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Poverty

By Lance Goddard

Poverty describes a state in which people are without money, possessions, or most importantly shelter and food. But the definition of poverty differs around the world. Certainly poverty in Canada cannot be defined along the same lines as poverty in Africa, South America, or Asia. Canada has a social safety net to ensure that people are supported if they find themselves at the bottom of the economic ladder. Some remain there because of mental health or addiction problems, but in many cases they are just content to accept welfare in lieu of making something of their lives. You can’t help those who don’t want to help themselves. Self-determination and community programs can assist in making a productive life for oneself. The success of the many immigrants who have come to Canada for a better life is a testament to that concept. Our country offers education, various forms of support and opportunity to those who are determined to improve their circumstances. It comes down to having the desire and the will to do so.

Poverty in Canada has become more of a political tool and a form of big business. Professional organizers use poverty as a means to push for political agendas that suit their desires. It behoves us to know who pays them to fight on behalf of the poor and what portion of the well intended donations is spent on the six figure salaries of the executives who head such organizations. Reduce the salaries and you’d find out how dedicated a lot of these executives are to the cause. There are a large number of charities in Canada which function as a big business. Poverty is quite the cottage industry in Canada.

In the Third World it is a completely different problem. Poverty in such regions literally means hunger and starvation, disease and death. What may be considered a poverty level income in Canada would be a fortune in many truly poor nations. Certainly the relative cost of living plays a major role, but the defining difference between the two is hope and opportunity.

The intent of this day is to gather the ideas of a great number of people to come up with a way to end poverty. While it is a noble idea, the elimination of poverty is impossible. This is not to say that we should not try to alleviate the suffering of the poor, but we should do so knowing that it is an endeavour without end. Since time immemorial poverty has existed. Therefore, where sincere, targeted effort and programs can be devised, pursue them. But to mindlessly throw money at a problem does not solve it.

In Third World countries we need to provide opportunity. There’s an old saying: give a man a fish, feed him for a day…teach a man to fish, and feed him for life. In addition to sending food, provide the practical help to create industry which will in turn create jobs and income. All this will generate an economy that will provide a growing tax base for the government to use to build infrastructure as well as a social service system. In doing so, we will create equal trading partners instead of paternalistically giving them handouts. The key to success is to be selective about which countries we help. Thus the effort and help will realize tangible results. But to ensure that such an economy flourishes, the government must be democratic and free of corruption (or to be realistic – they should be relatively free from corruption).

Sadly there are too many instances where food stuff has failed to reach the suffering poor because the army has redirected the shipments to their own storehouses or the food stuff has been allowed to rot on the docks because there was no organization set up for distribution. Also, how many of these countries have had hundreds of millions, nay, billions of dollars sent to them, with precious little impact. How many countries remain poor while their corrupt and despotic leaders fill their Swiss bank accounts with these well-meaning dollars? Now many of these countries are staggering under gargantuan debt, and the economic future of them is bleak. To create effective change, the corruption must end. If a poor country is to overcome its economic woes, it must be through the determination of the entire country. While celebrities like Bono would like to see Third World debt forgiven, that naive proposal will only lead to the same level of debt again within a few years as the same leaders will have a new credit line to steal from. A change in attitude in the leadership of these nations has got to be the start. Former despots who have robbed their countries’ treasuries should be held accountable and their bank accounts drained to overcome the debt that they created.

To help overcome poverty, help build something that will be self-sustaining. Consider the fine example of the late Paul Newman: instead of merely donating money, he created a company that generates funds for good causes, and will continue to do so for a very long time. Such a legacy should be the goal of everyone in the struggle to alleviate and hopefully in some cases eliminate poverty.

Lance Goddard has worked in television for more than 20 years. His previous Second World War history books with Dundurn, D-Day: Juno Beach, Canada’s 24 Hours of Destiny and Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands, May 1945, accompanied TV documentaries, which Lance also produced, and became instant bestsellers.

© 2008 Defining Canada.