Is poverty voluntary?

[realibrad]

So why is almost everyone in Africa poor?

Let me guess, in Africa they really are held back by circumstances but here they aren't.

Culture has a big part to play.

http://www.econlife.com/the-tough-parts-of-african-development/

He starts his talk with a Zambian village. As a 21-year old aid worker, he introduced Italian seeds to a community in a fertile Zambian valley that had little agriculture. Teaching the locals how to grow tomatoes and zucchini, he was proud of the initial results. The tomatoes were as big as cantaloupes. But then, one night, 200 hippos came out of the river and ate everything. Hippos, the villagers explained, are why we have no agriculture. He inquired why they did not tell him. “You never asked,” they replied.

 

[JockoJohnson]

So why is almost everyone in Africa poor?

Let me guess, in Africa they really are held back by circumstances but here they aren't.

Because there is no opportunity.

Here in America, we would like to think that EVERY person will get an opportunity to have a job (well-paying or not). However, there are just not enough jobs going around. I would like to think that everyone is looking for a job but that would be naïve. There is definitely a certain percentage of people willing to just say "Fuck it. Gov't gives me enough to live on and I don't need to do anything more". There are others that gov't assistance is very useful and helps them get back on their feet.

As to the exact percentages, I don't know. I don't think it would be "politically correct" to have a study done of those on welfare to see who is truly a leech and/or lazy and those who need it temporarily until they get a job or make something of their life.

 

[fskimospy]

It's quite obvious you've never been to many African nations. Most Africans do not consider themselves to be poor. As long as they can provide for their families they are quite happy and live with less stress than most in the US. The same is true for many countries throughout the world. The "Poor" in the US receive more in benefits than the middle class who more than likely work 55 hours or more a week in 3rd world countries.

Uhmm, no.

Also, while it's nice of you to speak for Africans about what they think, I was referring to the World Bank's poverty statistics on African poverty which clearly show that poverty, both relative and absolute, are endemic.

http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/region/SSA

Even by your standard of food security, Africa is proportionally the most food insecure continent on Earth. Their life expectancy is about 20 years lower than in developed nations, and almost a full quarter of sub-Saharan Africa is considered undernourished.

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4030e.pdf

 

[Londo_Jowo]

So, how many times have you worked in or visited an African country? How many times have you actually spoke with people who live there? Have you ever been invited to eat in their village?

 

[fskimospy]

So, how many times have you worked in or visited an African country? How many times have you actually spoke with people who live there? Have you ever been invited to eat in their village?

I've visited sub-Saharan Africa twice. Once to Kenya and once to South Africa. It is definitely the continent I have visited least, but I also have a number of other contacts there. In a former consulting job I worked with leadership for several governments and groups sub-Saharan Africa and I have a good friend who has worked for UNMAS for the past five years, about two of which have been spent living in Juba. While I could certainly know more about Africa, it's not like I am somehow clueless about the continent.

That is mostly irrelevant however, as even by your own standards of food security sub-Saharan Africa is one of the poorest areas in the world. That was your standard, not mine.

 

[realibrad]

I've visited sub-Saharan Africa twice. Once to Kenya and once to South Africa. It is definitely the continent I have visited least, but I also have a number of other contacts there. In a former consulting job I worked with leadership for several governments and groups sub-Saharan Africa and I have a good friend who has worked for UNMAS for the past five years, about two of which have been spent living in Juba. While I could certainly know more about Africa, it's not like I am somehow clueless about the continent.

That is mostly irrelevant however, as even by your own standards of food security sub-Saharan Africa is one of the poorest areas in the world. That was your standard, not mine.

Sickburn!

 

[Ackmed]

Depends on where in the world you live. Being born into poverty is not voluntary. Most times staying in poverty is.

 

[inachu]

Well if we kill off all the low IQ,Lazy,handicapped and people who refuse to speak proper english and if you are still unemployed then here is the following.

