Rich and Poor VS. Lifeboat Ethics

RICH AND POOR VS LIFEBOAT ETHICS

Introduction

The gap between the rich and the poor in the world has continued to increase with no solution at sight . In rich and poor nations , the difference between the rich and the poor is still widening despite various efforts aimed at reducing the gap . The wealth nations continue to be rich while the poor nations continue to be poor . This has been brought by the inequitable distribution of resources in the world and lack of world policies that would lead to equitable distribution of

resources . This has been due to lack of a justifiable distribution network that would give the rich and the poor equal rights in access of resources . In this is the rule of justice that is likely to determine how we achieve equity in distribution of resources which further accounts for the richness and poverty

Do we have the right to be rich or poor

Peter Singer provided an important insight about the right for one to be rich or poor . Singer explores different factors and theory , which relate to the state of poverty and richness . He argues on how the rich considers it their right to be rich while the poor looks upon the rich to assist them from poverty . In the context of social justice , we fail to achieve this equity based on its formulation and the way it addresses the needs of the poor and the rich

Inequality becomes a justifiable state of life in the society based on the resource distribution network . Singer looks at the Rawls principle of maximum rule which seeks to maximize the minimum level of welfare that exists in the society . This is a great contrast to the principle that guarantees maximum liberty for all . Since the concern is on economic redistribution , the Singer looks at Rawls maximum principle in this context of resources in the society (Singer , 1975

The principle is equal to major inequality in the society . Taking an example of taxation in the society , those who are highly taxed would be justifiable to keep more as compared to those who work less . This means that there are those in the society who would be allowed to keep more even when others have less . This makes the worse-off to be worse than before and the rich to be richer than before

But what would happen when we come to the access of basic needs like food and medical care in the society ? In light of maximum principle the poor will be obliged to pay for the medical services that they receive . In this case they will be paying for the medical services at the same price with those who are rich . The bedrock of inequality in the society is the weakness in the redistribution law

Garret Hardin provides us with another outlook at the issue of the poor and the rich in the society . He takes the example of lifeboat ethics to justify the case against helping the poor . According...