Everybody today should pay a small amount from their income in order to help people who are homeless and/ or suffering great poverty. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this?
Modern society suffers from a great number of social issues, such as an aging population, migration, and inequality. Poverty is one of the underlying problems. That is why nowadays one can hear the opinion that everyone should pay a portion of their income to help those who are less fortunate. However, this statement has not garnered support from society, and personally, I believe that this measure could do more harm than good.
First of all, there are many causes of poverty, and the main ones include a lack of education, high unemployment rates, economic instability, and social inequality. All these reasons are a concern not just for individuals, but also for the government. It is the government that must fight against economic disparity. Each country has people who live from hand to mouth and barely get by on welfare, which is even less than the minimum wage. Furthermore, the proposed measure seems to be a form of charity, which can provide immediate relief, but it is not a sufficient long-term solution. Charity addresses the symptoms rather than the root of the issue. Finally, this ‘small amount’ could be not as small as it appears. For many families who live on the breadline, a penny saved is a penny earned.
On the contrary, society is much more powerful than the government. Only people can lend a hand to the needy. A minor part of people’s income could provide funds for better social services, subsidies, and financial assistance.
To sum up, both opinions have merit. As for me, I strongly believe that poverty is a significant issue that should be addressed by the government, not ordinary people.