For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
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Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#2This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day.
Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality.
If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. This is incredibly unjust.
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#3This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day. Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality. If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. Thi…
> Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality.
What is your time-scale? And what would constitute "significant progress"? For all the wars and all the Sudans that we still have left in the world, I still think we are in much better shape than the Romans. Or Feudal Japan. Or XVIII century France.
I remain optimistic.
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#4This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day. Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality. If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. Thi…
"Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day."
Simply untrue. http://rs.resalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/worldin...
"Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress"
http://www.gapminder.org/world/ (hit "Play")
"This is incredibly unjust."
"To help clarify the matter, get rid of everyone else and put our worker on a desert island, hunting and gathering fruit. If he's bad at it he'll work very hard and not end up with much food. Is this unfair? Who is being unfair to him?"
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#5Indeed. Couple of optimistic talks at TED that shows that on an 'average' it IS getting better.
http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violen...
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_o...
However, the 24/7 news cycle drums up everything that is negative and hence most of "feel" that it is getting worse.
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#6This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day. Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality. If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. Thi…
The problem is that we don't have a real notion how to change it in a large scale, we allready pure tons of money into poor countries but it does not really help (alot of times it even hurts). Alot of people feel like you but nobody has an idea how to help. Do you?
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#7This is all bullshit, capitalism sucks, everyone needs to slow down and live a little.
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#8This is all bullshit, capitalism sucks, everyone needs to slow down and live a little.
I find it disgusting that you could even try talk of capitalism in a good light. I'm sure citizens would also find it absolutely degrading.
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#9This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day. Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality. If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. Thi…
The fact that there are almost 10 billions people alive on this Earth prove otherwise. The population would not flourish if everyone was poor and starving. It's pretty obvious that the world is getting richer and the poors are getting richer no matter what the gap between the poors and the richs is. Now "poor" people in the US have internet access and mobile phones. Come on !
Re: For the first time ever, the number of poor people is declining everywhere
#10This is a tiny change. Almost half of the world still lives for less than $2.00 per day. Amazing that we can look at those statistics and think that there is significant progress or not be distressed by the inequality. If you honestly assess this fact that almost half live for less than $2.00 per day versus the "first world" consumption then you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that civilization is a myth. Thi…
Your premise is faulty and following through on it could doom the poor of the world to continued poverty.
First world consumption isn't something that's done at the expense of the 3rd world, it's something that sends money and skilled jobs to the developing world to help them bootstrap their way to wealth. Look at china, south korea, taiwan, etc. these countries have climbed out of 3rd world poverty by being "exploited" by the 1st world and have become developed and increasingly affluent. South Korea, for example, is rapidly becoming a 1st world nation. Would that more countries followed those examples.