Should we reduce the standard of living in the western world to help the poor?

Question

I mean I agree that we share resources more fairly but do we have to reduce the standard of living to help them?

Answer 1

Did you know that the entire region of Europe spent over billions of dollars on ice-cream alone?
Now imagine if the whole region decided to donate that amount instead, and sacrifice the sweet taste of ice-cream.
Now that money is sent to a poor region, and all those kids there might actually taste something sweet in life!

My point here is that we don't need to reduce our own standard or living, everybody just has to chip in a little of their own money into a donation box or a charity organization.
It might seem like nothing, but every bit counts :)

Answer 2

Not necessarily the standard of living, but the standard of consumption.
Some people may have trouble as they tend to equate the two.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the world, and particularly the industrialised nations, have been living on capital, not income, as far as the planet's resources are concerned.

"Unsustainable" is the.word we're looking at here.
On food, on mineral resources, on water...

At rough estimate (See below) I'm using just over twice my fair share of the planet. And I'm better than the average Briton, and that's less than the average American.

If we don't cut back, our grandchildren are going to hate us.
And we're the fortunate rich ones.

And yes, there are those who need more resources and money.
But overall, I think we have too many people.

If we don't manage this well, natural forces will manage it for us, horrifically.

Answer 3

Of course not, because all nations want a high level of living. But we must all look at how materialistic the Western world has become. We all want, want, want and it is sad to watch. But, that doesn't mean I will not buy something that I admire and need, just to send money to China.
Other nations must help themselves; We send foreign aid to many places, usually not even known to we taxpayers. We subsidize many nations, who are not trying to take care of themselves.
Example: recently Pakistan. And we are told to help Africa, but the one President's wife forbids men to use condoms to help eleviate Aids. Men are not being taught to use discipline in their sex life, and then we are made to feel guilt that we Americans are not helping them to wipe out Aids.
We need to help those who need help, who are participating in their own advancement, not riding our backs.
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, he eats forever. That is my philosophy, and I help many people, but on a one to one basis.
I will not ever have two of anything; when I had an extra bike I gave it to a family that had no means to buy one bike. I didn't have to go across the Ocean to help anyone; there is plenty of need here in America.
Reduce the standard of living? sadly, I know of many in California who have nothing, and they are Americans, not illegal Mexicans (a whole other story).
I'll use my education to further my life so I don't have to have others help me; I also will use what I have to help others who have little. But I will never reduce my standard of living,because I have worked 2 and 3 jobs to get what I have.
Another saying I like is: "Don't do for someone what they can do for themselves" because we make them dependent on us and they always keep the hand out for a handout. No, we need to only look at why we overspend in USA, but not reduce our way of life
Bottom line: We need to be disciplined, but not unaware of those who would take from us because we are undisciplined.

Answer 4

The gap beween the rich and middle class continues to grow.

The gap between the 3rd world and the "comfortable" WEST is shrinking!

Take 20 minutes to re-educate yourself to the truth.

See link below!

Answer 5

reduce the standard of living of the filty rich to starters, dont just take $1000 dollars from every citizen, homeless to bill gates

Answer 6

No.
In the Western World, we and our ancestors have worked hard & worked smart to get what we have. We in the US have been VERY generous with foreign aid, scholarships for foreigners, favorable trading terms, rebuilding efforts, disaster relief, and so on, only to receive hatred and terrorism in return.
If anything, we should withdraw all aid that we are giving and improve our own standard of living....fight poverty and illiteracy and hunger at home, rather than in foreign nations who hate us and destroy our images and icons.

Answer 7

that isn't necessary. There is enough for everybody. Working our Chinese brethern at slave wages isn't the answer to making the West wealthy. Paying a decent world wage will create wealth.

Answer 8

Thats right...Now go and ask Bill Gates...

Answer 9

Absolutely! No question about it. If we can't understand that, if we can't DO that, we are NOT human beings deserving of the title.

Answer 10

explain how that helps them first.