In the societies, poor people are viewed differently and this only depends on ones attitude towards them. In very many societies, people are grouped into deferent classes depending on the wealth one has or possesses. Some of the people, who happen to fall in the bracket of the rich, tend to hate poor people hence making the gap between the rich and the poor to be very large. The society refers to those living in it and not just the way many people may think of it to be. Without people, the name society can exist no more. Not all the rich people hate their fellows who are poor but only to the few. Due to this wide gap that exists between the poor and the rich, poor people feel humiliated and useless. People are therefore left with one question to ask concerning the status of the poor. They question asked is, Does the society have more obligations for the poor?
This question is left hanging because people still do not understand why some are created rich or wealthy while others poor. For the poor to live a good life there has to be cooperation between the poor and the rich. The rich or wealthier fellows should support the poor financial so as to accomplish their dreams in life. This will in turn bridge up the gap existing between these two classes and people will be ranked equally. Though this is what is expected of the wealthy people but in a real life situation, a research carried out in the previous years showed that the rich were not willing to give freely to help their poor fellows. It is therefore the work of the society to find ideal ways of bridging this gap or helping the poor by offering assistance where needed. The wealthy in the society are always taxed to by various organs or bodies within the society of which the money collected from them are used to help the poor and to set out some of the projects within the society that can help both the poor and the rich but specifically to those suffering fellows. From this taxation, it can be clearly seen that the society is much concerned about the poor and tries to offer them more alternatives that can make them fit in the society without going through a lot of tribulations.
The society also aims at redistributing wealth in the society to enhance equality among people. This is done through some social mechanism that cannot result to any kind of trouble. Some of the procedures or criteria used are things like taxation, monetary policies, welfare and nationalism. Not to forget is the charity or tort law. This always refer to the progressive distribution of resources from the rich to the poor and the vice versa. This kind of distribution is mainly based on the economic and ethical grounds. There are very many types of redistribution depending on the aim of the society. (Malcolm, 2002) There is what is known as income redistribution that is done in a way that, a high income earner, is to pay more tax or is to be taxed more that a low income earner. The money collected from this kind of taxation is therefore used or distributed equally in an indirect manner between the poor and the rich.
This is another technique in which the society tries to provide equality among its people and to cater for the poor. A progressive income levy triggers equal distribution of wealth or resources between the two classes based on the economical status of the community. Though there are many types of distributions set in the society, the paper only focuses on two redistribution process that involves property equality among people. Finally, based on the matter of redistribution of resources, property redistribution of another method set in the society to help in bridging the gap between the poor and the rich. This involves nationalization of property in which one is forced to declare his or her property available to others who might not be in a position to own such kinds of properties. This kind of action is governed by certain principles of which all the people must adhere to. There are also programs set to deal with these situations such as land reforms, inheritance levy and eminent domain.
Some of the fellows do not accept the terms of these kinds of redistributions as they say that it is unfair and is therefore up to no good to the society. This is so because of the methods used in achieving equality in the society. The complains mainly come from the wealthy or rich people who view the actions taken by these bodies with a different perspective claiming that they should be allowed to give generously and with good faith instead of using some king of bad methods in forcing properties out of their ownership. To the poor, there is no problem as they really appreciate the bodies established in the society to enable equality. Not to forget is another complain and perception of the wealthy people in relation to the process of redistribution. They claim that redistribution is some kind of theft and a way of bringing them down financially in favor of others who did not even work for the money collected from them that is in turn meant to help them
With this kind of programs in place, the question that forms the thesis of this paper may some kind of find its answer in an indirect manner in relation to the efforts made by the society in ensuring good life is guaranteed to all despite of the financial bridge that exist between the two mentioned classes. From all the actions observed in this paper, the society has a great concern for the lives of the poor hence provides more obligations to the poor in the society as an answer to the hanging question that is left unanswered. From these actions taken in the society, it can also be seen that people if left alone to conduct their own lives, human race can go into extinction as the wealthy only involves in actions that favor their own interests. The wealthy used to the poor to achieve some of their selfish desires in life neglecting the fact that they are also human beings and opt to be treated in the same ways they treat themselves.
The poor are well taken care of in the society and all the efforts made by the society are to ensure comfort and good life for them. There are very many actions that the society involves in apart from draining money from the poor that are ideal and can help in curbing the problems faced by the poor people. From various researches that were carried out in the previous years, life has not been good to the poor as they it is said that they find it very difficult to cope with the advanced technology because it is the matter of technology that raise the living standards of the people. This is so because technology only favors wealthy people who are able to afford its cost to enhance comfort to their lives. Due to the dynamic nature of technology, the society tries to find ways of making those who are unable to cope up with it, get alternative ways of fitting in the race. (Armitage, 2007)Many scholars in the present world have gone deep in the matter and tries to find out how the society handle the battle of class difference and to even cater for the poor.
