Isn't starvation & poverty inevitable and just a matter of scarcity?

Question

Celebrities always ask about saving needy children. This has been the spotlighted topic it seems. It's important to aid the needy, I agree, but whose really responsible for them?

First, I'm going to ask you: If parents have a child, but can't support that child are they irresponsible? If we're talking about a teenager in the US then the immediate answer is yes. So why then does noone think of the parents in third world countries as irresponsible? It is more their fault than anyone else in the worlds for bringing them into existence.

Starvation & poverty is the worlds way of saying, I'm reaching my population limit. The world can only sustain so many people, and with a growing population there has to be starvation, and poverty somewhere eventually. It's a matter of economics and scarcity.

Letting nature run its course may not be the humane decision, so here's my real question:
Shouldn't the solution be for these people in third world countries to STOP having babies?

It's kind of a darker way of thinking some may think at first, but it's just reality. So don't be a troll and accuse me of being a cold hearted American fed by the silverspoon - because you don't know me.

So by some of your rationale: We should help them because they're under an incapable government?

Historically countries and nations that couldn't support themselves have fallen. Only in recent centuries has everyone become all carebear-like. By intervening, aren't we just extending the duration of the problem? I don't think you can blame foreign governments for their peoples individual decisions.

Answer 1

Poverty is caused by the uneven distribution of economic activity and capitalism, not overpopulation. It would be an awfully slippery ethical slope for developed nations to start deciding that less-developed people shouldn't reproduce... instead, we should make birth control information and supplies (condoms, the pill, etc.) available to these people if they SO CHOOSE to use it. The key is that it has to be their choice. And then we should help countries become economically viable. A rising tide (of economic prosperity) floats ALL boats.

And to answer your question about helping them because they have bad governments... OUR OWN economy gets stronger as more and more countries prosper and can buy the goods we produce. So yeah, it's in our own self interest to help out.

Answer 2

Starvation and poverty are not a matter of scarcity. There is enough food to feed everyone in the world. Starvation is a matter of war, civil strife, and culture. War and civil strife make it difficult to grow your own crops, difficult to earn a living, and difficult to distribute food. The culture of a society may also cause or contribute to starvation. A society which values people differently will turn a blind eye to the needs of the less valued.

Many years ago the US was concerned about starvation in Ethiopia. War caused people to constantly re-locate. This made it difficult to grow crops. When a long period of drought occured millions of people starved. The military commandeered food donations to keep the army strong. The US government sent money to build roads. The thought was that this would improve the infrastructure and employ people who would then be able to buy food. Corrupt Ethiopian officials wouldn't hire starving widows or orphans because widows and orphans are considered worthless in that society. The officials didn't care if widows and orphans died.

So long story short - Will having fewer children eradicate starvation and poverty? No. Only a concern for the well being of all members of society will erradicate these problems.

Answer 3

it's really morality vs. nature...

just letting people die when you have more than enough would be considered immoral by many... even though it may be inevitable to some degree...

it could be a severe drought has led to starvation (which is no one's fault), or a corrupt government or any number of reasons...

the real issue is the value of human life... if you look at it as expendable, then your theory works... people will die so why bother fighting it...

but my nation (America that is) and morality was really founded on the value and sanctity of human life... leaving no man behind...

but to say "stop having babies" is naive... you're talking about HUNDREDS OF ISSUES IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES... which you seem to clearly have no idea about since you're just lumping them all into this ridiculously over simplistic point...

starvation is a problem in some places... even in the U.S. some people starve to death... and we're not third world...

there are so many assumptions you make, it's ridiculous... they have no education to guide them... they have no social structure... basically they don't know what you know, and haven't lived the life you have lived, so they wouldn't just "do what you would do"...

Answer 4

I agree that birth control might help,but blaming the parents is not the answer.Not all countries are as great as the USA.In some of these countries the government is to blame.There are dictators,civil wars , bad religions,drug lords and more.Normally you don't have these problems in free countries.The reason why is that there is plenty of countries to help if there are no road blocks.
By the way ,Mc slappy, you might want to check you facts.Most countries that have a starvation problem are not capitalist.Most are controlled by evil governments that don't allow capitalism.

Answer 5

Typical tribal societies had very little stratification in needs and wealth. The tribe might occasionally hit some starvation times, but they'd all be in it together.

Capitalistic societies tend to exemplify the "survival of the fittest" principle, in that those at the bottom tend to stay there, and those at the top tend to siphon off the common wealth.

So, I guess it's up to you to decide which is more "natural" or desired.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Sho Nuff, but dat dont stop me from brekin some windows an gettin me a TV. Cause when I be hungry I wants some tv.

Answer 8

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Subject: TAXES

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ***

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
'Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me
to my doom..."

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax,
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense
Inventory tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road usage taxes
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usa ge surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class
in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
And I still have to "press 1" for English.
I hope this goes around the world 10 times

Answer 9

Some of them have never been instructed in birth control. Many of them have governments that forbid information about birth control. If you're saying that because they're poor they should never have sex, you're discounting a great deal of human nature.

Answer 10

Yes. It is irresponsible for a starving person to have a child.