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0 pointsMatticus_Rex3y ago0 comments

In what ways does poverty in the UK look worse than poverty in India?

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Poverty in the west is often of a different kind than in India. Deep poverty in India can look living in self build house in a slum, with no or low and irregular income most of which goes straight into food and necessities.

Deep poverty in the west often looks like having a stable income and roof, but being completely overwhelmed by high unavoidable static costs such as rent, health insurance, loan paybacks, etc. Of course this style of poverty is also present in India

They're different kinds of experience. I suspect the former is more dangerous, scary and unpleasant, but the latter is more depressing and suffocating.

Matticus_RexOP3y ago

It's more depressing and suffocating than extremely high rates of malnutrition, less educational and institutional access, a stricter class system , having to cook with fuels like dung, poor sanitation, awful maternal health? Color me skeptical.

dan_mctree3y ago

Malnutrition is common in the west too, though it more often takes the form of unhealthy overeating. Lack of physical exercise and lives lived inside also contribute to poor every day health. You're right that sanitation and maternal health are better in the west, but those are things that tend to outright kill you if they get to you. The western style health issues are more constant and boring, leading to a different type of suffering.

Likewise with the institutional access and class system, the west has a more sort of guaranteed based level of societal support. But in India, chances are larger that you'll have a more local social support group of family and friends. In comparison the west is often much more isolated and lonely

Obviously I'd still prefer being poor in the west, but I think it's reasonable to say we also have forms of suffering here that are different in kind and sometimes worse than in India

advisedwang3y ago

I understand those in poverty in India are typically still part of a religious, family or social community. In the UK those in poverty are often completely isolated.

Sometimes community can provide a safety net, but even a community so poor that it can't help materially is better for, e.g. mental health.

cuteboy193y ago

You won't freeze to death without heating

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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dan_mctree3y ago

They're different kinds of experience. I suspect the former is more dangerous, scary and unpleasant, but the latter is more depressing and suffocating.

Matticus_RexOP3y ago

dan_mctree3y ago

Obviously I'd still prefer being poor in the west, but I think it's reasonable to say we also have forms of suffering here that are different in kind and sometimes worse than in India

advisedwang3y ago

I understand those in poverty in India are typically still part of a religious, family or social community. In the UK those in poverty are often completely isolated.

Sometimes community can provide a safety net, but even a community so poor that it can't help materially is better for, e.g. mental health.

cuteboy193y ago

You won't freeze to death without heating

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse