In this essay, Theodore describes what he interprets to be the state of poverty in varying countries in today's world. His main focus resides in, what he terms the "welfare state", or England. Dalrymple talks about how in England people take advantage of the government's welfare system, which in effect eliminates his understanding of poverty; by this he means that even the poorest class in England are treated with shelter, food, medicine and entertainment free of charge by the government. He contrasts this state of poverty with that which he observed in Africa: lepers with their noses rotted off, people with heart failure walking eight miles in 120 degree heat to get treatment and then walking back home, etc.
The main point that Theodore tries to get across throughout his essay is that in "welfare states" such as England and most of the current members of the European Union, it has become practice for the poorest of the poor to take advantage of the government; thereby not learning/gaining any values out of the experience of being poor and keeping the "Devil's Temptations" a part of their daily lives (drugs, gambling, prostitution, etc.).
Overall, I loved Theodore's essay on what he believes to be poverty. I agree with him in his observations of the welfare states and how their poor are suckled into contention. I also feel that having poverty is healthy for a society, being a capitalist, because it evens out the scales and teaches good ethics/morals; every family tree has a low point on it, and this is where they find their values to live by.
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Yeah, so I utterly disagree with you on this... yeah. I see the point that Theodore was attempting to make, but I have read and heard other essays and articles and what not about all this. They all seem to come from the cream of society. I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that the poor find welfare lifestyle a content lifestyle to live in. I don't know incredible amounts of less than fortunate people, but I do know some and I know they labor themselves through incredibly arduous hours daily and still can't afford a car that isn't going to fall apart in one year anyways. I guess there may be some people like Theodore describes, but that certainly isn't the majority of the lower classes.
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