Poverty and Profits

When you teach a man how to fish, he can feed himself for a lifetime. However, if you simply give him a fish, it doesn't have a lasting impact. He ends up with the fish, but you don't gain anything meaningful from it. It's not a significant story. So, it's important to understand the true value of teaching someone a skill rather than just providing them with a temporary solution.

Poverty is a powerful motivator that inspires people to strive for success. 

The idea that poverty is solely the result of personal fault is a common belief. It suggests that individuals are lazy, lacking motivation, and have a negative mindset. Some people believe that if others were taught certain skills, they could escape poverty. This belief is often used to criticize and belittle others.

In American culture, there is a popular myth that suggests the poor are in their socioeconomic position because they deserve it. According to this myth, anyone can overcome their circumstances. Therefore, if someone is born into poverty and fails to escape it, it is seen as a moral failure. It is believed by many in the U.S. that people generally receive what they deserve and it is acceptable if some individuals deserve very little.

You may have noticed this phenomenon on motivational Instagram pages. There, you'll often see cartoons of this nature, with comments below expressing harsh judgments and suggesting population control. It's puzzling to see such a high number of genocide comments on a simple cartoon.

Some people believe that poverty cannot be solved and is a constant part of reality. They think that the best approach is to inspire individuals, and if they lack motivation, they should accept the consequences. Additionally, these false beliefs are frustrating.

I understand the appeal, but it is important to consider the consequences. By working harder, one may feel a sense of accomplishment and superiority. However, this mindset disregards the responsibility we have towards others. It allows us to disengage from political issues and ignore the guilt we feel when confronted with homelessness. This perspective is based on falsehoods. Poverty and inequality are prevalent in the 21st century due to systemic factors, not because individuals are lazy or lack work ethic. They are a direct result of prioritizing consistent profit over the well-being of all individuals.

Individual poverty cannot be solely attributed to lack of motivation. Historical data and statistics indicate that individuals often remain within the social class they were born into due to factors that are beyond their control. 

Poverty exists even if everyone works every day, as long as profit drives employment decisions. It's easy to prove that poverty isn't due to lack of motivation or bad decisions. Periodically, a group of people falls into poverty randomly. 

During recessions, more people become poor and the poverty rate increases. It is difficult for experts predict when a recession will occur and which sectors will be most affected. In the next recession, there is a possibility that your workplace may lack the revenue necessary for your employment, regardless of your efforts.

During the pandemic, the wealthiest individuals saw a significant increase in their fortune. The 10 richest men in the world doubled their wealth, making approximately $15,000 per second in just over a year. It is unlikely that they worked twice as hard as they did in previous years. Economic circumstances and government support contributed to their increased wealth.

Some worked hard, but others didn't. Their wealth came from their class position and luck, not their effort. Many poor people are poor due the business cycle, a feature of capitalism.

The 10 richest people in the world were able to increase their wealth due to their advantageous position before a crisis. Economic decline leads to a sudden increase in poverty and inequality. Living under capitalism means experiencing stagnancy and frequent market crashes. 

In typical times of economic growth, the reserve army of labor, a Marxist term, refers to the unemployed individuals who could and would be willing to work but are kept unemployed for the purpose of maintaining capitalist bargaining power.

In some cases, a portion of the population remains unemployed in order to create a sense of job insecurity among those who are currently employed. This strategy serves the interests of employers, as it discourages workers from advocating for measures that could lead to full employment or improve the conditions of unemployment. These measures may include a job guarantee, limits on weekly working hours, or a comprehensive welfare.