What are your ideas for solutions around helping our generation's effort to end extreme poverty in the world?

Question

Half the world – nearly three billion people – live on less than two dollars a day. Eradicating poverty in our world will take dedication and creative thinking. What ideas do you have to contribute to the solution?

Answer 1

Well, this would involve a stable government system, education, and economics:

1) First and foremost it is critical to have a stabilized, democratic government system both to regulate a free market properly and only as necessary and provide social stability for the economic environment to flourish. As far as economics, different governments would then need to provide incentives to bring in different industries suited to the resources (either natural, social, or economic) that are a business/industry can capitalize on in that particular country.

2) Economics is key to addressing worldwide poverty. You can send food and build a house for people in a poor country, but those people are still poor. It IS NOT a long-term solution to the problem. As the economic conditions improve, the quality of life of the people improves too at all levels. Those people that we call poor in the US are wealthy by the standard of the world. It's because we have a powerful economy. However, the economy is very dependent on a stable government and an educated people.

3) Thus, education is another important factor, both academic and financial. The more provisions that governments and charity makes towards education the more it'd help to improve both the social and economics conditions in a positive, continuous cycle. I say financial education because if people are quick to invest or, in the least, put money in a bank, the more money that will be available to the economy for growth, again furthering the cycle I mention before.

These three areas are critical issues that governments and charities need to look at in order to address worldwide poverty. As the worldwide market becomes more "flat", this is simply providing opportunities for third-world countries that are willing to get things together to really capitalize on a great opportunity to bring industry and commerce to their countries in one way or another. As new generations continue to move up into leadership roles in business and government, we need to look at this as a way to bring success to ourselves but to someone else at the same time if we go about it right (considering everything I said above). If we ensure the success of a host nation and people in our business ventures, that success will shine on us in both tangible and intangible ways, leaving a legacy of both hope and accomplishment in the eyes of the world.

Answer 2

Now we have a new class of those in poverty because they only get to eat hamburgers. So, where do you draw the line? Global socialism would be the only real way to end "extreme poverty" as you call it. So, are all of you willing to give your income to the gov't and let them provide for your food, shelter, health care? Instead of worrying about global poverty, instead focus on what you can do on a personal basis. Maybe work at a soup kitchen feeding homeless. Donate a little money to the local food pantry. To the person reading this answer, take a look at your surroundings. Yeah, I bet you have a PC maybe with high speed internet. A car outside, probably food in the fridge. Sure, let's say you worked hard for all that. Fine. Did you donate any of your time or a few dollars last year to help someone less fortunate? I'm not saying tithing of some sort is mandatory, but even a few extra dollars from millions of people would really help. Don't rely on the fed gov't to take care of the poor.

Answer 3

2) Economics is key to addressing worldwide poverty. You can send food and build a house for people in a poor country, but those people are still poor. It IS NOT a long-term solution to the problem. As the economic conditions improve, the quality of life of the people improves too at all levels. Those people that we call poor in the US are wealthy by the standard of the world. It's because we have a powerful economy. However, the economy is very dependent on a stable government and an educated people.

3) Thus, education is another important factor, both academic and financial. The more provisions that governments and charity makes towards education the more it'd help to improve both the social and economics conditions in a positive, continuous cycle. I say financial education because if people are quick to invest or, in the least, put money in a bank, the more money that will be available to the economy for growth, again furthering the cycle I mention before.

Answer 4

Poverty is relative to each individual situation. Let's say the global population suddenly has 3 meals a day. But some receive hamburgers and fish sticks while others are eating steak and lobster. Now we have a new class of those in poverty because they only get to eat hamburgers. So, where do you draw the line? Global socialism would be the only real way to end "extreme poverty" as you call it. So, are all of you willing to give your income to the gov't and let them provide for your food, shelter, health care? Instead of worrying about global poverty, instead focus on what you can do on a personal basis. Maybe work at a soup kitchen feeding homeless. Donate a little money to the local food pantry. To the person reading this answer, take a look at your surroundings. Yeah, I bet you have a PC maybe with high speed internet. A car outside, probably food in the fridge. Sure, let's say you worked hard for all that. Fine. Did you donate any of your time or a few dollars last year to help someone less fortunate? I'm not saying tithing of some sort is mandatory, but even a few extra dollars from millions of people would really help. Don't rely on the fed gov't to take care of the poor.

Answer 5

The first step would be a major change in how people think. If Americans were willing to sacrifice ten dollars a day out of their "toy money" it would eradicate a considerable amount of poverty. I'm talking of course Americans that make fifty thousand or more a year. But there arent enough people that are willing to make even a minor sacrifice like that because we are a country of spoiled self centered self righteous idiots.

If this world or even just our country got rid of the military or even just changed their agenda into one of planting trees instead of bombing the environment their would be enough money to feed everyone, provide schools and hospitals with enough left over to give every child who didnt have one, in this country included, a bicycle. While we make war on countries, and we haven't had a war since world war two where anyone has attacked us, there will never be an end to poverty. The only real solution is to get rid of all the branches of the military and free up the money of their idiotic spending.

Answer 6

There are really too many ways to end poverty but in reality, we live in a capitalistic world. He who has and he who doesn't. People who do have have a Christian responsibility to share with those who don't. I think that if the govvernments would start enforcing a larger tax on persons who are multi-millionaires, they could potentially use the money to fund other programs for citizens of their country.

I think in this country in particular, where Congress and Senate get an annual cost of living raise, their raises should be eliminated and that extra money that affords them the luxuries that no one else has, could be used to fund training programs and help people get marketable and usable skills to join the work force.

