Read on Twitter
A lot of tweets in the last few days have shown me that there’s still a lot of education to be done on the nature of poverty & though very related, Poverty is not the same as being poor.
Poverty is a state of mind while being poor is a state of cashlessness.
THREAD!
Poverty is a state of mind while being poor is a state of cashlessness.
THREAD!
What do I mean by poverty is a state of mind?
It’s the state of mind that is perpetually anticipating lack. You tend to create a life in the future but with little or none of the resources you have today & so, no matter what you have, you will want more, whether useful or not.
It’s the state of mind that is perpetually anticipating lack. You tend to create a life in the future but with little or none of the resources you have today & so, no matter what you have, you will want more, whether useful or not.
Sometimes, being poor for a long time causes poverty; but the more dangerous thing is that poverty easily becomes a culture and you see that when people that have money never stop acquiring assets they will never need.
There’s more on that in this article https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/the-mathematics-of-corruption/
There’s more on that in this article https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/the-mathematics-of-corruption/
Once a society, especially one with no rule of law, is embedded in poverty, any opportunity presenting itself to acquire ANY assets, will be maximized; whether the assets are relevant or not.
Remember people are acquiring things to cater for a perceived (real or not) future lack
Remember people are acquiring things to cater for a perceived (real or not) future lack
The saying, “who knows tomorrow” applies here as: “who knows what I’ll need tomorrow? So just take it all now”
You can be poor (no cash) but not in poverty, meaning you are CONTENT.
Contentment is a state of mind believing you have all your immediate needs already sorted out
You can be poor (no cash) but not in poverty, meaning you are CONTENT.
Contentment is a state of mind believing you have all your immediate needs already sorted out
Sadly, You can be rich and yet in poverty (as the article in the tweets above) meaning you have plenty cash, but live in constant fear of either losing it all or that you will have a future need you cannot meet so you concentrate on acquiring so much more now!
Of course, and far more prevalent, you can be poor and be in poverty.
Now, in our society, what are the things that tackle the state of mind of poverty?
In the sense I am speaking, contentment can be seen as the opposite of poverty and so, we can ask “what brings contentment?”
Now, in our society, what are the things that tackle the state of mind of poverty?
In the sense I am speaking, contentment can be seen as the opposite of poverty and so, we can ask “what brings contentment?”
In one word, “HOPE”. Hope counters the state of mind of future lack.
What brings hope to the masses?
A SOCIAL SAFETY NET: Accessible & Affordable Healthcare, housing, education
What else? Rule of law where justice isn’t just done, but seen to be done & where it isn’t delayed
What brings hope to the masses?
A SOCIAL SAFETY NET: Accessible & Affordable Healthcare, housing, education
What else? Rule of law where justice isn’t just done, but seen to be done & where it isn’t delayed
So yes, someone in poverty (state of mind) can loot a toilet bowl and mattress and while we turn our noses up and say “hunger” is not an excuse for that, remember that poverty has a similar effect to a mental health issue cos Reasoning isn’t aligned or normal!
Am I excusing the looting??Absolutely not.
But I am hoping that by attempting to explain a possible reasoning, we will see the solutions & implement
To tackle poverty, We need a Minimum standard of education that guarantees hope for the poor to move into the “middle class”
But I am hoping that by attempting to explain a possible reasoning, we will see the solutions & implement
To tackle poverty, We need a Minimum standard of education that guarantees hope for the poor to move into the “middle class”
The combination of poverty, cashlessness, hunger, lack of rule of law, indiscriminate amassing of illegitimate wealth by politicians and a breakdown of law enforcement will invariably lead to an emboldened and seemingly justified state of anarchy.
It’s just what it is!!
It’s just what it is!!
The lootings have shown us that we all need to do more in 2 key areas:
1. Be your brothers keeper: Take better care of the less privileged.
2. Put aside our selfish interests and Hold government officials far more accountable. Call them out and ensure justice is served
1. Be your brothers keeper: Take better care of the less privileged.
2. Put aside our selfish interests and Hold government officials far more accountable. Call them out and ensure justice is served
Yes it is the government’s responsibility but the government is made up of individuals who are criminally slacking in their responsibilities and for this, we that have reasonable access to them, cannot remain quiet without being complicit!
The power resides with the people and if we, the enlightened, do not exercise this power to hold government accountable, then the masses will turn on us, not government.
Do we see illegitimate wealth flaunted and turn a blind eye cos we hope to benefit?
All that has to stop!
Do we see illegitimate wealth flaunted and turn a blind eye cos we hope to benefit?
All that has to stop!
I don’t know any religion that doesn’t align with helping those in need, making society better for everyone, caring for the sick, poor, old, imprisoned etc and that’s the definition of government so in other words, Let just make sure in any way possible, government does its job
