Poverty will never end Bono... just because there will be always lazy people in the world. Do you agree?

Question

That's well intentioned, no doubt about it, but utopic.
I live in South America and there has always been people without any type of ambition who only thinks about having kids to make them work for them.
Why do they deserve better if they never work?
Maybe is hard for people in the US to imagine that, but is true.
Just imagine 50% of your population trying to live on Wellfare, no economy would resist that!
The proof of that is this new wave of left-handed governments like Chávez, Morales, Lula, Kirchner, Tabaré, Bachelet, etc

Answer to ''john n'' :

I'm a farmer also, so I know much better than you.
And I've traveled the world also.
First of all, where in the world did you get that idea that all US farmers have irrigation?
That's only common in semidesertic areas such as TX, NM, parts of Colorado, west of KS, etc.
And besides, I wasn't talking about farmers, because they do work, I was talking about millions of people, mostly living in cities, that are just hoping for someone to come and solve all their necessities and never do anything about it.

Answer to WBrian 28:

If you want facts, just come here and see.
I said I live in South America by the way.
Why don't you try and put an ad in the newspaper soliciting workers for a fair salary, with medical insurance, etc and see how many respond?
Not many will show up!!!!
They prefer to recieve a third part of that as a subsidie and just stay home.
That's a fact!!!

Answer 1

With all due respect the religious institutions love poverty...remember that the bible told us to be fruitful and multiply. Religious leaders took that literally and encouraged large families to grow and flourish (unfortunately they don't necessairly flourish). Why...more people to FOLLOW, BE CONTROLLED, POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTE (many of those impovershed people still find a way to give to the Church or other religious institution despite it meaning that they may/might go hungry--why? God will provide them a better life--what a crock), and BELIEVE. Poverty is more a result of overpopulation than of lazy people. Society simply hasn't the resources to provide for everyone. As we continue to multiply the poverty rate will increase and unfortunately the rift between "haves" and "have nots" will widen also.

Answer 2

Bono's vision might well be utopic, but yours is simplistic and lacks compassion.
Bono has been around the world and I would bet has a better idea of what's going on than you do. When an African farmer's crop has failed due to drought and his family is starving you blame the farmer for being lazy.
The truth is that the world only has so many resources, and the way that resources are divided is a major problem. If the African farmer had an irrigation system like that of almost any farm here in North America, he wouldn't have a problem.
Whether Bono's vision is utopic or not is immaterial. He is leading a fight on behalf of the "have nots" and I commend him for that. At least he isn't wallowing in a lake of complacency like yourself.

Answer 3

I wouldn't talk too much. Considering those people have only been free to work for 12 years and that the South African economy, while strong for its region, is not exactly what I'd tall a top-tier economy. And considering 1/3 of them have HIV, that makes it a little harder for them to work, especially since medications are not reaching them to allow them to function regularly.

You can speak anecdotally because you live there, but I don't see you using or presenting any facts to back up your "laziness" point. Are employers in South Africa so desperate for workers that they're paying $10 / hour for basic service jobs? Are there really that many jobs available in South Africa? Or is the 40% unemployment rate made up?

Again, give me facts, not just opinions and we can talk. Otherwise, you just sound like you're makin' sh!t up based on a couple of observations you've made. Unless you've traveled to all the townships and talked to a decent sample of those without work, your own personal observations are nothing more than anecdotes, which are fine - but not enough to base an entire argument on.

Answer 4

There is no laziness in the fight for survival. Birth rates are higher in undeveloped third world countries due to the lack of adequate education for families, birth control, and mortality rate. Maybe that family cannot survive if they don't have their children or grandchildren out scavaging for money or a bite to eat. Even if you could employ and train them all you would still not address the problem. Extreme poverty and over population need to be curbed before it becomes a crisis situation, then it is only a bandaid to offer help. Just look at Somalia or places in drought stricken areas in Africa. I agree there will always be poverty even in the U.S. but we need to prevent real starvation crises from occurring.

Answer 5

I agree. I think that despite human beings being the most intellectual animals on the planet, we may also be the dumbest.

Answer 6

I agree, poverty has been around for hundreds of years. You can reduce it but the world will not be without poverty

Answer 7

I agree with you.

They don't deserve anything if they can't get off their butt to work for it like everyone else.

Answer 8

sry jose* i guess bono does not have time for cracker rednecks like you.......besides if your racist and u are why have a name like jose*?

Answer 9

look at mexico
why work when you can't fail

Answer 10

yup, like u