Monday, February 20, 2006

How to eliminate poverty

There is much written about the relationship of poverty to education. It can be easily demonstrated that poverty and education are inversely related, thus the reduction of poverty is a worthy goal.

However, we cannot reduce poverty by giving money to the poor and/or poorly educated.

Instead, may I suggest that only when people wish to become educated and demonstrate a willingness to pursue knowledge can we have any hope of reducing poverty.

The goal isn't how to find more money for the poor. It is how to inspire the poor to value education and in this way lift themselves from poverty in the only sustainable way, by determination and hard work.

Anything else is a pipe dream.

But maybe it's just me.