17 Apr 12
Originally posted by karoly aczelWhat other countries have you lived in or visited, apart from Australia?
I know what I'm talking about. A generalization it is, no doubt, but I live below the poverty line here in australia and I can tell you I am more happy than the average joe out there who has a nice car and a mac and is paying of a nice beachside house with a boat,etc,etc.
I'm not saying you can live on nothing, but you can live on little and be absol ...[text shortened]... beaming on the inside as you take pleasure in the finer things in life - all of which are free
17 Apr 12
Originally posted by karoly aczelAre you serious about ONE HINDU happy on 30 cents per day? There are millions of people who live in India who have to watch their hungry children cry themselves to sleep. They live in slums, they are unwell and cannot afford medicine, drinking water is scarce. they do not have a clean set of clothes to wear. Tomorrow they are not sure that their crops or food or supplies will sustain them for another day.
Read more?
Maybe thats why your views are a bit askew.
Shouldn't I need to see people first hand and avoid the tabloid and statistical reading which often paints a different picture to the actual reality.
I know one hindu (not personally) over here who lives on 30 cents a day. He is said to be a very happy man.
17 Apr 12
1 edit
Originally posted by karoly aczelIf you dont mind me saying so you seem to be the type that could/would enjoy living off the hard work of others. Happy to get handouts from the government etc, and avoid work totally.
I'm hoping things will level up a little more as we begin to realize that capitalism is not the best system.
After all in a group full of charitable , intelligent human beings, I suspect that the wealth would balance out a bit more and that one man would not want to be living next door to another man (and his family) while the other man had no food. ...[text shortened]... nominator . (I think its called "food stamps" in the US and the dole in the UK and Australia)
That type is the type that suffers in capitalism or similar systems in which hard work and enterprise is rewarded. So there is no surprise to hear you prefer some other system.
While I certainly believe in charity and giving and sharing, I dont think I would give what I have to a guy who sits around and watches the world go by and wait for handouts. I would instead choose to help those genuinely in need and there are many such people.
17 Apr 12
Originally posted by googlefudgeAgreed. A large and growing middle class is a good sign in any economy and India is heading that way. But it will take a while. the figures show that as much as 40% of the pop still live below the poverty line.
Indeed.
It has been shown that statistically increased wealth does increase happiness... up to a point.
Once you reach something like $40,000 per person (or per family, I don't remember the numbers
off the top of my head but where the line is is not important for this discussion) then the gains
in happiness with increased wealth disappea ...[text shortened]... of the western world.
Which is born out by such indexes and the GDP per capita and the like.
Apart from GDP per capita, infant mortality rates and literacy rates will tell if the country is in fact on the road to eliminating poverty as decent health, medical care and education would tell if the people are developing. Unfortunately those rates are still among the lowest in the world.
400,000 babies die every year within 24 hrs of birth.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/28760/infant-mortality-rate-indias-enduring.html
18 Apr 12
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Originally posted by Rajk999Most countries in western and middle europe for quite a while
What other countries have you lived in or visited, apart from Australia?
A little time in malaysia
edit: it should be noted that I have always sought out the hare krsna's (temples and restaurants) in whatever country I've been in so I may have seen a side of australia that most other aussies wouldn't have seen
18 Apr 12
Originally posted by Rajk999I'm dead serious.
Are you serious about ONE HINDU happy on 30 cents per day? There are millions of people who live in India who have to watch their hungry children cry themselves to sleep. They live in slums, they are unwell and cannot afford medicine, drinking water is scarce. they do not have a clean set of clothes to wear. Tomorrow they are not sure that their crops or food or supplies will sustain them for another day.
I am thinking he doesn't have a family
18 Apr 12
Originally posted by Rajk999I'd love to work, and in the past when I've had employment, I've worked real hard.
If you dont mind me saying so you seem to be the type that could/would enjoy living off the hard work of others. Happy to get handouts from the government etc, and avoid work totally.
That type is the type that suffers in capitalism or similar systems in which hard work and enterprise is rewarded. So there is no surprise to hear you prefer some other syst ...[text shortened]... handouts. I would instead choose to help those genuinely in need and there are many such people.
Outdoor labouring work in Australia can be very tough.
Truth is I have been a single parent for most of my adult life. And even when I was with the mother, it was her that had work.
Now that my boy is getting a bit older, I will start looking for part-time work again.
But with no car, it would have been pretty impossible up until now.
19 Apr 12
Originally posted by karoly aczelThen you dont know what poverty is.
Most countries in western and middle europe for quite a while
A little time in malaysia
edit: it should be noted that I have always sought out the hare krsna's (temples and restaurants) in whatever country I've been in so I may have seen a side of australia that most other aussies wouldn't have seen
