Something I’ve noticed recently, largely through the constant email appeals of my work colleagues, is that there are an awful lot of charities out there. Foundations supporting disadvantaged kids, cancer research, women’s’ rights, men’s health, the general poor… The list is virtually endless. It really makes you think about the numerous ills afflicting our society.
I mentioned this to a workmate – “there are so many charities out there, I can’t afford to donate to them all!” I complained. She agreed it was a shame that there needed to be so many – that there was so much wrong with the world, that we needed so many NGOs to help ease the pain. But, I thought, they say if all the world’s billionaires donated some of their wealth, they could eradicate extreme poverty…
A friend to whom I related the story thought differently. What if, she suggested, the world actually needs poverty in order to run as we know it? A ridiculous thought, was my initial response. But then she laid out her reasoning.
Economically, poverty makes sense as a source of cheap labour and cheap production. With the eradication of poverty, millions of people would suddenly find their cost of living rising – and no one wants that.
In addition, socially, it gives people something to strive for. After all, the eradication of poverty is a goal that many people ostensibly want to attain – if you want proof, simply look at the number of charities in operation around the world.
Politically, it gives governments something to have on the agenda. While it can be a source of shame in some countries (see what Beijing did in the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games), it can also be a sort of weapon. Think pledges to increase aid budgets, thereby enhancing global reputation and giving the people back home a warm fuzzy feeling that at least they are doing something.
The reasoning behind this school of thought seemed both logical and selfish. Sure, I could see why people might subscribe to this worldview, but what about all those who were trampled on along the way? The 99%, sustaining the lifestyle of the other 1%. Unfortunately, as extreme poverty continues and the gap between each end of the spectrum widens, it seems that this viewpoint is the dominant one, at least for now.
You could say that this is simply the result of our capitalist society. Indeed, capitalism does allow for people to be richer than others. The alternative put forward by Karl Marx has been widely discredited. Does that mean there is no hope of eradicating poverty?
There are other ways, other methods. But until one is widely accepted and implemented, the world will keep turning as it does now – and my inbox will continue to overflow with the requests for charitable support that go at least some way to helping those living in poverty.
Tag Archives: money
I Gave Money to a Homeless Man Today
I gave money to a homeless man today.
He was not more derelict, or dirty, or impoverished looking, than others. He had no attractive wares to sell, was not actively calling for money, and did not have a starving pet with him.
He was sitting in a doorway midway up the street, wrapped in a surprisingly clean looking doona. Before him, the vessel that invited the generosity of passers-by: a used plastic coffee-cup.
The city is full of similar images of poverty and despair. Men and women of all ages, wrapped in whatever scraps they can find to keep out the biting wind, with hollow objects sitting on the ground in front of them, signals of their desperation for any spare change that might be offered.
Often, these people are ignored; they are the symptoms of a problem that no one really wants to confront in the course of their day. So, invisible, the beggars remain in their niches and crevices, holding out for change.
The man I saw was no different in this respect. Except that, rather than simply walking past, I decided to stop this time.
Something in his expression caught me. Our eyes met, and I recognised the usual emotions of despair and resignation. But there was something else too. Something like hope, not just for the possibility of some spare coins, but also more generally. He had his face turned into the wind, looking back into the CBD, and his expression was completely calm.
I stepped up and deposited my offering in his cup. I mumbled a hello, and his response was raspy and parched, but grateful.
I don’t know anything about this poor man, other than that he happened to be the beggar I passed in that doorway that afternoon. Perhaps I imagined the emotions I read in that expression. Certainly his position is not unique; homeless people all over the city must feel the same as this man. But I like to think that the change I spared him may have genuinely helped him to have a more comfortable night, and perhaps add a spark to the hope that seemed to burn behind those accepting eyes.
August Insolvency Update
It’s taken a while, but here it is: the PCI Partners August newsletter! Be sure to heck out the rest of the website for advice, information and more!
Click to access Insolvency-Network-Newsletter-August-2013.pdf
PCI Partners May Newsletter
Here it is! The May newsletter, hot off the press. I must say, I had a lot of fun writing this one, delving into the depths of insolvency law. A sobering yet intriguing experience!
Political Wankerdom
That’s where I was last night-in a den of political wankerdom. Now, I won’t specify which party’s function I attended, but I can say that I had a huge amount of fun and got some good laughs. Here are some of the highlights of the evening:
hearing one minister announce that the public understood the purpose of their message, even if they didn’t get the details;
the constant choruses of “hear hear” at the most insignificant details;
watching politicians get mugged like celebrities, particularly by old ladies;
hearing my politician friend describe the night as a demonstration of political wankerdom.
it seems, based on last night, that you have to be a certain type of person to be a politician. You must have that slightly nasally, strangely askew voice. You must master the art of the handshake (no floppy grips please, I can’t stand a weak handshake myself). You must look at the people sitting next to you sideways while talking to them. you should know how to push your way through a crowd – be as ruthless as possible! And never ever forget, when making an important speech, to first comment on how beautiful your wife is/ how human and ordinary your relationship with yourwife is/ how much you owe your success to your wife.
