World Poverty

I found Peter Singer's article very interesting.

He makes some extremely good points which make a lot of sense. And yes, the only way to really live a morally correct life is to live without any luxuries. Zero.

The problem is that basically, that will lead to a (theoretically) communist state for all first-world nations.

Think about it.

Whether you are a middle-class family living in North Carolina, or your name starts with 'D' and ends with 'Onald Trump', you will be giving all the luxuries you have (the Donald would have to give a massive amount of money away, it seems). Everyone would basically be living in the same conditions, unless, of course, you are below the average even at this point. And while this makes for saving hundreds of thousands of lives in third-world countries, it also demolishes what we've known as life since...well, what seems to be forever.

It's not exactly impressive human progress.

Oh, sure, it's moral progress.

Peter Singer tells us near the end of the paper, "That's right: I'm saying that you shouldn't buy that new car, take that cruise, redecorate the house or get that pricey new suit. After all, a $1000 suit could save five children's lives." Of course, a untold point is that this would still destroy our economy, our culture, and it would also have a massive effect on our infrastructure (again, tied to the economy). It'd be a mess. People cannot be attached to this idea of giving infinitely. It's impossible. Bono and Oprah might have donated loads of money, but you don't see Bono selling his very valuable estate or his Maserati. He goes on to say that we should at least know what we are not leading "a morally decent life".

It's pretty easy to judge from behind a pen (keyboard?). While we should be aware of the repercussions of our actions (or inaction, to be more accurate), there is no reason to feel guilty. Did I stick the muzzle of a well-oiled AK-47 at the head of a child in Namibia and pull the trigger? Of course not. I just ate a steak. And it's this kind of thinking that can be toxic. It is almost akin to the way that the PETA describes life: "A boy is a dog is a rat." Eating a dry-aged steak is like letting a kid get run over by a train? What the hell is going on here?

It's the same thing with global warming - yes, we're causing it. Yes, we can solve it...but I'll be damned if you don't think I'm gonna be driving a fast car in the near future. Although group thinking can be extremely dangerous in the long run (Nazi Germany, as mentioned in the essay?), there's no doubt in my mind that someone high up (e.g. our administration?) needs to be addressing these things (both world poverty as well as global warming). Yeah, I do feel bad that we're destroying the earth. But does that mean everyone should go buy a Prius? God, no!

Our government's not listening, for one (poor Al Gore). We could be creating more opportunities to integrate solar power, wind power, biofuels, etc. Even a Public Service Announcement would help! The exact same applies to world poverty. Do you think most people are going to care after a long day at work? You're a fantastic optimist if you said 'yes' to that question.

Again, it is the same with genocide. I'm sure many people enjoyed the chapel, bought the shirts. I thought that it was all a bit ridiculous. Yes, you're contributing to help feed some of the refugees. Save Darfur? Not happening. Unless you go in there with a fireteam of Delta Force operators and kill a few warlords, it is not happening. Feeding someone and stopping genocide are two different things. Does that mean I shouldn't buy a shirt? Of course not, it's for a good cause. But just because you didn't, it doesn't mean you're killing hundreds of refugees. The bottom line is, we need to get inspired somehow. Throw out some of the aforementioned PSAs. Create programs. Make us feel like dirtbags. But until then, we don't have many choices, nor do we really have any reasons to take action. Until something happens, the general message seems to be:

Have you bought a Prius, or donated $200?

Join the revolution, friend. Leave those yuppie gas-guzzling bourgeoisie pigs behind.

With this in mind, please, if you can, give that $200. It'll help alot.

But don't cry about it when you're eating at Alan Wong's.

Does that sound a bit heartless? Well...maybe it is. But if you're not gonna finish that plate of 30 dollar foie gras because you think you're destroying a child in Africa...you might as well give it to me.