Comments on Defeating Global Poverty: Why government jobs aren't the solution

I agree with Joe that this caste system actually i...

2007-07-31T22:42:00.000-07:00

I agree with Joe that this caste system actually is a (global) worldview. In the book ‘Natural history of rape’, the authors claim that rape is an evolutionary adaptation, a natural, biological phenomenon that is a product of the human ‘evolutionary’ heritage - the survival of the fittest. Darwinism is not just a scientific theory but also the basis of a worldview – and it has implications for the way we define human nature, morality and even poverty.

Yes it is a rotten job but it must be done. Otherw...

2007-07-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yes it is a rotten job but it must be done. Otherwise you need to deal with the disease that is caused by the manure. Rs3000 is nothing to sneeze at by Indian standards.Not great but could be worse. I suppose the job should be unionized like western nations in sanitation departments. Even westerners deal with feacal matter. The pay can increase. Caste system must be broken. True

It is somewhat sobering to think that Gandhi was t...

2007-07-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

It is somewhat sobering to think that Gandhi was talking about this issue more than 60 years ago, yet little has changed. The question is what would happen if you were able to give this lady a microfinance option. Does she have the education or options to make a different lifestyle choice? Would she, in fact, be in a worse situation with reference to her community if she was seen to be trying to improve herself?

Of course, this is not to say that something should be done. Of course the caste system is disgusting and should be broken. But we should beware of apparently simple solutions.

I'd also suggest that there is a kind of global caste system - whereby the rich get richer and the poor suffer - which is far more odious. It is not just Indians holding other castes in poverty, but all of us.

Hi NickJim here (aka Daves friend)- I am looking f...

2007-07-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Nick

Jim here (aka Daves friend)- I am looking forward to seeing you in Seattle.

The mindset/worldview issue you raise is central to the problem. That worldview in India is generated by the Hindu Brahministic caste system.

Lower caste people are told and treated as if they are less than human, consequently they dont expect as much from themselves as they might in other worldviews systems.

Fixing someones worldview or view of themself is pretty daunting work. Even with money it doesnt mean you will succeed, thus the saying you can take people out of the ghetto but you cant take the ghetto out of people.

Strategies like microfinance help "build" peoples personal view by providing them self respect and dignity and a small feeling of success which tends to engender hope and cause more anticipation of success.

I have aligned with Sunil Sardar in his quest to Stop Caste Now since I think this ancient system is at the root of all the other issues.

here is a video you can watch if you are interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVJ8ICsm6wM

and continue

Dave, Great blog as always, and this is a powerful...

2007-07-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Dave, Great blog as always, and this is a powerful and sobering piece. But based on your friend’s explanation, isn’t the issue as much about the defecators’ distorted worldview? Microfinance could lift many of the street cleaners into better jobs, but I don't know how you solve the other side of the problem.