Yeh. Based on last night, it seems to me that all politicans are the same, no matter what side of the House they sit on.
the night was full of rhetoric (see dot point about “hear hear” above), and very light on policy detail. Presumably, because everyone n the room was already won over. But I felt myself yearning for a proper politician who would inspire more than just devoted, thoughtless cries in agreement – one who would inspire the public, and would bother to give me the details (god forbid that the public know the details, they might understand them!) frankly, with leaders like that, it is no wonder people my age refuse to enrol, or donkey vote, or demonstrate such strong political apathy that they vote for the sex party because it has a funny name.
we need strong leaders who will inspire us, who will trust us with the details as we trust them with our representation and our taxes. Someone who glows with sincerity, rather than reeking of arrogance and falseness. This is not purely an Australian problem; the issue of political representation is a hot one in countries the world over, and it will be a good day when the right person finally stands up and accepts the mantle that the public wish to bestow upon them. But until that person appears, we will continue to view our politicians with scepticism – even if we don’t quite grasp all the details.
Disadvantaged Students
This link will take you to the fulfilment of one of my life’s dreams. A lot of time, tears, frustration and hope has gone into this story, and to see it finally published is a dream come true. I dedicate it to all the autistic or special needs students out there who are struggling, and their parents, teachers and families, and I hope it goes a step towards making things fairer and easier for you.
PCI Partners March Newsletter
The link has recently been uploaded, so here it is… more insightful insolvency news
http://pcipartners.com.au/general/march-2013-newsletter/
Ask any Melbourne commuter, and they will tell you how “sucky” their city’s public transport system is. They will start telling you how much they hate the overcrowding, how much crime there is on certain lines and how trains never, ever run on time.
And I must say, I can’t help but agree with them.
I should perhaps clarify my authority to speak on the topic. I am something of a proud dual Melbournian-outer suburbian, having commuted from the outer suburbs to the city for four years. Not short trips either; they have always been at least an hour and at one stage involved all three major modes of public transport – bus, train and tram.
Yes there have been some good trips, good times, excellent service even. There is one particular train driver, still doing the rounds, who likes to treat his passengers to a bit of an airport treatment, even going so far as to explain the altitude of the train (just over a metre). A favourite tram driver of mine keeps his passengers entertained with descriptions of the landmarks we pass. He explained once that he used to be a tour bus driver, and the habit has stayed with him over the years. And a certain bus driver once let me bring my bike on the bus, even though you aren’t meant to, because it was pouring with rain outside and he didn’t want me to “drown” riding home. I will forever be grateful.
But why oh why can my trains never be on time? I’m not exaggerating this. At least four days in a week, my morning train will be late. The evening peak train is always delayed, without fail. I’m sick of being told of “signal failures” that cause my journey to be stopped halfway through, or of sitting at that invisible station between Richmond and Flinders Street stations. Seriously, maybe they should move Flinders Street slightly further down the line, as that is where all the trains seem to get stuck.
Our train system is not without its dangers. I recall a frightening experience where a drug affected lout threatened to harm an innocent man on the train, who happened to look like his enemy. The lout kicked doors, yanked on hand rails, hurled abuse, slammed the carriage doors… I was genuinely frightened for my life that day. The worst part was, I wondered what the few people on the train could do to help. We could press the emergency button of course, but then the train would stop, in the middle of nowhere, between stations, far away from any emergency help – and by the time it arrived, we could all be grievously injured.
And of course, we have all seen the news headlines about racism on public transport. Nor is it just limited to trains, as one French tourist discovered.
Finally, there are the overcrowding issues – on my particular line, the trains in morning peak are full – that is, no one else can fit through the doors – within four stops from the beginning of the line.
There seem to be real problems on Melbourne’s public transport system. No wonder we complain.
But they can be fixed.
Obviously, after multiple timetable alterations by Metro, the company managing Melbourne’s trains, the issue with trains running on time has still not been fixed. The rumours on the lines are growing – we need to invest in our public transport system. Anecdotally, I know nobody really wants to pay more in fares, so perhaps the ones we pay now should be more wisely managed. Reinvest our fares into upgrading train tracks, purchasing new trains that will better serve the growing patronage. Recently, Public Transport Victoria announced a plan to carry the one billion passengers predicted to take Melbourne’s trains by 2031. The plan includes high capacity trains, improved signals and track duplications. A further part of Public Transport Victoria’s plan involves the building of the Melbourne Metro, a series of tunnels and links between certain lines. It is suggested this will improve capacity in the future, to meet service demands. So, that takes care of the capacity issue, and hopefully the punctuality. Improved links with buses and trams, particularly in high growth corridors in the West and East, would go some way to improving punctuality and capacity too.
But what about safety?
Protective Services Officers now patrol many of Melbourne’s stations. Yet their presence is sadly lacking on the trains, trams and buses themselves. Is a higher security presence on transport needed to curb the apparently endemic racism and violence? Perhaps. Personally I would feel safer if the trains, trams and buses themselves were patrolled. But the manpower and funds need for this sort of project are unbelievable – and are governments willing to back this sort of plan?
Investment in public transport is a major government sticking point. In the lead up to the September 2013 election, both sides of Federal politics have had their say. Tony Abbott stated in early April that he would support a major road project over the the Melbourne Metro scheme, while Julia Gillard has stated the opposite. Each of these statements though, is dependent upon the announcer being elected in September.
Public transport is a major part of the lives of many. Investing in this service is necessary for the future development of our city. Currently, it seems that quick fixes, long term feasibility studies and political arguments get in the way of this – and Melbournians continue to wait on an overcrowded, late and dangerous public transport system.
Public Transport Woes
PCI Partners January Newsletter
PCI Partners January Newsletter
PCI Partners – for all your personal and corporate insolvency needs!
This was a very basic topic to write about, although the subject matter itself (the laws and so forth) took a bit to get my head around. The publication is aimed at creditors and accountants as opposed to those who are already insolvent or bankrupt, and provides useful information for the audience in an accessible format.
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