Another idea is stop the wars. That one is self explanatory, war is money and so much money is being poured into wars that make absolutely no sense. When billions of dollars are being spent to kill people, then there is a problem, especially when it creates more poverty and destitution.

Another idea is having all of the leaders of the world forfiet their salaries. They are being well provided for by their government and should not have any other income. They chose to run for the position, they should not benefit hand over fist.

If people just started realizing how much stupid stuff they spend money on, then maybe it would help also. SOme people who are inpoverty are so becasue of bad choices for their finances. Although that is not the case for a large majority, it is for some especially in the United States.

Answer 7

Charity, dedication and creative thinking come a wee bit short of ending global poverty; which is a beautiful goal to achieve. Sadly, a more positive step towards gaining a small chance to ending this tragedy involves politics.

Let's take an even deeper look into the first three facets mentioned. Charity: Dozens of philanthropic organizations out there....some decades old--all with the common goal of ending global poverty. BILLIONS of dollars each year donated.....but they don't even make a dent into ending the poverty they set out to do. Why is that, oh how I sometimes wonder???

Dedication/Creative Thinking: Part of the United Nations "mission statement" (created well before the term became a politically correct darling), targets the eradication of world-wide poverty and human suffering. And each nation represented has a couple of pretty impressive, DISCREETLY run "think tanks" (allegedly including the U.S.; Bush's record notwithstanding). Surely with their political clout, muscle and resources--they too could have made some progress towards ending poverty planet wide, wouldn't you think??

Yet we still have on Earth, third world nations--some clueless they're in the 21st Century, where human existence is a living brazen nightmare.

Why?

Answer 8

Dr. Sachs, hopefully you are not the only person in your rank who feels that poverty levels are far beyond control. Poverty levels have been created by our government, who refuses to take notice. Eradicating poverty must come from those who created it... Being a man of your stature, You should be able to write another Senate/House Bill which might draw attention to this issue, but believe me, our government doesn't care. If they had cared, we wouldn't need you to ask for our solutions. However if you must... here are several solutions:
1) Eliminate governmental spending outside the USA.
2) Share the wealth among those who are living on $2.00.
4) Bring our troops back to protect our home fronts.
3) Eliminate the various classes; "rich, mid-level, poor"
5) Establish no more than 2 vehicles per family.
6) Eliminate prison luxuries; TV, pay phones, etc.
7) Once eliminating the above, there would be no need for State/County assistance (Section 8, food stamps, currently being requested by over one million people).
Poverty begins at home. Solutions begin at home. Until our government realizes this, poverty will continue until our death. Than the next generation will still have the same problem. Soilent Green was a movie to eradicate people, this might be the only solution... unless an Atomic bomb is directed and crashes into our earth, then no one will have to worry about poverty.

Answer 9

Well if the Earth's Population was shrunk to a representative 100 people...

57 would be Asian
21 would be European
14 would be from the Western Hemisphere
8 would be African

52 would be female
48 would be male

70 would be nonwhite
30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual

6 would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition

Pay close attention to the fact, "6 would possess 59? of the entire world's wealth, AND ALL 6 WOULD BE FROM THE UNITED STATES"

Inflation has played a critical role in making a LOT of people in the condition that they are in today. Corporate monsters, like Walmart and ExxonMobil (many many more) need to stop merging. When already large companies merge, millions of dollars that would be somewhere are suddenly displaced and basically thrown away. The merging of companies makes for less competition in some markets, and higher prices, which leads to less money for consumers (Economics 101).

Answer 10

I see you already have many answers to your question. I don't have time to read them all at this time, so I will probably repeat something.
As long as you have greedy people in this world, your question does not have an answer, because there isn't one. You cannot contribute something to something you have no control over.

Simply put, our government needs a major overhaul. That will not happen soon enough to save too many people. What in the hell do all the millionaires do with their money? Including the president of the United States? They all have money they could support a poor country on and never miss it. Get the point? There will always be poverty. You can talk about it forever and you are not going to change it.


TO Allie! What happens when you ship all these animals to poor countries? They could be sick, diseased or half dead. Then you want people to eat them. Would they go over dead or alive? Girl, that was a very poor and disgusting answer. The animals are better off getting a shot and going to sleep. Don't give the idiots that run this government any more half assed ideas, they do enough of that themselves.

Answer 11

Quit putting the word Dr. in front of a person's name for ********, and let them be paid the same amount as the person who cleans their office. They are both doing their job - why should one get more? Can a person help it if they were born dumb and with no talents?

If I am trying to make a point, I suppose it is start with yourselves. Look at what you do - how you operate from an economic and ethical perspective and ask - if everyone were doing this, would there be poverty in the world? If so, how bad would it be? I.e., if a person is trying to profit as much as possible at their neighbor's expense, someone's gonna do without.

Chrisitians look at the wrong part of the Bible - they quote what "Jesus" was telling Jews about 2000 years ago - will have the poor with you always etc. - seeming to use it as an excuse of sorts to justify the existence of poor people. The most relevant part of the NT is Acts chapter 4 & 5. Look at how the believers gave what they had to the congregation and held all things in common. No one these days is dropping dead for not doing that, so I would not blame a person for doubting if that ever happened - but that is the model for believers to follow from an economic perspective.

I agree to some extent we have to start at home, but frankly some places are blessed with abundant resources and some are virtual wastelands. Neither can everyone live in the good areas. So there has to be give & take - alot more giving from those places which have. People obviously should work to be productive wherever they are.

Yet in the real world, people do what they have to do to get by regardless of anyone else.