Hi Bob,

I really don't think that your suggestion is in ANY way the solution to the problem of poverty.

I do think, though, that it is heavily promoted by the rich and powerful as being THE SOLUTION.
My strong hunch is that this give the rich and powerful huge benefits while costing them the minimum of disruption and giving them the maximum of continued 'comfort'.

The most obvious 'benefit' is that it totally deflects any work on the CAUSE of the poverty, focusing instead on addressing the symptom(s). This means that the rich and powerful can continue to do as they do unfettered by inquiry into practises and policies and profit levels and such.

A secondary benefit is that tiny bits of 'progress' on the part of those aiming to help a poor soul are viewed as monumental achievements. This has the effect of us learning to accept GENERALLY as great victory any teensie move in the right direction by the rich and powerful.

The rich and powerful have a curious capability to accept credit for things they actually pay other people to do. They of course use that as their contribution to the good fight.

We really shouldn't allow ourselves to be sucked in by this. It's all part of the master plan for the rich and powerful to get richer and more powerful, and nothing more.

regards


>I hope you don't mind me joining in with a simple comment, re. poor in the world. Thoreau said "for every hundred hacking at the leaves of the problems in the world, there is only one going to the roots." (please forgive the terrible paraphrase). The central question is...why are there poor? And, there is no single answer. Greed has a big part of it. Lack of freedom is another, and the list can go on and on...
>
>I would suggest that the way to solve the problem of the poor is for all of us to do something. Give, teach, encourage, help, instead of just talking about it. I personally can't solve world hunger. But I can do something for the people in my neiborhood who need help.
>
>Bob Bartel
>
>
>>>I'm not a religious person myself but I find it very ironic that rich Republicans often use the Bible to suggest that homosexuality is 'evil'. Yet they ignore the clear Bible passage "It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven". Obviously this passage is in the bible because even back then there was not enough to go around and the rich would eat while the poor would starve.
>>
>>This passage does not mean that it is sinful to be wealthy. In fact, you will find rich Christians mentioned in the Bible. For example, Nicodemas and Joseph of Arimethea were rich and were also Christian.
>>
>>
>>>>Well America is a very rich country, the richest, AND this year 35 million people from other parts of the world will die from starvation while we eat well. Apparantly the wealthy in America must think there is an exception for them in the Bible or they don't believe in the Bible and they only bring up the Bible when it suits their argument.
>>
>>There will always be poor, and you can never do enough. Note Jesus' response to a criticism of a supposed opportunity to feed the poor was 'wasted' (Matthew 26:6-13). That said, we (Americans/Christians) should do more.
>>
>>>>How many politicians are willing to live like Jesus lived and take a vow of poverty for example? I find I can find out quickly how serious someone is about their religious beliefs when you start talking about vows of poverty. A vow of poverty is LITERALLY putting your money where you mouth is!
>>
>>The Bible does not teach that one should take a "vow of poverty." It only says one is to give 10% and be cheerful about it. I do think it strongly implies that one is to go beyond that if they can, but not to the point of poverty.