peter singer and helping the global poor
“If it is within our power to prevent something very bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything morally significant, we ought, morally, to do it.” Peter singer is an Australian philosopher and would say we have a duty to help the global poor. Many people have more than enough money to make small donations but don’t even though it would not affect them at all. Lots of people are selfish and lazy and don’t think to help the poor even though some philosophers would claim we are responsible for their poverty. Others believe that if they donate most of their money won’t help so they don’t donate at all. A charity may be raising money for the less fortunate that are half way around the world so some would believe that they are not obligated to help since it is not close. Some people would ask how much money is enough to donate to make a difference. Peter Singer would explain to these people how proximity or how much you donate doesn’t matter as long as you follow your duty by helping. Economic inequality is huge in the United States and also in the even bigger picture, the world. Many people have lots of money yet don’t make donations of one dollar or less. About 1.7 million people live in absolute poverty on about less than one dollar and twenty five cents a day. About two million people live on no more than two dollars a day. People need to realize that all donations count, no matter how big or small they all add up. One single dollar, which in modern industrialized countries has very low value, could feed a child or someone in need for the day. Many families and individuals could afford to give a few cents a day and not even notice it financially yet they don’t. Many of the purchases that these people who live lavish lifestyles make are responsible for another person’s poverty. Thomas Pogge would argue “our lavish lifestyles are bought at the cost of others’ poverty.” Pogge believes we are benefitting from a system which causes consistent poverty.