When Affluence is the problem, not Poverty

 

Money is the answer if poverty is the problem.

What if affluence is the problem

Then what is the answer

• Vipin Sharma

  Charity

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Vipin Sharma

     and what if the very affluence and consumption pattern of modernity is destroying climate and livlihoods and lives ?

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• Malavika Sidhanti

  Retribution of Redistribution...

  

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Malavika Sidhanti yes, till at least the last man has all the basic needs of nutrition, education, health and his well being.

    After that a gradation in possession is natural.

    But till the last man is fed and clothed adequately, each of us has that as our first answerability.

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• Yogasharan V S Prakash

  Confluence is the answer.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Yogasharan V S Prakash

     ideally. But its obviously not happening ?

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  • Yogasharan V S Prakash

    Aparna Krishnan

     . True. Happens in trickles .

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Yogasharan V S Prakash

     the disparity is growing far faster.

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• Uday Dandavate

  Embracing humility and frugality.

  

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• Sridhar Lakshmanan

  Modi ji

  

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• Vijay Chacko

  A room in each affluent house for the stranger and the hungry.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    In Utopia ...

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• Asha Kachru

  Try to become poor means live with less.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Asha Kachru no, we live in a miasma of fear, we grasp desperately at our material possessions.

    Not going to happen.

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• Paranthaman Sriramulu

  Corruption. Till corruption is there, nothing wont change. It is not as if there no schemes to tackle it. This is what given in AP PDS. Quality, Quantity is compromised for making money.

  

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Paranthaman Sriramulu Thats one point among many

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• Sameer Shisodia

  Abundance. V different from affluence.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Sameer Shisodia

     yes here I'm talking of affluence.

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  • Sameer Shisodia

    I meant abundance - the natural kind - is the cure for affluence  If everyone has enough of the basics, the anxiety around less/more will reduce. Building natural abundance is a major solution for much today.

    

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  Jataayu B'luru

  Viewing affluence as a problem is not a healthy mindset. Affluence is never a problem - it is a boon and blessing, if earned, maintained and utilized and shared in a Dharmic way. It is the corrupt influences and selfish attitudes that it brings along with it is the real problem. The Dharmic approach to solve that problem is to educate and guide the affluent persons to follow restraints in their consumptions and enjoyments, donate generously and share their bounty with others, especially the ones who are less fortunate. That is why giving (daana - दान - தானம்) is praised again and again repeatedly in Hindu Dharma.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Jataayu B'luru

     Please educate.

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Urgently. The stratosphere has been torn apart by the affluence and consumerism. The climate change has destroyed lives and livlihoods in my village.

    I suggest the 'education and guidance' be hastened. Otherwise there will be no one left to educate. 

    

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• Amit Soumya

  If money is the problem, poverty is the answer!

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    Aparna Krishnan

    Amit Bhatnagar

     you may be closer to the truth that you think ...

  
  
• 

  

   hers
• I called an auto as I was running very late. The auto driver said 50/- for the 2 km distance to the busstop. I got in.

  It was the standard rate. The 'fair' rate. After which one may make a magnanimous tip.

  This rate that would maintain him in his poverty, and me in my privilege. That would keep the class divisions unchallenged.

  That is how we have structured fairness in my country. Justice. Status quo.

In response to an earlier post of mine asking if affluence or poverty was the real problem someone made a post.

Saying that affluence was good, and only needed to be accompanied by charity.

The devil is always in the details. This was my response to thst post.

Two questions 1. Modern affluence is linked to modern consumerism. Air conditioners, cars, foreign vacations. Which has destroyed climate patterns, rain patterns. And liad waste lives and livlihoods in my village. And all villages.

How would you respond to affluence today, and defend it ?

2. Disparity has torn apart society. Malnourishment is rising as also reckless consumption. And this spectre is increasing.

What is the daanam that is needed today ? 50% ? More ? Less ?To address it realistically. An annual check made out to an NGO simply allows us to silence the uncomfortable conscience and go on

Islam and Sikhism have clear prescriptions on daanam. Hinduism does not, it leaves it at the pancha mahayagnas concept and leaves it to the thinking of the practitioner.

The thinking of the practitioners is usually very self serving, that is human nature.

Religion needs to rework itself for the times to stay socially meaningful and responsible.

3. Also, one more point, in times of utter poverty, how ethical is it to splash affluence in the faces of the poor ?

Paranthaman Sriramulu

Yesterday's poor are today's wealth hoarders. Today's world richest (most) came from humble backgrounds. Today's worst corrupt people are yesterday's badly affected people by corruption. Cycle

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  Aparna Krishnan

  Paranthaman Sriramulu doesn't answer my questions.

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• Paranthaman Sriramulu

  Aparna Krishnan

   There are no answers for many things. That is what my previous comment says.

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  Aparna Krishnan

  Paranthaman Sriramulu and yet we need to frame sn understanding for our actions on earth. To be alive is to be answerable.

A post suggesting that much as we question Modi or Ambani for their ommisions and commissions, we also need to question ourselves, our excesses. And how each of us is contributing to the world hurtling to disaster. By all our actions and inactions.

An indignant respondent asking how I dare compare her with greater violaters.

I did not reply. Some answers cannot be given.

They have to be seeked within.