The Poor

Overheard a discussion on the poor in Singapore. Someone said the poor will continue being poor as most of them are not well-educated and this limits the jobs they can take up. When asked how such situations can be improved such that the poor can move out of the rut, most just beat about the bush.

Actually, the Singapore government has already put in place long-term plans on helping the poor break the vicious cycle: compulsory education. Education is one of the platforms that can help the next generation break out of the poverty circle of the current generation. Call it an investment into the future.

However, to eradicate poverty is not possible in any country or society simply because poverty is relative. A country can be prosperous, but there will always be a group of people who cannot keep up with the country's economic growth. In other words, the poor will always be amongst us. The thing to be concerned is whether we can decrease the odds of the poor (including the next generation) from becoming poorer.