Alleviating Poverty via Moral Principles: An Examination
Transforming Our Economic Landscape: A Moral Revolution
I've been shouting from the rooftops for years – it's about time we infuse humanity and morality into our economic systems. We can't continue to ignore the misery of billions worldwide who struggle daily against the brutal tribulations of economic injustice. They deserve better.
In this brief essay, I'll take you on a whirlwind tour of our current economic practices, highlight the problems that stifle progress, and propose a remedy. Buckle up!
The economy, despite its complexities, can be understood as a simple household management system, as the original root of the term "economy" stems from the Greek word "Oikonomia". This signifies that an economic system should assist us in managing our homes – collectively and individually.
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A well-balanced economy would ensure prosperity for all, fostering peace and harmony within our global family. Historically, extreme wealth disparities in societies lead to instability and chaos, resulting in wars and revolutions. Abdu'l-Baha, the articulate voice of the Baha'i faith, echoed this sentiment in this insightful excerpt from a speech given in Canada in 1912:
While it is a family, yet, due to lack of harmonious relations, some members live in comfort while others live in misery; some are content while others are hungry, some wear costly clothes while many families are without food and shelter. Why? Because in this family there is lack of just reciprocity and harmony. This family is not well organized. It is not living under a perfect law. All the laws that govern us do not ensure happiness. They do not provide well-being. Therefore, a law must be established for this family, by means of which all its members must enjoy equal well-being and happiness.
Unfortunately, our current economic reality paints a grim picture. One in every ten people lives on less than $2 a day, and one-third of city dwellers reside in slums. What went wrong? Where did the system fail us?
Perhaps the problem worsened when Adam Smith, an astute observer of economic activities and human behavior, made assumptions and developed a system. He postulated that everyone seeks to maximize self-interest, with self-interest as the primary motivation. He also believed that the market could correct itself, making government intervention unnecessary.
This was practical wisdom to many, but Smith's system left no room for morality or human virtues. It's quite ironic, considering that Smith penned "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" many years before writing "The Wealth of Nations". In that earlier book, Smith cautioned that wealth could corrupt society and warned of the inherent dangers that wealth posed to humanity. However, his warnings were ignored.
The lack of spirituality is at the heart of our economic problems. We have failed to embed a moral component to guide our conscience and actions. In this modern world, money has become a religion, and we have all become zealots, focused on accumulating wealth and personal gain at the expense of others. No one bothers to question if someone is a good person or exhibits noble actions. Such individuals are often perceived as failures in our materialistic, profit-driven society.
It's straightforward to criticize the system, but change starts with us. We can all participate in reforming the system by gradually and continuously injecting virtues into it, nurturing it to become a system sensitive to human needs, responsive to the poor, and respectful of the spiritual aspirations of humanity.
Let's start by practicing virtues like truthfulness, kindness, generosity, and honesty in our daily economic activities. These spiritual virtues, shared among all religions, create an environment of generosity, attention, and cooperation – critical elements in eradicating poverty and empowering the poor. We can also infuse human values into other systems, as all systems suffer from similar afflictions.
O ye rich ones of the earth! The poor are My trust among you; be ye My helpers in safeguarding My trust, and let not the daily necessities of life be withheld from them. - Baha'u'llah
By choosing to act, we acknowledge and accept our part in alleviating the suffering of the poor. Let's not sit idly by and watch millions continue to live in poverty daily, their lives devoid of God's purpose for them because they are too preoccupied fighting for scraps.
We need "Humanomics" – an economy with human elements – because we are humans, and we all aspire to embody those qualities and values. So, what's my role? Can I really make a difference? Yes, we can all create positive change in countless small ways that, collectively, lead to significant shifts.
We must take up the task of architecting a balanced, equitable moral system – one void of greed and extreme wealth that invariably accompanies poverty and economic injustice. In this endeavor, we should all ponder the question that serves as a guide for our actions: How much is enough? When you find the answer, you'll find the virtue of contentment.
Revising our personal measurement scale involves an essential metric: simple living. Throughout history, models of simplicity have been celebrated, with individuals like Abdu'l-Baha, who symbolized simplicity and avoided materialism, standing as beacons of inspiration. By embracing simplicity, we may find financial relief from the constant anxieties that haunt our lives.
The pandemic exposed the precarious state of the poor, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Now the war in Europe has driven millions more into poverty and hunger. The urgency for action is paramount. Baha'i teachings exhort every individual to pay heed to the plight of their fellow human beings, irregardlessly of their station. Baha'u'llah once offered this sage advice to a king:
Fear the sighs of the poor and the righteous of heart, who every morning bewail their condition... They, in truth, are your treasures upon the earth. It behoveth you, therefore, to protect your treasures from the assaults of those who would rob you. Investigate their affairs and inquire each year, nay, each month, into their condition, and be not of those who are neglectful of their duties.
By integrating spiritual virtues into the economic sphere, we shall revolutionize the system from within and transform it into a compassionate, humane one, satisfying both material and spiritual aspirations.
In the pursuit of a unified world economy that ensures prosperity for all, we must acknowledge the role of morality in business and finance. Beyond self-interest, we need to infuse humanity and spirituality into economic practices, embodying virtues such as truthfulness, kindness, and generosity, so that the system becomes sensitive to human needs, responsive to the poor, and respectful of the spiritual aspirations of humanity.
To accomplish this, we should strive to make our economic activities reflect our shared human values, focusing on ethical practices that prioritize the betterment of society rather than solely personal gain. By doing so, we can help create a more equitable and compassionate economic landscape, aligning our actions with the guiding principles of humanity, morality, and spirituality.
