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Anita
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Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 19, 2007 - 11:06 PM
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Social and economic inequity has been existing since time immemorial. In practical terms can it be really bridged. Most organizations/institutions and individuals have worked hard and long to reduce inequity but have attained very limited sucees. Theoretically it may be possible but practically can every man on this earth be equally endowed??
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Diana Moreka
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 20, 2007 - 06:37 AM
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Hi,
As you have put it quite clearly, people can never be equal ! Intiatives might be set up to try and improve the lives of the under- preveledged in society but in the long run, the disparities will still exist. This is because resources are scarce and therefore there is a scramble and competition for the limited resources hence the preveledged are always trying to be above the edge interms of socio- economic status.
This post was edited on: 2007-08-20 at 06:47 AM by: Diana Moreka
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Dennis Nyakundi Onguti
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 20, 2007 - 08:41 AM
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Well, economic gap cannot be erased and any trial to do so will only result to disappointment. What i believe is that the struggle to bridge the economic gap is an ideal aim which seeks to bring life for everybody to a humane level. It is great injustice that some people are perpetually making merry while other are agonizing in utter poverty. The struggle is worthy. If all of those holding the economic structures ever tried to aim at that, then we will not be talking of destitutes in society.
Bridging the gap completely is impossible but worthy undertaking.
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Serge Mario
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 20, 2007 - 11:46 AM
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As it has already been pointed out the gap between the have and the have not is a perpetual reality. In theory , many theories have been elaborated to sort it out and they succeed. However the reality is toyally different. The most powerful will aways exploit , fight for more by using multiple means at their disposal. Just have look on the way natural ressources are disordely plundered on african continent and above. So the socio-economic gap is a constant reality that can be seen at the micro and macro level.
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Ben Warner
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 07:10 AM
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I'm not so pessimistic as that. I think socio-economic gaps can, must, and in some cases have been bridged. I suspect that making it happen requires reframing the issue and appealing to enlightened self-interest to make it happen.
I live in a community that was legally, socially, and economically divided, first by slavery and then by a series of laws and practices that reinforced and perpetuated the social and economic divide that slavery created.
For a long time, very little happened to change things. In the past couple of decaades, however, most of the people with power/resources recognized that they didn't want to live in a community with these kinds of deep divisions. It wasn't just. More than that, it wasn't profitable -- poverty costs money in terms of social programs and reduces local capacity to purchase goods and services.
So you had the moral recognition that socio-economic gaps were unjust. And you had the practical recognition that socio-economic gaps were a local economic and political burden. Enlightened self-interest demanded addressing the issue.
Today the size of the middle class among those descended from slavery is the same as the size of the middle class of those descended from slaveholders. We haven't solved all the problems -- we're still combating poverty and disparities -- but we're making progress. And we're redefining what poverty means in our community.
Recent political decisions at the state level threaten to make our local work much more difficult, but it will continue. Because we have to close these gaps. It's the right thing to do, and it's the politically expedient thing to do, and when those two line up they can be unstoppable.
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Anita
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 11:04 AM
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Hello All,
Very interesting to read your views on the subject. I suppose that the topic has several aspects to it. The gaps that exist in soceity are in itself extremely varied depending on the nationality, culture, social and economic history and political affiliation and thoughts. Developing countries face inequities of a different nature than developed nations.
Ben, your point is very vital. I can understand your persepctive and optimism, as I have seen similar trends in my country too. Though the task of ending all forms of inequities seems very complex, I do beleive that strategies and internal will in people to work towards balanced societies is ever present.
However there are many countries fighting for their basics such as food, clothing, shelter, access to education and health care facilities. The question of being able to reach and provide servcies to people who cannot afford those services remains a challenge. Endowed person's only can contribute towards such people being able to procure their rights. Pls do comment.
-Thanks everyone for your contribution.
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Ben Warner
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 11:14 AM
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I did spend a couple of years in the favelas of Brasil, and I understand the difference between developed and developing countries and the stark contrast between the haves and have-nots.
Even then (especially then!) those with power and resources must be made to see (and often are starting to see) that the future of their community and their personal quality of life absolutely depends on addressing social inequities and economic disparities.
Hunger and poverty are political problems, not resource scarcity issues. Had we the global collective will and the local political commitment, we could wipe out hunger. The only challenges would be transportation logistics.
But we lack the will, because we keep thinking the issues are somebody else's problem, or that we can hand over the problems of the world to a handful of underfunded NGO's. It takes a radical rethinking of social connectedness and what prosperity means and could mean to energize all into reshaping how we address human needs.
It's not charity. It's globally interconnected sustainable survivability and prosperity that's at stake. And when MNC's learn the lesson Henry Ford did (about paying his employees enough to purchase his products), we all win.
