The next channel I discovered had a very different show. This show was talking about the 1.3 billion people currently living without clean drinking water. They discussed all of the complications this creates. Sore throats, burning throats and eyes, stomaches and headaches. Usually in impoverished areas, with men working, women or children must make a dangerous trek, which often takes a complete day, to get clean water. That's if you want to call it clean water. The water usually contains human and animal urine and feces. Of course, often the women and children have to wait for hours or fight for what little clean water their is.
These are just the minor problems created by the situation. There is often not enough water to feed livestock, and without lifestock the family often has no way to support itself. And because the children must go get the water and do other chores, they aren't able to attend school. If you are lucky enough to have a school in your area. And of course, lastly, without water diseases are much more difficult to treat. This would already be a major problem, but it is much greater because the contaminated water creates disease pandemics.
I'm so glad that some people have time to obsess over who is wearing what. I'm so glad that some people can afford to spend millions on a dress or diamond bracelet. To be able to shop the hot designer and get advice on which piece of million dollar jewelry should be thrown out I'm so glad that the night is focused on things like this. Then kids know what's important. When they find out what is important maybe they can find a few dollars to donate to charity after they spend most of their cash on the popular, expensive clothes at the mall. It's alright though, I just hope we don't have another episode like the Chris Brown-Rihanna one. That is a much bigger scandal than how billions are dying an suffering because rich westerners exploit their money and resources, like the millions of gallons of water everyday they simply waste.
The same day, I saw on television how President Obama and the country's governors are holding a dinner at the White House. The dinner includes a lavish buffet dinner. It also includes entertainment by Earth, Wind, and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John, along with the Marine Corps Band. By all accounts, it's expected to be a night of grandeur and luxury. Of course, it's not anything different from what Republicans have done.
Millions of Americans are losing their jobs, can't find work, can't afford health insurance, and can't afford to put themselves through school. They are living pay check by paycheck. And we have the president spending millions on a dinner? What is it that politicians don't get? Why do politicians think they need these expensive parties? Paid for, by the way, by the taxpayers right now who are struggling to get control of their finances. Everyone is so upset about the excesses of corporate executives. But for some reason this is okay. I'm sure people don't mind throwing their hard-earned money at events like these. Just look at the record-low approval ratings. Call me crazy, but perhaps they could have just one of the entertainers. Would that be so terrible? I've been pretty pleased with the Obama administration. I don't like the stimulus package and I don't know why Obama keeps talking down the economy -which clearly hurts both trading and banking- but besides that I've been happy with the things he's done. (Though I haven't paid attention to every single detail) But in this situation, this seems like anything but change we can believe in.
I don't mind money or all the things that come with it. Not at all. Everybody would like to have those things. But it is OUTRAGEOUS how out of touch some people are, especially some politicians and celebrities.
2 comments:
I agree with you in part and disagree with you in part, Jordan. Let me explain.
I wholeheartedly agree that many, if not most, Americans are unaware of the plight of the impoverished abroad—or they simply do not care. That is a tragedy. Correspondingly, I agree that Americans should sacrifice more to donate to worthwhile causes abroad, be more thankful for what they have, and so forth.
However, I also think that aid has a very mediocre record for improving the lives of those in the Third World; what we need is not aid but development and a demographic transition toward lower population growth.
Americans wasting water isn't affecting the water shortages abroad; it's not as though we can feasibly transport unwasted water to Africa. Instead, per Malthusian principles, population growth in Subsaharan Africa and the drier regions of Asia continues to stretch water resources to the subsistence level.
Likewise, an American spending millions on a necklace or thousands on a high-priced dress aren't really worsening the plight of the impoverished abroad, because most of the price of those luxury items is profit to the supplier, and thus represents a transfer of wealth rather than an allocation of productive resources toward those goods. Most of the huge price is instantly transfered to another party who could just as easily give that to the poor. Thus, the problem is not high-priced luxury goods; it is simply the unwillingness most people have toward charitable giving.
And while I agree that we don't need government spending on concerts and feasts for politicians, I don't connect those with the business cycle.
I don't disagree with your thoughts that "demographic transition" is very important, probably moreso than aid. And I do think that methods of aid need to be changed as well.
And I agree that Americans wasting water individually worsens the situation or buying luxury items affects the business cycle. But in my mind, that not the point. The point is what's right and wrong, and I think such excess is just wrong. And for politicians to take money from people who are struggling right now and use it on something they don't need is ridiculous. Such luxury is just not needed.
Though Western exploitation (on many fronts) may not individually hurt third-world (or second-world) countries, I think it's wrong when the collective actions of the Western world do. Therefore, individual actions are part of the problem.
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