GCSE RE - WEALTH AND POVERTY

Maslow says self actualisation and esteem are the most important things to make you happy.

Why are some people rich and others poor?

• Luck/Chance - The family you're born into, lottery win etc.

• Family - Inheritance, background

• Motivation

• Talent/Creativity

• Health

• Society and Location

• Employment/Stock/Investments

• Race and Gender

• Environmnet and People

• Education

• The average full - time salary in the UK - £26,500
• The top 25% of full - time workers - £33,000
• The top 10% of full - time workers - £50,500
• The top 5% of full - time workers - £68,500
• The top 1% of full - time wotkers - £156,000

The top 0.1% are:

• 90% male.
• 50% - 45 - 54 year group.
• 31% - London, 21% - South East England.
• 33% of these people are company directors.
• 30% work finance and 38% in general bussiness (includes law).
• The top 1% of wealthiest people in the UK hold 21% of the total wealth of the country.
• 300,000 teenagers in the UK are on benefits.

• UK relative poverty line is measured as being under 60% of the average household income in the UK (£15,000).

• Absolute poverty is defined as someone living on less than 75p per day.

• The poverty trap is where an increase in income results in loss of benefits, meaning that the household are financially no better off.

• Children from poorer backgrounds lag at all stages of education.
• More than three quarters of 627 primary, secondary and college teachers in England, Wales and northern Ireland who responded to the survey belived they taught children living in poverty.
• More than 85% of the teachers who responded to the survey said they believed that poverty had a negative social impact on the well - being of students.
• 71% lack in confidence, 65% missed out on activites, 73% arrive hungry.

• Poverty is also associated with a higher risk of both illness and premature death.
• Children born in the poorest areas of the UK, weigh, on average 200g less at birth than those born in rich area's.

• There are 3.6 million living in poverty in the UK today.
• Families with children are more likely to be poor than people without one.
• In 2009/10, 53% of those living below the poverty line had children.

• Around two - fifths of people from ethnic minorities live in low income households, twice the rate for white people.
• For all ages, people from ethnic minorities are, on average, much more likely to live in low income households than white people.
• The poverty rate among ethnic minority groups in Britain is 40% as much for white people.

• 'No one can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'
• 'For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God'.
• 'If your wealth is God - given show your thanks by giving 10% away'.
• 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'.

Child Poverty Action Group

• Raise awareness of the causes, extent and impact of child poverty.
• Strategies to remove child poverty.
• Provide advice lines.

BUT

• Not doing enough ractical work to stop poverty.
• Only provide help for children, but what about adults?
• Aim towards government - so can do more.

Christians Against Poverty

• Get rid of people debt - personal.
• Come up with realistic plans to repay the debt.
• Provide advice and organise stratagies to payback debts.
• Getting rid of debt will benefit people in their future

The Prince's Trust

• Designed for young people, 16 - 25 year olds, to get into work.
• Provides people with work expericne and qualifications.
• Gain many life skills and confidence.
• Gets people to experience a work day - for actual experience.

BUT

• Only help a certain age range.
• Prejudge and stereotyping towards young people from employers.
• Not a proper job - working paid

Salvation Army

• Offer support to help people become job ready, to get a job, and to stay in work.
• Help people furthest from unemployment or who have been unemployed for a long time.
• Provide short - term work experience - gain people confidence.

BUT

• If they don't get enough money, they cannot continue as a national charity, and not all can benefit.
• People cannot get work experience if they have been out of work for a long time.

Do people in poverty need a ladder? Are they actually unable to help themselves? 

(BSA, 2008 SURVEY)

Many people think there are people in need because:

• People are unlucky - 10%
• Reflects social injustice - 20%
• Laziness/lack of willpower - 27%
• Inevitable part of life - 34%
• No answer - 9%

• The government makes cuts, young people frustrated.
• Young people have ambitions, but government keep making cuts.
• Government make cuts on youth places, young people unhappy as their oppurtunities are taken away.
• Riots happened,
• Argumentd for more oppurtunities.

• Unexpected redundance.
• Where you are born, what family you have, your background.
• Social mobility - will you stay as you are/your potential, e.g. the same as your parents, job affected by your background, OR will you get out and make something of yourself?

Barnados report, more at risk:

• Lone parents
• Large families
• Parents or children with diabilities
• Black and minority ethnic groups
• Working families

• God not only allows poverty - he chose to be born in it. Born in a 'humble cave', as the least likely place man would look for their saviour.
• Not having pride.
• Poverty accomplishes several things: the act of being served and serving.
• Use free will to love, greed = poverty (because of inequality).
• God works to prevent poverty, just like he does with evil, but he wants our help.

Marxism states:

• There are two major classes (working class, and owning class).
• Socierty is up up to benefit the 'owning classes' at the expense of the working classes.
• This is not fair and needs to be changed.

Example - part time work, do you receive the value of your work? (no...)

Do you think that society is responsible for poverty?

Are wages fair?

Wealth - Overall, things you have.

Wages - What you get.

• 1% of the wealthiest people in the UK hold 13% of the UK's wealth. 
• The top 20% of people hold 63% of the UK's wealth.
• Since 1960's, inequality is on the rise. Poorer stayed the same, richer and more rich.

Solutions to inequality

• Tax the rich.
• Raise the minimum wage.
• Cap fat cat salaries (lower the maximum wage).

Problems

• Dodge taxes, companies would move elsewhere.
• Cause unemployment, poor motivation, costs increase.
• Why would I do this job attitude.

The national lottery began on the 19th November, 1994

Disadvanatges of playing the lottery:

• Little chance of winning
• There have been incidents where convicted criminals have won

Lottery money spent on:

• £4 million Livingston football club
• £750,000 gift to ex - wife
• £500,000 charities
• £200,000 wedding
• £2.5 million gifts to family
• £500,000 new home
• £500,000 spanish apartment
• £500,000 cars
• £250,000 holidays
• £150,000 jewellery for wife

Wages in the UK should be fairer?

• Not equal, just fairer
• What impact do you make on others?

• If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treaure in heaven'.
• 'Love of money is the root of all evil'.
• 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself'.
• 'Look to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways & be wise'.
• Tithe - Be grateful and guve what you earn to the less fortunate. Show you care for others and are generous

From every £1.00, 28p goes to a 'good cause'.

• Arts - 16.67%
• Heritage - 16.67%
• Sport - 16.67%
• Health, education, environment, charitable - 50%

Large grants have been given to:

• The Royal Opera
• British Museum