Poverty

Bill Gates has said that poverty is one of the world’s worst problems, and that it is a consequence of the world’s civil wars and conflicts. While there is truth in that, I believe this comes from an approach which is economic and political. And it let’s him off the hook.

 say this because I believe it is first a moral problem. How can morality not be a fundamental issue in a world of so many dictators, plutocrats and autocrats and corrupt bureaucrats? How can morality not be fundamental when laws are made through the support of monied interests? How can morality not be fundamental when a handful of people hold most of the world’s wealth.

Many ordinary people give 10% of their income to charity, with no acknowledgment, and often out of their need. Wealthy individuals don’t so often do the same, yet have celebrity, naming rights and publicity. And it’s after they have met all of their needs to excess. CEO’s make exorbitant salaries while workers can’t live on their wages.

It’s common to justify these discrepancies on economic/business grounds, and morality gets swept under the table.

So kudos to Bill Gates for all his charitable work, but at least let’s be honest about the fundamental causes of poverty.