You have been disenfranchised: You get fired from every job you have ever worked.
So now your resume is so big that it has no focus so that means you are not trying.

Not trying means you should be part of the top group who should be killed off.

Now another thing put a hidden camera in the HR office. I am sure some women there just fire people because the HR people are on the rag and have no real reason to fire people.

Oh you say you are trying to ghost on a CAT 3 network on a Pentium 2 that has a bad hard drive and NORTON GHOST keep failing?

Ok so that means you are unable to do your job regardless the quality of the hardware.

LOL...... Some companies truly do just hire people just to fire them so they can use them as a scapegoat for whatever messed up report they are making on why their dept is failing.

 

[BoberFett]

A lot of right-wingers seem to think that everyone can become at least moderately rich if only they'd go to college and either follow a useful study or start their own company.

No they don't, you lying sack of shit. But a lot of people do think that if you apply yourself, you can go from poverty to an decent standard of living and contributing to society instead of sponging from it.

It's Democrats who love to claim that because it's almost impossible to go from poverty to Wall Street tycoon that the system must be broken.

 

[ivwshane]

No they don't, you lying sack of shit. But a lot of people do think that if you apply yourself, you can go from poverty to an decent standard of living and contributing to society instead of sponging from it.

It's Democrats who love to claim that because it's almost impossible to go from poverty to Wall Street tycoon that the system must be broken.

Lol! You dispute one strawman and replace it with one of your own. Nice job moron!

 

[Naer]

Well if we kill off all the low IQ,Lazy,handicapped and people who refuse to speak proper english and if you are still unemployed then here is the following.

You have been disenfranchised: You get fired from every job you have ever worked.
So now your resume is so big that it has no focus so that means you are not trying.

Not trying means you should be part of the top group who should be killed off.

Now another thing put a hidden camera in the HR office. I am sure some women there just fire people because the HR people are on the rag and have no real reason to fire people.

Oh you say you are trying to ghost on a CAT 3 network on a Pentium 2 that has a bad hard drive and NORTON GHOST keep failing?

Ok so that means you are unable to do your job regardless the quality of the hardware.

LOL...... Some companies truly do just hire people just to fire them so they can use them as a scapegoat for whatever messed up report they are making on why their dept is failing.

Are you a technological unemployment denier?

 

[rudeguy]

Are you a technological unemployment denier?

are you going to answer my question?

If poverty isn't voluntary, why are you voluntarily in poverty?

 

[Naer]

are you going to answer my question?

If poverty isn't voluntary, why are you voluntarily in poverty?

Feel rich tbh, and that's all that matters

 

[rudeguy]

Feel rich tbh, and that's all that matters

So this whole thread is just a pile of trash.

Poverty isn't some sort of violence, it is your choice and it is not an issue of circumstance. You feel entitled to sit around bullying girls on the internet and not have to pay your way in society.

You're a worthless pile of trash.

 

[Naer]

So this whole thread is just a pile of trash.

Poverty isn't some sort of violence, it is your choice and it is not an issue of circumstance. You feel entitled to sit around bullying girls on the internet and not have to pay your way in society.

You're a worthless pile of trash.

Just because I feel rich doesn't mean there isn't a lot of suffering from poverty in the world

 

[Texashiker]

So why is almost everyone in Africa poor?

Let me guess, in Africa they really are held back by circumstances but here they aren't.

Please address post #91

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I've visited sub-Saharan Africa twice. Once to Kenya and once to South Africa. It is definitely the continent I have visited least, but I also have a number of other contacts there. In a former consulting job I worked with leadership for several governments and groups sub-Saharan Africa and I have a good friend who has worked for UNMAS for the past five years, about two of which have been spent living in Juba. While I could certainly know more about Africa, it's not like I am somehow clueless about the continent.

That is mostly irrelevant however, as even by your own standards of food security sub-Saharan Africa is one of the poorest areas in the world. That was your standard, not mine.