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Serge Mario
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 11:26 AM
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As Ben has stated it the lack of a common will is the thorn attached to the heel of decision-makers. Inegalities are realities strongly maintained by those who have in order to have more and to see the daily becoming wide. But the question is there a need to continue to fight since it will be an everlasting reality? or what is strategy to adopt?
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Anita
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 11:44 AM
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Battling food shortage or the supply of life saving medicines and drugs to areas of high need have been the subject of discussion. Besides the high cost of transportation and logistics, the shortage of human resources to work deligently at the ground level to make the prgram work is also a question. People working in the non-profit sector are fewer than the numbers required.
Here again the gap exists. If the society provides the necessary resource and financial support to individuals working in this sector it would enable more dedicated individuals to work for the marginalised. I have encountered such situations during natural calamities, where floods and famine have destroyed the livelihoods and homes of lakhs of people. However relief has come in late not on account of scarcity of supplies/donation but on account of inadequate man-power to actually do the work on the ground.
One has to innovate strategies to make contribution or participation in social development process both personally and financially sustainable for the individuals who undertake such work especially in developing countries.
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Ben Warner
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 21, 2007 - 12:28 PM
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You're right, there often aren't enough people on the ground working distribution when supplies need to get to the people.
But if someone found gold at the same site, there'd be plenty of people to dig and find gold and try to get rich.
The question isn't that we don't have enough people, it's that we don't value the effort sufficiently.
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Anita
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
August 29, 2007 - 10:40 AM
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We talk about enlightened self-interest. This basically means securing one's future and society by providing and safeguarding the interests of others to make our lives sustainable. In today's global climate society's are inter-dependant and connected in a very real way. May be this is a pragmatic argument but it sure is effective and realistic. People have finally started to understand, connect and relate to each other despite cultural, social and economic differences.
The real challenges of this millenuim and the youth are to understand global issues and problems and find solutions to combat inequities, which have a truly international perspective and impact. This is possible in our time. Among the identified millenium goals we are looking towards global prosperity and peace and not merely looking at area specific development and upliftment. Hence, Gaps though have existed since time immemorial the possibility and capability we have to reduce them today is more than ever making the work exciting and exhiliarating.
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Muringi
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
September 3, 2007 - 02:23 AM
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Can Social Economic Gaps be bridged? No we will never be equal, there will always be those high and above and others down cast and lowly and this actually makes life interesting, if we were all equal who would work for who??? Who would listen to who? It may not be a nice thing and especially to those that are low economically but thats how life is meant to be. It may be controversial to say but in a way it brings peace because we know who has a say and we pay attention to listen otherwise everyone would be up in arms to become the leader. It is good we keep seeking to bridge the gaps so that life goes on but to completely make it possible, never! Life is made of diversities and this is what makes life worth living so far and wide, as much as we may try, we will never bridge the gap.
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Anita
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
September 3, 2007 - 11:56 PM
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I do agree that diversity is a part of life and thats what makes it interesting. People from different cultures, countries and social background enrich and enhance our existence. Also leadership springs out of such diversity. But the question of inequity is a very different one. Every community has a right to live life in their own unique way and preserve their identity.
But economic disparties and acute shortages in several parts of the world cannot be simply ignored as a fact of life. I do agree that such inequity makes life and work challenging, but my fundamental question has more to do with are we making sufficient efforts everywhere to reduce inequity? is everyone who is capable participating in the process? if not can we make them undertsand and accept inequity and change the way they think, can we create a society with diversity but with much less inequity by talking about issues and generating sensitivity and understanding among endowed countries and people so they can throught their interventions enable societies to reduce the gaps significantly. I asked the question to elicit such responses. The more the awareness about inenquity the more will be the conscious effort at each one's level to reduce it. I think a society in which all participate towards addressing pressing human issues existing in any part of the world would be a society on its way to creating an equitable world.
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Raphael Mlozoa
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
September 4, 2007 - 03:12 AM
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100 percent cannot be true and its a lie to say that, but a good recentage of more than 50 percent can be done am sure of this if people can use the communication for social change process where almost 90 percent of the things are the brain child of their own. and they do this using their own local resources which is a base for each development. the organisations and others you just come in to provide a technical assistance*
This post was edited on: 2007-09-04 at 03:15 AM by: Raphael Mlozoa
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Anita
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Re: Socio-Economic Gaps - Can they be practically Bridged?
September 5, 2007 - 12:25 AM
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The aspect of technology in bridging gaps is a recent availability. The full potential of this capacity is yet to be explored completely. Technology tody is creating newer methods to understand global issues and problems and also devise strategies to solve them. It is generating awareness and sensitivity towards issues. This mode of high speed communication is definitely a boon to poeple all over working towards reducing inequity.
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