This is a short comment on a concept. The parable of the rich fool (who stored up his grain in barns, and died that very night), and the parable of the rich man (told to give up all his wealth and give it to the poor) were both examples of people who did not have the authority over their stuff. Owned by his surplus, the fool thought to guard it. In the end it did him no good. The rich man was so rich he had tied up his identity with his money – so letting it go was impossible.
Poverty is an oppression that affects many, in this country as well as the developing world. It is caused by many things, but I believe the root of it is the demand of the already well off to be more well off. I can afford to pay more than £5 for my t-shirts, because in the grand scheme of things I, like most people in the UK, am actually quite well off. But my desire for cheap goods causes oppression further down the line. We could double the workers wage, but that would make my t-shirt cost £6, so the stores won’t do it, and I’ll go wherever the £5 t-shirt is.
Our economy is based on an imbalance. We do not pay the true cost of things. Furthermore, we do not pay a just cost for things.
Perhaps to end poverty, we must consider cutting our demand for cheap consumer goods. By purchasing second-hand or only buy good-quality fairly traded t-shirts that will last for years, rather than the cheap one that lasts two months. By sourcing ethically ‘just’ products, rather than cheap products we exercise responsibility and authority over our flesh, our finances, and the economy we live in.
