Do you think the most powerful countries in the world should help the poorest ones?

Question

I mean obviosuly most of americans, canadians, europeans are born in countries where they don't have so many problems getting a good job or lifestyle, but if you go to some place like Africa, you will realize that the life there is pretty different and that a lot of people who are actually spending a lot of $$$ in big mansions, expensive clothes, cars and unnecesary things (not really "essentials to life") don't even think that they acually could save a life with all that money.

"jacky" i think you misunderstood my question

Answer 1

If you want to help africans, stop sending your money to africans. The first step to poverty is when people start spending money that doesn't make more money in return.

"Men have been taught that the highest virtue is not to achieve, but to give. Yet one cannot give that which has not been created. Creation comes before distribution- or there will be nothing to distribute. The need of the creator comes before the need of any possible beneficiary. Yet we are taught to admire the second-hander who dispenses gifts he has not produced above the man who made the gifts possible. We praise an act of charity. We shrug at an act of achievement."

Now ask yourself, who has made it possible for more people to regularly feed themselves, Microsoft or Mother Theresa?
Hint: of the people whom they help, who are still poor?

Answer 2

I think that the wealthier people/nations have an obligation to help those who are less so. The problem is: "How?"

It's simple enough to see how one could help one person, but that type of assistance is limited and short lived. One complication is that many (but not all) of the poorer countries are kept that way by corrupt governments, who maintain their power by siphoning off of the aid that is given to that country. Another factor is that these countries have little or no sustainable way, such as exporting goods, to create wealth.

The real key to alleviating poverty is to give the people/nations access to the world marketplace and governments that encourage people to prosper.

Answer 3

I assume when you say powerful you mean rich.

I generally agree with you, but there are two concerns I have.

First, I don't think the country should be helping to such an extent that it threatens the welfare of the country. I think that is the concern about illegal immigration. I don't know if illegal immigration is to that extent, but I see it as a possibility.

Also, I dislike the idea that it is the job of the rich countries to do it. Often when you start giving handouts, the takers become resentful and start expecting it. I think that is one of the US's problems. We've become so involved in world politics that if anything happens, we are expected to fix it. Just about any conflict or disaster falls to us. I think this mentality is actually crippling others.

Answer 4

There are a good few underlying problems that influence symptoms such as people buying excessive things they do not need that will not make them happy.
Of course powerful countries should help the poorest ones. Firstly, even the most powerful people would be happier if they gave up luxuries and focussed on essentials of life (relationships, keeping healthy and increasing lifespan, improving creative hobbies like music/writing/art and other forms of individual expression)...sure being rich may signify a competitive person but original art (in any form including scientific invention) signifies this and individuallity. Think of this also: there will always be people richer than you even if you are incredibly wealthy in any nation, it is not a game you can win, being original is.

Secondly, think of how productive people from, say, third world countries could be. Someone given a decent chance to be educated from a third-world country could concoct a solution to solve global warming or create a cure for cancer. And we'll never know unless we give them resources to have the chance to be creative.

Lastly, look at global trade. Places like China and India are sprouting up as being more productive, in many ways, than the US (especially, say, all the IT offshoring in Bangalore). Just as women are being hired more equally to men nowadays (because companies do not want to lose against companies who can choose among a larger pool of skilled workers by including women), people from second and sometimes even third world countries are showing the rest of the world how much ingenuity they are missing by not including them in the economy.


Short(er) summary: a completely educated population world-wide improves the overall quality of life for everyones: essential fields like medicine, health, and arts are diversified and improved while excessive and fairly useless ones (such as building gigantic mansions or even large houses that take 5 times the resources/utilities/global-warming-electricity-sources to maintain as, say, portable homes) are eliminated.

We need to help third-world countries by exporting things like good teachers and businesses for the educated students to eventually work in, not things like food or money the rich tyrants who often rule the countries will take for themselves or, even if they make it through to the poor, will only provide temporary relief and still force dependency on powerful countries to keep sending more food/money almost indefinitely. It's NOT as simple as "saving a life", it's getting the right resources and opportunities as people under basic human rights, that they can use to educate and save themselves.

Answer 5

I think that prosperous countries could greatly help poorer countries, not by throwing them a fish, but by teaching them how to fish for themselves. Simply by sharing information.
"To those that are given much, much is expected"
Or something like that.

Answer 6

I dont think the most powerful nations should help the poorest. I think the richest should help the poorest. I think it is completely insane that some people have more money than they could ever spend in their lifetime and don't donate much more if it.

Answer 7

yeah, right, i will stop caring about my own children and start caring about children in africa. how dumb is that

Answer 8

robin hood ,robin hood and his merry men lol.