Three Metaphors, the Birth Rate, and Solutions - Research Paper Example

 Three Metaphors, the Birth Rate, and Solutions In a bid to solve its own problems, the self-contained village in Ireland closes the doors for any possible aid from foreign quarters. It is aimed at ensuring that the region’s internal problems are given a local solution through the cooperation of the haves and the have-nots. To consolidate its resolve, the region has developed a five-step solution that demonstrates the manner in which the locked region plagued with severe poverty could do if the rich and poor people really collaborate to achieve the desired emancipation of the poor: “I do not, of course, want to dispute the contention that governments of affluent nations should be giving many times the amount of genuine, no-strings-attached aid that they are giving now. I agree, too, that giving privately is not enough, and that we ought to be campaigning actively for entirely new standards for both public and private contributions to famine relief” (Singer 402-13). If this should be the case and the poor should be made part and parcel of the developed solution, then essential moral or proper Christian assistance will not be dissipated on producing inadvertent consequences like diseases, population explosion, famine, environmental corrosion, and hunger among others. Basically, the five-point solution involves the following initiatives: taxing absentee landlords; purchasing furniture and clothes produced only in Ireland; averting lavishness and conspicuous consumption to boost one’s discretionary income available for charity; prevailing upon landlords to be merciful to their tenants; and, finally, the working poor, once they become modest shopkeepers, have an obligation to remain modest merchants, regardless of the meagerness of their income. This paper explores the problems of the self-contained village in Ireland and evaluates its five point solution. Taxing absentee landlords is a reliable solution for the increase in the revenue of the country, which could be used for constructive purposes in the society. In essence, money obtained from taxes of absentee landlords could be used to solve the problems facing the society: “Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance” (Swift 219). This could also spur economic activity in the sense that it will inspire landlords to be present to run their entities rather than abandon them; the cost of abandoning land and property is immense, because the property remains unproductive though it could have raised funds to propel the society out of poverty. Therefore, in line with the poverty eradication plan, the taxation of absentee landlords will seek to serve two purposes. Firstly, to discourage absenteeism on the part of landlords and this is a very costly practice. Secondly, taxation will avail funds to enable the society overcome its economic problems without relying on other countries. However, taxing absentee landlords could not be as desirable as it seems, owing to the fact that such practice could be counterproductive. Primarily, taxing absentee landlords is an initiative measure that concerns the unused property. Therefore, it could be misconstrued in some sections as a gesture of intolerance, thus creating the fear of public participation in property business. Furthermore, taxing absentee landlords may not solve the poverty and economic woes of the country. Conceivably, such a mechanism cannot replace international assistance, which could be the key to solving the country’s problems. Buying clothes and furniture manufactured only in Ireland will ensure that money circulates within the country, thus providing capital for development and raising available money for donation purposes: “Of course, the controversial element in the argument is what it would require of us, namely a significant change for many of us living in affluent societies” (Singer 233). Such a move will amplify the domestic economy through the availability of funds for various uses, thus, solving the poverty problems within the country. This gesture is based on the local solution mechanism whereby the country will not accept foreign assistance for its economic and social woes. A clear look at this approach indicates that the basic consideration is based on the fact that foreign assistance may be very costly. This is because it may involve the purchase of material from other countries, thus resulting in flight of capital. Similarly, foreign participation could be disastrous for the poverty stricken nation in the sense that other countries could take advantage of resources and market opportunities to develop themselves. Through the purchase of furniture produced in Ireland alone, the population will boost the timber industry in the country, thus creating job opportunities for its population. This will result into more empowered population with job opportunities and sources of income that could be a great factor in the poverty reduction as well as charity donation purposes. On the other hand, buying clothes developed in Ireland will expand the clothing industry, create more jobs, and increase available funds for the sake of charity donation. In overall, the purchase and consumption of locally manufactured products is a direct way of boosting the economy and creating avenues for more funds to help alleviate poverty in the vast region. The region is based on the ethos of charity and Christian assistance whereby the rich ought to donate through charity to assist the poor in the society. Such