reality in South Africa is that the white people there are being surpressed, by both blacks and whites themselves. Look at the case with these guys that where trying to scare of a burglar, putting him in a coffin and telling him that they where going to bury him alive. They didn't hurt him, just tried to stop him from coming back after they had caught him numerous times grabbing their stuff. And the people are calling for life-sentence because they claim theres a "rasist motivation" behind it. They should indeed be very ashamed of the hypocritical statements, as they themselves are the rasists.
Equality by law is to take all race, skin colour, gender and such thing out of the vocabulary in dealing with such things.
I heard, in South Africa, now to run a business, you need to have a black partner that owns at least 50% of the company. Is it true?
The country will be in ruins if the madness doesnt stop.
Hi @deismac. I am not sure about the 50%, I would be lying if I said yes or no. Perhaps someone else reading here knows the answer.
The funny thing is, South African racism exists only in South Africa. We are now expats in the UAE and over here, black and white South Africans are friends. We see other types of racism here but it's not between white and black South Africans. When you hear someone talking in a familiar language or see someone in the mall with a shirt with, for example, the South African rugby team, you actually think "Oh wow, he is from my country, I better go and say Hi". It's like we don't see color here. But yes, within South Africa, it's madness.
I enjoyed reading @bdmomuae i can't agree more to you. I'll be resteeming this great post with a great point.
Thanks so much @steemitdigest! Appreciate your support.
Thanks for reading ;-)