Gap Between Rich and Poor: Problem of Economic Disparity
In my opinion, providing welfare aid to the needy is a matter of justice for eliminating economic inequality between rich and poor, thus solving the problems brought by income disparities. Besides, people should not be allowed to have insufficient food and even risk suffering from starvation in an affluent society as it is a human right to maintain basic living. In gap between rich and poor essays this topic is discussed.
First and foremost within rich and poor inequality essay, as John Rawls points out ,one of the principle of justice that each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others. The second principle is that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage, and attached to positions and offices open to all. Therefore, by distributing welfare aid to the poor fulfill the Theory of Justice by Rawls by bringing social justice to the poor. It is a basic economic protection for the poor, especially the elderly .It ensures they can maintain their basic living when they do not have ability to work after retirement or due to worsening health condition. Even the citizen does not have any family dependents, he can still rely on the welfare aid system for basic living when he retired. It shows that it is a justice to those aging people who cannot rely on their families for care, that they can receive allowance to satisfy their basic needs and alleviate their economic burden , such as medical services and transportation fee . For example, the elders can enjoy $2 per trip for public transport.
Secondly, widening income inequality will lead to different life prospects .For example, the educational achievement gap between poor and wealthier children, which may further contributes to intergenerational poverty. When compares to children from richer families, poor children tend to have lower education level and receive less finical assistance from their family for their study, such as may not going to learning tour oversea or even affording for a computer. According to a 2013 study conducted by Education University, admission rates to universities in Hong Kong were nearly the same between the number of students of poor and wealthy families in 1991 – 8 per cent compared to 9.3 per cent. In 2011, the gap had grown fourfold to 13 per cent and 48 per cent.It clearly describes that income disparity can lead to the difference in educational level between the rich and poor. However, education is an important stepping stone out of poverty as poverty can be transmitted from one generation to the next.As a conclusion , by offering welfare aid to the poor family, it can help to eradicate the problem of intergenerational poverty as the impoverished students can have higher chance to receive university education, hence seeking a higher-income job that help lifting their families out of poverty. Providing subsidy brings justice to poor children to enjoy study opportunities.
Moreover, income inequalities are matched by inequalities in health care and inequalities in life expectancy. If the poor family lacks health insurance, savings of a family can be wiped out because of a health problem. According to Government Accountability Office of The US, almost three-quarters of rich Americans who were in their 50s and 60s in 1992 were still alive in 2014. Only half of poor Americans in their 50s and 60s in 1992 made it to 2014.It shows that richer people have more resources in health care as they can afford the expensive medical expenditure.Therefore, providing welfare aid bring justice to the poor that they could have a longer life expectancy.
Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations, whereas the sovereign states have an indispensable responsibility to assure an array of social rights to citizens.Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
On that account, to conclude inequality between rich and poor essay, every single person should have equal rights to maintain his basic needs , including having sufficient food.
