The Cause of Poverty

I'm no longer sure whether poverty is caused by a lack of money or if it is caused by overestimating the value of it. 

Sure, there is a need for money but to what extent?

Some people will have more than others.

Some will be smarter, faster, bigger, stronger, better looking,....

But every productive person should have value and excellence should be rewarded.

Does it cost money to acquire an employable skill, to gain practicable knowledge?

If church is free and they are teaching morality - can anyone ever say that they didn't know any better?

Even if the pastor is wrong in his teachings, anyone can read the Bible for themselves to gain insight.

If school is free K-12 (and even further if one is particularly gifted and/or is a hard worker) - can anyone say that they lack knowledge?

Besides debris pick up - what else is it that FEMA is actually going to do?

After a disaster, the burden of recovery falls on those who survived.

If one has prepared well enough, has a little money and is a little lucky - they should be alright.

If one has no money, no knowledge, no marketable skills, no friends and no faith - they're probably screwed.

Yes, I recognized the need for money,

but only to a point.

There are many people in this area who are currently in need of repairs.

There are several people who possess the necessary skills and knowledge and they can make a little money if they use these traits to fix people's homes.

But their making money is what keeps the poor poor.

There are billions of dollars in damage to this area and FEMA and insurance companies are figuring out new ways to not pay anything for claims.

And still, this is not a problem.

The problem lies with those who expect to be paid for everything they do.

If groups of people work together for the greater good of all - much can be accomplished even with a little.

Sure - food bills, gas bills and household bills must be paid but within a group with no money how much good would money actually do to address the need for clean up and repairs?

And from where is this money supposed to come?

If each home requires tens of thousands of dollars in repairs - what is one to do if no one has no money.

I'm working on houses doing repairs - for free.

Goods and materials must be removed and tossed - replacement and repairs must be done but what if no one really has any money?

If people expect to be paid for everything, nothing ever gets done, homes fall apart no one benefits.

It's pretty much free to sit at home and watch television during a time of need but it's also free to help someone.

If more people helped those around them more work could get done even without money.

There is currently millions of dollars worth of work being done for free,

and this is a good thing.

There are also millions of dollars worth of meals being cooked for and given to perfect strangers and this is also a good thing.

If so many are putting the needs of others ahead of their own wants it shouldn't take long for the area to recover.

If doing good just because it's needed (and not for  money) can help another retain his home, isn't this generating wealth for the homeowner?

If skills are being learned and knowledge is being acquired, isn't the person doing the work worth more to society?

If people spent their idle time being productive and not just being entertained - would not the hood be repaired in no time?

If those who possess knowledge spent their idle time tutoring kids instead of blogging - wouldn't useful knowledge be passed on to another generation?

If everyone perfected what ever it is they do - wouldn't we have a neighborhood filled with trained experts?

If homes were well maintained, schools were filled with children who were anxious to learn, neighbors looked out for each other's well-being (which would reduce crime), and everyone shared their knowledge freely - couldn't the hood still be a nice place to live and at a lower cost?

Wouldn't the money earned at ones job go further because many repair and maintenance bills would be almost eliminated.

Childcare could also be eliminated because family, friends and neighbors could take up the slack if one had to work overtime.

Yes, this sounds like socialism.

But could socialism create more wealth for the many (in terms of  retainable assets) than capitalism?