According to their results, despite the efforts made by the society in ensuring comfort for the poor, they still faced a lot of problems or tribulations that was strongly pinned to their lives. They could still not match of make a step to the economic ladder to evade some of their problems. The society in this case only offers assistance when it comes to some of the basic matters that require urgent attention. The kinds of obligations given to the poor in the society are not necessarily based on the negative side but on the positive side that can in turn make a turning point in their lives. However much the society may also try to make life simpler for the poor, it cannot still succeed as the society belongs to all and it is the people living in a particular jurisdiction that is referred to as the society. It is therefore the responsibility of the rich to cooperate with the poor to enable peace and harmony within the society.
Various opinions are also given out by various writers in their articles or writings that tend to answer the question posted in the as a thesis in this paper. Natalie Roberts, says that the rich have no obligation to give the poor, but as a practical matter they would be wise to do so. The reasons as to why the poor cannot just be abandoned in the society, is to prevent certain negative issues that may arise in the society that may also end up causing a catastrophe or disaster. (Plotnick, 1986) As per the people's perception concerning this matter, a condition does not remain static forever but at one time changes to realize its true meaning. It is said that if the poor are abandoned of left without any kind of support, then the rate of crime rate can climb the ladder to the next level as they will be stricken by poverty and the end result for poverty or decision, is for one to declare his or her live ruined hence engaging into activities such as theft to earn a living. This is one of the reasons as to why the poor are not supposed to be subjected to some kind of negative obligations within the society. Alexander Hamilton also contributed to the comments that were posted by different people concerning the question by saying that the reason as to why we need laws is because mankind is greedy and selfish.
From Alexander's comment, it can be seen that he understands the real meaning of society as he bases his comment on those fellows who are rich and not willing to give so as to help the poor. There are no serous obligations given to the poor by the society except for the rich who tend to put a lot of pressure to the poor with the aim of ruling them indirectly. From this kind of indirect ruling, the rich tend to gain more from the poor only focusing on their own success and wellbeing. Te rich in the society also enjoy every step of economical advancement made but the poor only get much affected by these advancements as they do not have anything to enjoy due to the rise in the living standards that they cannot afford. This therefore calls for the distribution of resources through various means to ensure that when the economy rises, the levies or taxes charged are also increased to help the poor cope up with such changes.
Relating to the question that form the thesis if this paper, the poor in today's world feel a bit better because some of the alternative ways have been found that deals with their problems hence they also tend to make some little improvement economically. In the societies, opportunities have been set out for those who are willing to crab then and successfully use them to achieve better future to escape the issue of poverty. (Murphy, 2000) Very many learning institutions have been established to provide people with equal opportunities in life of making sacrifices for a better tomorrow as it is always said that education is the key to success. This can be termed as an obligation that the society creates for the poor. It is an obligation in the sense that, all those who are willing to have a good life come tomorrow, must sacrifice for it by gaining knowledge that can in turn enable then get employed. For those who are not willing, they are left with no any other alternative apart from rendering themselves to be poor and be subjected to poverty and hunger that awaits them in the future.
Another obligation that the society subjects the poor to, is struggle for survival, everyone is supposed to work extra hard to earn living. Without work, one cannot get anything to eat or any amount of money to meet some of his or her basic requirements in life. This being an obligation that the poor are subjected to within the society, it falls on the positive side as it is one of the common and basic obligation that everyone has to adhere to whether wealthy or poor. These are some of the obligations that are that the society has in place for the poor. From the way they are presented, it can be noticed that they do not fall on the negative side but on the positive side. They are only meant to shape one's life and to give a direction that one should follow in order to achieve some of his or her set goals and objectives in life. The society has no more obligations for the poor apart from the basic ones that are mentioned in this paper. The kind of obligations that the society is supposed to give to its suffering fellows or people, should not involve them in some king of pressure as any tough thing or obligation should be simplified so as to favor the poor.
There are also some of the religious arguments that tend to give an answer to this question. The religious arguments are based on the issue of equality that renders everyone equal hence brings the issue of property distribution.(Collins, 2005) This issue is of great concern as various religions are also up to the same question on whether societies have more obligations to the poor. According various religions that exist within the societies, the poor are not also supposed to be subjected to more obligations than they can respond to as this makes life difficult for them. It therefore demands for equality when it comes to matters pertaining to obligations. The wealthy are also supposed to be subjected to certain obligation so as to relieve the poor of too much work. This does not refer to the common meaning of obligations that people know but obligations when it comes to support and any other kind of assistance that the poor may need. The rich are supposed to join hands together so as to relieve the poor out of the tribulations they are going through within the society.
The obligations with a lot of weight to the poor can only be done away with if people abandon or let go the mentalities that they have towards the poor of seeing them as a burden in the society as they try to consume what they did not participate in making. People should also bear in mind that, when poor men advance in life, it opens the windows for opportunity and growth economically. Another message from various people who have gone beyond the bars to examine or investigate more things lying beneath humanity, have called out a request in which they sat that all those fellows with capabilities in the society are supposed to share with the poor so as to enhance the spirit of brotherhood within the society.
The answer to the above question on whether the society, have more obligations to the poor can be concluded that there are no more obligations to the poor. This is so because the kind of obligations presented to the poor are simple and meant to safeguard their future lives. From this paper, the question gets its answer according to some of the reasons given above stating that the society simplifies almost everything for the poor.