Politicians often talk about child poverty. Do they REALLY understand this word or do they use it for EFFECT?

Question

I have been to some really poor and deprived areas of the Philippines twice. Some of you will have seen Red Nose Day or Live 8 or similar and seen the conditions of the street kids and those who live on/near rubbish tips and the temporary shanty 'towns' with no running water, no electricity, TV etc and sometimes only the clothes they stand up in. I'm sure I'm not the only ones but this, to me, is the meaning of TRUE poverty. People in the UK simply don't understand the meaning of the word. I do NOT believe there is child poverty in the UK. Hardship, low incomes, those on the breadline, sure. Life is hard. I'm long term unemployed myself and living from day to day trying to get full time paid work and doing voluntary work in the meantime.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long but would love to hear people's views on this. Am I talking nonsense or do you agree with me that this is just politicians trying to get more votes or give the impression that they are doing something?

What is the question, 'I don't know'? ... It is stated quite clearly I thought at the end of my post? To quote -

" Am I talking nonsense or do you agree with me that this is just politicians trying to get more votes or give the impression that they are doing something?"

Answer 1

Politicians are responsible for their own countries before any other. Though the poverty might not be as bad, their responsibility is to their constituents and their own counrties problems first and foremost. Don't get me wrong, it is very very sad that wealthier countries could make such a huge difference and don't. Think about the difference the us could have made in that respect if we had given all of the money spent on the iraq war to poverty stricken countries. explore this website... it's different than what you're talking about but it helps demonstrate the point. look at what could have come out of the money wasted

http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

Answer 2

Most politicians or even all of them start out with good intentions when they become an MP but by the time they get there with all the trappings of freebies / expenses / etc they forget why they are there to represent the people who elected them into office. They are soon just out for themselves and to squeeze as much money as possible out of the system into their pockets. They line their own pensions and pockets and forget they started out to help the underpriveledged. They do things for effect so that the public think they are doing something to help the poor but in reality they are just making sure they get another term in office to fill their pockets for another year.

Answer 3

You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the real state of poverty in the world. In the United States politicians use children to tug at the heartstrings of the people and get votes. They never come with a solution, only the problem. The solution is to get out of their parents way and allow them to become the people that they are fated to become. To use children to line one vote column on election day is the worst kind of scam going in America.

Answer 4

They have no idea about poverty. If they did there would be none. Its talk its spin and its a disgrace. The world has the resources to take children out of poverty it just does not have the political will.

Answer 5

Politicians know the word, know what it means but will never give up their second home and any part of their wage packet to help it.

Answer 6

They just talk about it to get elected but once in office they don't DO anything about it cause they still buy nikes made in sweat shops in China.

Answer 7

So what exactly is the question?