You raise a challenging point, and it’s a challenging conversation because discussion of “redistributing existing wealth” often causes knee-jerk accusations of socialist leanings. But regardless of politics (and I’m not accusing you of being a socialist, BTW!) the fact remains: with capitalism, poverty is inevitable.

Of course, it’s inevitable anyway (Mark 14, John 12) but that doesn’t excuse us of the responsibility to make hard choices–the other reason it’s a challenging conversation. Because as much as our heart strings may be plucked or our tear ducts jerked by movies like Slumdog, we really don’t want to pay extra for fair-trade coffee or clothes made under fair labor laws in Cambodia. And we REALLY don’t want to live in a tiny house so someone in another country can also have a tiny one–we want a big one, thanks, and they’re on their own.

I don’t know the answer.

Having witnessed poverty in India and S. America first hand, I think a systemic solution is required. Feble attempts to sponsor a child (which are noble and worthwhile endeavors) cannot really bring the change we want to see.

Solely from a socio-econiomic response to the issues that this movie and your blog raise, there are seemingly two options. We create more wealth that can be distributed or we redistribute the existing wealth. From my experience, it is easier to wax eloquent about proverty (I am guilty too) in the Africas, Asia and S. America than it is to pay more for my Nike shoes so that a child sewing them in Indonesia can earn a dollar a day rather than 50 cents.

The more deply rooted our societies are in systems like Capitalism, the more G8 summits we have, the more governments are charged with protecting the interests of its citizens – poverty is inevitabe and charity the only hope of the oppressed. But even if we were to assume that the greed of capitalism disappeared; are we willing to let our children live in conditions lesser than ours to allow the Chinese or Indians a better life? How far are we willing to go when we talk of equality?

I don’t believe in the same things as you do but I definitely agree with this “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded”

And whats depressing is that the povert in Mumbai is actually worse than what is depicted in the movie.

Why are some unlucky girls, through no fault of their own, sold into a brothel, and all that is required of me is getting my homework done on time?

ridiculous. and even sickening.
I mean, I am forever grateful to God for my (extremely) comfortable circumstance.

Thank you for pointing out the verse. I’ve realized this year that it is imperative that we act.