What is poverty? Some say it is living pay check to pay check without being able to treat themselves to something nice while others only classify poverty as having no food or shelter. Through the years, world hunger and poverty has increased. Peter Singer, from the New York Times Magazine, writes in a very thought provoking manner about his solution to world poverty using bizarre examples to guilt his readers into donating money overseas. He states U.S citizens should use their extra money or savings to help the poor worldwide instead of using it on themselves. There are many parts in Singer’s solution that are agreeable, but certain ideas are a bit extreme.
Singer uses intense and somewhat moving examples to convince his readers to donate money to third world countries. He comes off a bit intimidating and provokes thought when he says,“ if the upshot of the American’s failure to donate money is that one more kid dies on the streets of a Brazilian city, then it is, in some sense just as bad as selling the kid to organ peddlers”(page2).
In a sense Singer makes a point, not doing anything at all is wrong, but it cannot be compared to handing a child over to die. He tries to build guilt on his readers, either you donate money or you kill a poor innocent child. How much more extreme can he get?
The Essay on Singer Solution to World Problems
If you discovered a pill that would cure AIDS, would you share it? If you discovered a magical bean that could diminish starvation, would you plant it? What about buying one less cup of designer coffee or that pair of shoes because they are on sale? Would you be able to give up something insignificant in order to give someone the most precious gift of all, life? Peter Singer argues, we all have a ...
What Singer failed to explain in detail is where all the money being donated will be sent to and who will be receiving it. How can the donor be sure the person in need is actually receiving all the money being sent? He should have emphasized on how exactly “$200 in donations would help a sickly 2 year old transform into a healthy 6 year old”(page3).
Surely many people sending money overseas would like to know where exactly their money is going, and how it is being used to help a sick child get better. Singer should have focused on the details of the people in need and why they are in need, what caused them to be in such an awful position? He could have told his readers what treatments the children may receive to become healthy, and what will happen to the child after he becomes healthy. Instead of informing his readers of the details behind their donation, he goes on comparing his readers to his demented examples.
Unfortunately America has a bad reputation for spending money on expensive and unnecessary items, and this is not a good thing. They should utilize our money wisely and keep in mind that there are people around the world who do not have anything. Yes, Americans should be aware of what is going on in the rest of the world, but it should not be forced on anyone to donate money as Singer appeared to be doing. Donating should come from the heart; it is an act of love. Only if one is financially able should they donate overseas, if they are not able, there are many other ways of helping those in need.
It is not necessary to send money overseas; for example, there are many poor people in the USA, more than many realize. Just walking into the city, you see homeless people in the streets begging for money and food, and according to the National Poverty Center, “in 2010, 15.1 percent of all people lived in poverty. The poverty rate in 2010 was the highest poverty rate since 1993” People do not seem to realize what poverty looks like in the United States. Over all, according to the Salvation Army, “34 percent of the population is living in poverty” so why not start here? Although money is needed and very useful, especially in places dealing with great poverty, Singer seemed to leave out other ways Americans can help make a difference in other parts of the world. There are many things needed in third world countries; American can help build new homes, bring them clean water and most importantly give them an education.
The Essay on Millions Of People Poverty Children Year
Previously to analyzing this thesis, it should be undoubtedly clear that this paper is regarding global poverty and underdevelopment that is given several explanations by Isbister. Countries in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and even Japan continue to have "pockets of poverty remain... and shamefully so." (Isbister 3). Europeans "stole ways of thinking from Third World people and ...
Education is an essential part of one’s lifestyle, by educating a child we are giving them a chance to grow and long for something more for their lives. Singer ends by giving information to his readers about where they can donate their money overseas saying, “ now you too, have the information you need to save a child’s life”(page3) in a way, he is forcing this option onto his readers, and not informing them of all the other things they could do such as say a simple prayer. His whole essay in one word was brainwashing. In the end, while he made a few relevant points as to why we should donate money, he did not back his ideas up very well; if Singer were to have approached his readers in a different manner it would have been more convincing.
