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Inequality and Poverty
The author addresses the issue of inequality as the root cause of poverty. He posits that people are poor because they simply lack enough money. The author disapproves of the sentiments made by attributionalists who posit that people’s traits are responsible for their status in life. He criticizes the idea that the poor are to blame for their status. He dismisses the idea that poor people are lazy and that their moral failings have contributed to their poverty. Instead, he blames the rich for the poverty that exists in the country. He chooses to advance the relationalist perspective, which finds a connection between the rich and poor. Those who support this view claim that everyone has a responsibility to alleviate poverty, irrespective of his or her status. The author notes that the rich have managed to increase their wealth by taking advantage of others. He notes that the significant increase in production has not corresponded to the same increase in income. Instead of rewarding the workers for the increased productivity, the shareholders and company executives have benefited from the extra value realized. The author concludes that it is possible to alleviate poverty by simply paying the workers enough money (Shamus)
The author has raised important points concerning the connection between poverty and inequality. He has managed to show that the increasing levels on income inequality are mostly responsible for the poverty levels experienced in the country. However, the author fails to note that the increase in production realized in the past few years is attributable to other factors and not just the efforts of the workers. Other factors such as technological innovations are responsible for increasing efficiency and contributing to increased productivity. In addition, he also failed to mention how other social factors such as lack of education have contributed to poverty. Although inequality is indeed responsible for increased poverty, it is not the only factor. Nevertheless, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor and giving the employees fair wages can help to reduce poverty levels in the country.
Work Cited:
Khan, Shamus. The Marriage of Poverty and Inequality: Who is Responsible when People don’t have Enough? 20, Feb., 2014. Web. 26 March, 2014