In the News - Poverty

Isabella's presentation today reminds us that the luxuries we live with every day (eklectricity, air conditioning, health services) are not available to a large percentage of the world's population. Even the things we would think of as necessities (food, water, shelter) are not available to many. Child poverty is perhaps the most troublesome aspect of this situation.

Some theorists might point out that capitalism is based on paying people less than their labor is worth, and that competition among companies will result in paying the least possible to workers. It's not realisitc to blame individual people, as a country's lack of infrasaructure, resources, opportunity, or political stability is much more likely an immediate cause than a person's industry or ability. When you're fighting to survive, it's hard to blame someone for not getting an education.

Writers of the book _Empire_ call this the "problem of the serf"--that many of today's political movements appeal to people who have much more freedom to make political decisions and have control over their lives. Asking the poor to participate in political action is often a greater burden for those who have no stability elsewhere in their lives.