Yet, they're considered poor by your (world) standards and not their own. From my time working in Tanzania, Congo, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. I offered to purchase food items (mostly meat) and I was told never to do that as it's considered an insult to the person who has invited you to their house.

I never once met anyone begging for money, I can't say the same for South/Central America or Southeast Asia.

 

[fskimospy]

Yet, they're considered poor by your (world) standards and not their own. From my time working in Tanzania, Congo, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. I offered to purchase food items (mostly meat) and I was told never to do that as it's considered an insult to the person who has invited you to their house.

I never once met anyone begging for money, I can't say the same for South/Central America or Southeast Asia.

Not begging for money doesn't mean they aren't poor.

Again, your own standard for poverty was food insecurity, and sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most food insecure places in the world. Therefore by your own definition they are one of the poorest places in the world.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Not begging for money doesn't mean they aren't poor.

Again, your own standard for poverty was food insecurity, and sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most food insecure places in the world. Therefore by your own definition they are one of the poorest places in the world.

Please show where I claimed any of the crap in your post.

 

[rudeguy]

Please show where I claimed any of the crap in your post.

He's doing his stupid straw man routine again.

This thread is a perfect example of what is wrong with "entitlements". You have people who sit around and collect handouts not because they can't work, because they don't want to work. You have the left wing idiots saying that if we don't help the poor, they starve to death, then you have the rational people who want to fix the problem.

The OP and eskimoshill are what is wrong with the country. Lazy assholes who don't want to work and leftists who know they can control people like the OP by twisting the truth and handing out free money.

 

[TheSlamma]

He's doing his stupid straw man routine again.

This thread is a perfect example of what is wrong with "entitlements". You have people who sit around and collect handouts not because they can't work, because they don't want to work. You have the left wing idiots saying that if we don't help the poor, they starve to death, then you have the rational people who want to fix the problem.

The OP and eskimoshill are what is wrong with the country. Lazy assholes who don't want to work and leftists who know they can control people like the OP by twisting the truth and handing out free money.

My fav is the guys on here who claim to have and I quote "More money than they know what to do with" Then run around saying TAX THE RICH!! but yet they don't donate a dime to the poor or charity personally. Why? because they want everyone else to do their good deed for them.

 

[rudeguy]

My fav is the guys on here who claim to have and I quote "More money than they know what to do with" Then run around saying TAX THE RICH!! but yet they don't donate a dime to the poor or charity personally. Why? because they want everyone else to do their good deed for them.

the left always uses the "fuck you, I got mine" for the right. That's such a lie. The truth is the left's motto "Fuck you, I want yours".

 

[blastingcap]

Everyone in this thread should read http://www.amazon.com/Debt-The-First-000-Years/dp/1612191290

It will give you a new perspective on debt, wealth, and money.

 

[fskimospy]

Please show where I claimed any of the crap in your post.

It's quite obvious you've never been to many African nations. Most Africans do not consider themselves to be poor. As long as they can provide for their families they are quite happy and live with less stress than most in the US. The same is true for many countries throughout the world. The "Poor" in the US receive more in benefits than the middle class who more than likely work 55 hours or more a week in 3rd world countries.

To me, having your family be malnourished means you can't provide for your family, correct? Within the context of your post, not being able to provide for your family would reasonably be interpreted as being poor, no?

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of people unable to provide for their family in the world. Therefore, it is one of the poorest places in the world.

I seriously can't believe this even has to be argued.

 

[glenn1]

My fav is the guys on here who claim to have and I quote "More money than they know what to do with" Then run around saying TAX THE RICH!! but yet they don't donate a dime to the poor or charity personally. Why? because they want everyone else to do their good deed for them.

It's easy when have the "collective action problem" magic wand to wave and resolve them of any responsibility unless the rich are forced to act first. Poverty is simply a chosen means (along with global warming, "living wages", etc) to justify reordering the world as they think fair which is always going to include taking money from others.