Posts Tagged ‘money’
Indefatigable
Being Third World isn’t all too pathetic. People in these deepest darkest corners of the globe are used to hardship that this global financial crisis does not cause a surge in suicide and violence rates. In a time like this, the matter of tolerance threshold becomes the level playing field.
People in the so-called Third World, more a term of political economy, are far more resilient. Their emotional and mental strength in a time of economic crisis comes from their sense of forbearance. The endurance springs from an almost total lack of material paranoia.
Repossession of homes and land will not cause sleepless nights of agony because homelessness is the norm.
Loss of healthcare policies and benefits is not a worry because there is hardly any institutionalized healthcare for the majority, anyway.
Dwindling personal savings in banks hardly cause a stir because bank savings are only for those who have extra income to keep unused.
The experience of businesses tumbling down is practically unheard of. Most businesses for the majority of the population (only for those who have, indeed, set up some form of small or medium sized enterprises), belong to the underground economy where there are no taxes paid and, hence, no credit or loans from financial institutions can be availed of.
While money is rational in its utilitarian function, there is something inherently immoral with the banking system. Money kept in banks grows for the owner while being operationally stagnant at his level. The banks consequently use it for all and sundry purposes. But that money isn’t circulated as it is where economic freedom should be. Therefore, this phenomenon only contributes to the fact that there is less currency to be used in paying services and skill. The Third World relies heavily on labor economies (services and skill). Stretch the imagination a bit more and one can easily grasp the reason why poverty is prevalent in the Third World.
The morality and legality of the underground economy should be judged against the morality and legality of hypercapitalism. Underground economies exist where economic freedom is smallest. The question of morality with underground economies should be evaluated alongside the question of morality with the banking system. For instance, the moral and legal issues of piracy of copyrighted media should be considered along with the moral and legal issues of bank loan schemes whose fine print is actually a death sentence. The dichotomy of these two phenomena may not be too far fetched when one sees it within the purview of the freedom from want, a basic human right.
During this global recession, the poor man’s mind is essentially freer. His thinking is comparatively more optimistic. He has far less to lose, after all.
In the poor man’s mind, he always sees himself at the start of the line, looking forward with hope for a better life somewhere out there. The rich, on the other hand, sees himself at the end of the line, looking back to how life used to be better. In this global economic meltdown, the tables are turned.
While the situation of the poor may be deemed bleak, poor people are never hopeless. When one eats deprivation for breakfast, a lunch of a plate of instant noodles isn’t too bad.
People in the Third World are construed as pitiable. Think again. Wretchedness is a mind thing. The name Third World has been further euphemized to developing countries. Hence, there is always some form of development that is up and coming. It is never hopeless. On the contrary, it is always hopeful.
Those who think that the term ‘Third World’ is pejorative would do well to read up more current news.
“Where Will Boys Play?”
This question has been doing rounds in one neighbourhood for past couple of months. There are three important words used in the above question which can place this local insignificant issue in bigger global context. Human attitude is best manifested at micro level and holds mirror to the culture of a place.
Here is a small background from where this question and debate started. Above picture shows a small green patch in an apartment complex – ‘Landscaped Garden’, an important trump card and showcase of the housing project from its very inception. The other facilities include club house (open for all residents and their children) with modern gym, play room (with chess, carrom, pool, table tennis, and also basket ball, volley ball court on the roof), a community hall with banquet facility for social functions and a swimming pool. Another important fact is that this green patch with jogging track is a common space for some 500 residents!
So, there is already an answer to ‘where’ of the above question. There are enough options for the boys to play, but their choice is the game of cricket (similar to baseball) with a hard ball that can break window panes and damage cars. So natural demand is to open up this restricted ‘Landscaped garden’ (where only barefoot toddlers, joggers, residents are allowed for soaking in sun and fresh air). With nearly 200 families already residing and many with children, this move will surely turn the green lawn into dusty playground. Added threats of damage to window panes and cars will remain unsolved. It would be wiser move to encourage ‘boys’ to play other games which are available. But that is not going to happen. Why?
First of all it is human instinct to want to ‘use’ all available land that they own. This attitude of ownership and right to destroy has lead planet to climate change and global warming. We have cut forest, trees for human dwellings and enterprise. Now in spite of choked lungs in the crowded city we don’t like to think deeper and make that small extra effort to save the green. Ironically, it is also true that all builders and architects are being forced to accommodate green space in their plans, precisely for environmental concerns. There is an active green bench in all courts of the lands. Saving planet from perils of climate change and global warming is top priority of UN, Obama and all world leaders. Big changes are being implemented to cut carbon emission. But majority of residents want to be one large happy family oblivious to all harsh realities. Moreover the arguments say that greenery can be restored and green grass and plants amount to very little oxygen. Wish one could restore greenery around the globe so easily!
