Pampering the poor can make them dependent - From a social entrepreneur

Rizal  Philippines   April 19, 2014

Today is Black Saturday.  The Lord is not with us today. Time to reflect.

Sometime early this week, Fr. Javy Alpasa spoke on TV about "pampering the poor" can make them dependent.

The social entrepreneurs from the Ashoka Foundation, advocate not only teaching those who have less in  life how to fish but even going one step further:  revolutionizing, innovating the fishing industry.  Giving him fish, gives him only a meal.  Teaching him how to fish gives him a lifetime.

Giving, pampering the poor is the way of the politicians.  It strengthens the politics of patronage and feudalism where the farmers/poor depend on the landlords.  Thus it is to the best interest of the landlords the powerful and rich to keep the masses poorer and ignorant.




I have heard from the homily of a priest in a mass at SM Megamall, that the beatitude on "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"  does not mean God favors the poor, but means that the poor can grow rich.  This beatitude has been used as an excuse to use poverty as an alibi not to try.

Thus we not only make them dependent but  later on become abusive. and become a challenge to the LGUs meager resources.  What happened to civic consciousness, ie, serving the country, even from the poor.? Since they deliver the votes:  they dump garbage irresponsibly, they harangue the politician is help does not come (despite being warned to evacuate)

This post is not anti poor.  We were squatters before.  But we overcame our poverty.  The theological term is we transcended that cycle of being poor.

The poor must not be made poor, but must be made productive.  They must become and taught entrepreneurship.  Ito ay ating "pananagutan"