a mechanism is both reliable and constructive, because it is a good social mechanism of bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Therefore, avoiding luxury and conspicuous consumption in order to increase ones discretionary income available for charity is a formidable solution of a problem of the prevailing poverty and despondency in the region. The society espouses the ideals of social cooperation through Christian assistance along with charity. Through such avenues, the privileged members of the society assist the underprivileged through donations that play a significant role in poverty alleviation. As a poverty alleviation strategy, the aspect of charity will play a crucial role, because all members of society will be taken care of, since funds available from donations will be used to employ mechanism to reduce poverty levels and create opportunities for the wider society. Since Christian assistance and charity are major sources of funds for solving the society’s problems, the major consideration is the avenues of increasing this kitty (Swift 218-24). Residents will be required to forego luxury in order to increase their share of funds donated for charitable causes. Such a plan will boost the amount donated by each individual to this cause, making it possible for the society to overcome its current economic problems. Since poverty is rampant and most residents may not afford to pay rental dues on a regular basis, a plan is envisaged through which the authorities will morally prevail upon landlords to be merciful to their tenants, “The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to distress and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown” (Swift 403). This will reduce chances of conflict between landlords and tenants over the remittance of rent. Such a move will ensure that the tenants can have a place to stay even during times when they do not have what to pay. Such a mechanism could be disastrous to the economy and society at large, more so when it is misused, and could also reduce investments in the property sector, since landlords will start suffering losses. Similarly, mischievous tenants may refuse to pay rent just because there is a provision protecting them from doing so. Therefore, credible mechanisms ought to be put in place to ensure that the mercy aspect is not misused. These mechanisms help reduce the economic burden of the poor through the assistance of the rich. However, this should not be interpreted to imply that the rich should be subjected to harassment and loss in their business. Honesty and moral values are the core principles of the society, and every endeavor ought to be approached through ethical and morals standards. Members of the society are not expected to sacrifice their moral values for the sake of prosperity. The plan envisaged for the emancipation of the region from poverty incorporates a strict observance of the established moral values. Therefore, the working poor, once they become modest shopkeepers, have an obligation to remain honest merchants, even if their income is meager. The poor will be expected to work hard so as to free themselves from the entanglement of poverty, though they will still be expected to remain honest merchants, who will apply truthful methods of wealth acquisition. This proposal is good because it will reduce cases of crime and wealth fraud that are enemies of any successful society, though it will hinder innovativeness in business, since most merchants will feel chained to societal dogmas, “It is the hungry man’s bread that you withhold, the naked man’s cloak that you store away, the money that you bury in the earth is the price of the poor man’s ransom and freedom” (Singer 229-43). In conclusion, owing to the fact that the aforesaid plan seems relevant to the common ear but is likely to remain hypothetical than realistic, Singer’s impulse of transforming a local problem into an international cause becomes relevant (Singer 402-13). Thus, as our hearts agree with Singer, no one wants to stand when millions are faced with starvation? On the contrary, our heads implore us to believe Hardin; sometimes, one has to be cruel in order to be kind (Hardin 414-23). Since none of the three is acceptable, all of them are flawed: Singer for his one-sided responsibility; Hardin for the tragic price of self-help; and Swift for his humanity only theory. Perhaps, the compromise would involve a five years plan under which foreign aid and individual donations are conditioned by measurable improvements in demographics and agricultural output of the countries affected and made yearly responsible for self-help measures, involving segments of societies in third world countries (Barnet and Bedau 78-91). External help would then be replaced after five years by the normalization of trade agreements between and among countries operating under WTO. Given cheap labor abroad, there is no acceptable reason why the trade surpluses in those countries could not be used for an immediate upgrade in the standard of living of the have-nots. Works Cited Barnet, Sylvan, and Hugo Bedau. eds. Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Ninth ed. New York: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2011. Print. Hardin, Garrett. “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor”. Barnet and Bedau 414-23. Print. Singer, Peter. “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.” Barnet and Bedau 402-13. Print. Swift, Jonathan. “A Modest Proposal.” Barnet and Bedau 218-24. Print. Read More