POVERTY: THE WORST FORM OF VIOLENCE

    Today, I’m going to reflect upon a subject about which most of us feel extreme discomfort.  It’s a subject that we’d rather put on hold so we can think more upbeat, “positive” thoughts.  It’s a subject that involves many disturbing aspects of how humanity creates and maintains today’s version of civilization.

 Poverty is not only a symptom of economic inequality, but is a tool that is used to maintain economic and political inequality. People who possess great wealth, also have the luxury of exercising great political power.  This is not a new proposition.  We only need to look at historical examples.  Royalty and elite classes of people in all parts of the globe have had the greatest influence over the destiny of people belonging to other classes.

Once a person possesses power over others, that person is loathe to relinquish even a small share of it.  The most obvious result of this hunger to maintain and increase power is the presence of warfare. This might manifest in wars against other groupings of people such as international conflict.  And it shows up in the need to control fellow members of the same tribe or nation.

This method of control is quite effective.  It’s strength comes from the primal, survival instincts of the human animal.  Observers know that when a person is poor, he or she must concentrate on acquiring adequate food and shelter for oneself and family.  There is less time for obtaining educational enlightenment nor philosophical thoughts.  Mental energies focus on survival.  If there are other thoughts, they are of the type that cultivate resentment and anger.  Overall, the impoverished person becomes “invisible” to the more prosperous members of a society.

Those people who do not starve to death sometimes formulate reactionary movements and revolutions. As a result, the individuals who enjoy the wealth and power, must suppress and defeat the revolutions.  This struggle has been going on for many centuries across the world. It becomes the battle between those who can purchase political influence and military strength against those people who have nothing left to lose.

It will take a patient and wise group of people to steer us away from the abyss of totalitarian domination in the world. With advancing poverty, the struggle of power versus ethical compassion will be more difficult.  In the meantime, we all must work towards the elimination of all forms of violence.

Poverty also severely affects the development of any country. So,Poverty is a disease that should be completely eradicated if a country wants to develop and prosper. Education should be given the top most priority. It is only when you educate an individual can he be in a better position to contribute for the development of himself as well as for the country. 

“What a weary time those years were–to have the desire and the need to live but not the ability.”–Charles Bukowski