As I read more and see more things about poverty, I've come to see it as more of a mental or personality issue rather than a money issue.
Now, of course many people would not "choose" to be poor.
But rather it is a function of life choices which results in someone being poor or remaining poor.
Particularly in Singapore.
It is very easy to blame the circumstances around, the government, the lack of resources, etc.
But I think, a lot boils down to choice or mental barriers or mental issues.
For instance, I believe everyone should have the freedom to choose how they want to live their lives as long as they don't hurt anyone else.
So I'm all for people who choose to have big families. But of course bigger families require more resources. If they fail to recognize that, then that's really their own fault. Families don't usually jump from 2 adults to having 5 kids. Usually they have 1 kid, then 2, then 3... So somewhere in this process, I'm sure they learn that more kids require more resources.
So it's a choice to make certain life decisions and there are consequences to this decision.
Similarly, I've read many instances where the poor are usually reluctant to change jobs. They rather stay within their own comfort zone and earn a lower pay, than to learn a new job and get better pay.
Or they may look for jobs with they enjoy doing instead of jobs which can get them out of their poor situation.
Or they say, I've done this all my life, I can't/don't know how to do anything else.
Change is hard. But once again, it's a result of choices. And once again, I believe everyone should be free to choose the job they like or that they are comfortable doing. But unfortunately, they can't choose the end result.
If you want to reach Orchard Road, you need to take the right bus, train, whatever. You are free to take whatever bus number you want, or whatever train line you want. But don't expect to reach Orchard Road if you aren't taking the right bus/train which will bring you there.
Then there's the other issue about pride. Where they may not be willing to go to certain agencies to look for help. Or be reluctant to share all their information to obtain the help, cos many of these organizations ask quite intrusive questions.
But once again... A poor person is already in a bad situation. What more is there to lose? If help is available, then just dump the pride and give the required information to receive help.
Pride can't feed the family. Money can.
And once again, many of these organizations will want to help the person/family to stand up on their own again, and this requires change on the part of the poor person.
It is the current habits that made the person poor and is keeping him/her there. Obviously it requires them changing these habits to get them out of the situation.
And then I hear people who work with poor people tell me stories about. Poor families who buy a large TV, cos that's their ONLY entertainment, so it's reasonable to spend on it, cos they don't have any other forms of entertainment.
Or that they have a smoking habit, but most of these poor people need some form of escape to forget the situation that they are in...
Or that they save up to travel cos they need to have a way to express some form of normalcy in their lives, so that they can feel normal.
Once again, I understand this way of thinking or rationalizing the decisions. I understand it, but doesn't mean I think it's right.
If someone is in a bad situation, they need to own up to it and shape up and get disciplined and make the required changes and trade offs to get out of poverty.
There's no excuse about needing an escape, or feeling normal. They can feel normal when they are normal. And that involves not spending money unnecessarily.
As I read through and see the poverty situation, more often than not, what I see is a failure to adapt, to change, poor decision making, poor habits, poor discipline, lack of ability to delay gratification, inability to recognise cause and effect.
And somewhere in between there's probably mental issues like lack of confidence, depression, and other issues.
And it baffles me.
Cos more often than not, we always think it's a money problem. Cos in school we learn about the poverty cycle and what we believe causes people to be poor and remain poor. We believe that poor people don't get much education cos they don't have money to go to school and they need education to find a good paying job and through that they can rise out of poverty.
And yet I find that the reality of it isn't so simple. Cos bundled under all of that is simply a human being and humans are generally flawed. Humans usually have low self discipline, proud, stubborn, can't delay gratification, etc etc...
And if it so happens that this person has a wrong combination of personality traits, then it's highly probable he's going to end up in the poverty cycle and remain there.
And similarly, someone with a good combination of personality traits can accumulate wealth.
And it's possible to change and adapt and improve, but it's hard.
And so when I look at poverty, I question... Is it a choice?
No one chooses to be poor. But does the person choose to remain poor?
It's easy and lazy for onlookers to think it's a money problem and just throw money at the issue.
Yes, money helps, but it's only together with coaching and mentoring and the individuals' willingness to learn and change and adapt, that will truly raise someone out of poverty.
Else by just donating money, they won't know what to do with it and it just becomes a bottomless pit.
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