Comments on: The Third World http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 13:20:58 +0000 By: stillwaters http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6440 stillwaters Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:39:50 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6440 Excellent article, Ebonmuse. Thank you for opening our eyes and giving hope to those humans we refer to as the "third world". I think for way too many of us, we are oblivious to the suffering in the world. We go through our daily routines without a thought to people living in such desolate situations. Shoot, most of us don't even give a thought to the motorist in the next lane, let alone to a small, starving child living halfway around the globe. Anyway, I found it to be a persuasive essay that, at the least, made us think about the situation, and at the most, motivated us to act to help out our fellow human beings. Excellent article, Ebonmuse. Thank you for opening our eyes and giving hope to those humans we refer to as the "third world". I think for way too many of us, we are oblivious to the suffering in the world. We go through our daily routines without a thought to people living in such desolate situations. Shoot, most of us don't even give a thought to the motorist in the next lane, let alone to a small, starving child living halfway around the globe.

Anyway, I found it to be a persuasive essay that, at the least, made us think about the situation, and at the most, motivated us to act to help out our fellow human beings.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6301 Ebonmuse Mon, 25 Sep 2006 23:38:30 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6301 <blockquote>Someone always has to lose in the great game of economics, and I would rather the loser be them than me.</blockquote> The fact that not everyone can be rich is true by the definition of "rich". On the other hand, it is abhorrent - not to mention completely unsupported by evidence - to claim that the nature of economic competition requires that over a billion people worldwide lack access to food, sanitation, electricity, and clean water, or that almost half the world's population live on less than $2 a day. There is absolutely nothing inherent in capitalism that compels the existence of such a gross discrepancy. It is within humanity's power to substantially redress these inequities; it will need some adjustments to the wasteful and unsustainable lifestyle currently practiced by many Westerners, but it is possible, and in any case these adjustments can be defended on purely economic grounds without recourse to moral arguments.

Someone always has to lose in the great game of economics, and I would rather the loser be them than me.

The fact that not everyone can be rich is true by the definition of "rich". On the other hand, it is abhorrent - not to mention completely unsupported by evidence - to claim that the nature of economic competition requires that over a billion people worldwide lack access to food, sanitation, electricity, and clean water, or that almost half the world's population live on less than $2 a day. There is absolutely nothing inherent in capitalism that compels the existence of such a gross discrepancy. It is within humanity's power to substantially redress these inequities; it will need some adjustments to the wasteful and unsustainable lifestyle currently practiced by many Westerners, but it is possible, and in any case these adjustments can be defended on purely economic grounds without recourse to moral arguments.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6290 Christopher Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:30:53 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6290 But privillage comes with a price: for one party to amass great recources, another must lose resources. The West enjoys so much wealth because it siphons resources away from the "thrid world" via sweat-shops and unbalanced trade agreements. If these third world nations ever attained enough status that they could have equal footing at the bargining table with Western industries, our economy would go belly-up (and they would be no better off in the long run either). Someone always has to lose in the great game of economics, and I would rather the loser be them than me. But privillage comes with a price: for one party to amass great recources, another must lose resources. The West enjoys so much wealth because it siphons resources away from the "thrid world" via sweat-shops and unbalanced trade agreements. If these third world nations ever attained enough status that they could have equal footing at the bargining table with Western industries, our economy would go belly-up (and they would be no better off in the long run either).

Someone always has to lose in the great game of economics, and I would rather the loser be them than me.

]]> By: CalUWxBill http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6216 CalUWxBill Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:31:33 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/09/the-third-world.html#comment-6216 I know many would disagree with me. But, I would relish the day of a government that extends human rights, liberty, and a livable and enjoyable economic standing to all citizens of Earth. While, I don't think such a government is absolutely necessary, the artificial borders of this world divide us 1000 fold compared to the oceans and mountains. We all share life in common, to look at the impoverished third world as corrupt is futile. We should feel privileged about our own life and empathetic to those who have not been so blessed. And with the privilege comes the awesome responsibility of helping others obtain this same privilege. I know many would disagree with me. But, I would relish the day of a government that extends human rights, liberty, and a livable and enjoyable economic standing to all citizens of Earth. While, I don't think such a government is absolutely necessary, the artificial borders of this world divide us 1000 fold compared to the oceans and mountains. We all share life in common, to look at the impoverished third world as corrupt is futile. We should feel privileged about our own life and empathetic to those who have not been so blessed. And with the privilege comes the awesome responsibility of helping others obtain this same privilege.

]]>