Poverty: Give poor their rights
July 3, 2008 · Updated 9:36 PM
David Day says that the truth of our world is that the only right is might. And again, he is mistaking coercion as a right. Liberty, property and life may be forced out of a person, but there is no right there. There is no charity, on anyones part.
I contend there are enough resources in any country of the world to support the poor with comfort if they were allowed their rights, but many governments wrongfully take what they need to support themselves and their families. This is not directly the fault of the powerful in this country, it is always because of their own. Unfortunately, our foreign policy supports only the governments of these people, as in Brazil, but often harms the poor by making the dictators (usually socialist) more powerful.
There is one solution we can use locally and personally. Immigrants usually send a good portion of the wage they earn, charitably, to the folks back home. This goes directly to the people who need it. It benefits everyone and I dont see a downside.
David asked what my God says on the subject. Its his loving God too. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek. The term does not refer to weaklings but to people who have relinquished a claim to coerce their neighbors and instead rely on persuasion.
Scott Vanderlinden
Oak Harbor
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