The Great Twitter Exchange (January 19, 2012)

There's a dark side and a light side to social media and the internet as a whole.  Everyone is all too familiar with the dark side . . . trolls, drive by Twitter attacks, stalking, loss of privacy or identity, hacking, viruses, etc.  However, I want to draw attention to the light side, and especially a recent exchange that I had on Twitter.

When thinking of the positives that arise through social media and the internet, one can easily point to sharing of humour that brightens people's day as well as being able to access and distribute a plethora of information on any given topic.  But there's something even better than that.  At least I think so.  The shrinking of the world so that strangers from different spots on the Earth can exchange ideas in real time.

Communication is absolutely central to That Poverty Project.  It's all about sharing information about poverty in order to create better awareness about the greatest issue facing the world today.  Accordingly, I'm on the internet all the time and constantly "plugged in" to social media, especially Twitter and Facebook.  Out in cyberspace I find kindred spirits who share my concern as well as those who believe I am a waste of good oxygen.  (Yes, it gets that bad.)  Quite frequently, I find myself engaged in passionate discussions with people I've never met.  

Yesterday I was involved in a Twitter exchange that was one of my favourite discussions to date.  It involved an honest exchange of ideas; and, while we didn't necessarily see eye to eye on all issues, we remained civil and respectful to one another.  The following is the transcipt of the exchange:

That Poverty Guy (TPG):  "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." ~ Gandhi

Other Fellow (OF):  Agreed. Spirits like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, etc whose determination changes the world, improves productivity & creates jobs.

TPG:  :)  Yes . . . and Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela . . . there's many examples.

OF:  Well, those examples will NOT remove poverty unfortunately; Production, economic growth creates jobs that eliminates poverty.

TPG:  Poverty is complex. Jobs are important. Employed can still be impoverished. Need rights, education. And some can't work.

OF:  Agreed. What is not complex is the fact that rule-based Capitalism (not crony capitalism) has lifted millions out of poverty.

TPG:  (multiple tweets) Agreed. Job creation is a good thing. However, it's not the be all and end all. Some also suffer under the system.  Your original point was about jobs being the key to ending poverty, and  my point is that is just one aspect. What about seniors, disabled, income inequality, etc. Need big picture plan.

OF:  Big picture plan starts with a robust economy that allows Govt. to have tax receipts necessary to help seniors, disabled etc.

TPG:  We have the resources now. It's just a matter of priorities. Spending money servicing the problem instead of fixing it.

OF:  Yes we have the resources to help people in the advanced economies of the world;Most poverty is in Asia, Africa & S. America.

TPG:  Yes, but we have those resources, too. It costs only fraction of what we spend on military worldwide.

OF:  We have provided a lot of aid $$ to Africa,& it has clearly not worked;I'm ALL for HELPING; I just don't think handouts work.

TPG:  Handouts only work in emergency. Most aid is not handout anymore. Only 0.7% GDP of top donor countries will meet MDG's.

OF:  My point is that years of aid $ has NOT worked! Why is that?Aid $ will NEVER work unless countries initiate Economic reforms.

TPG:  Patience. Some things have not worked but now a lot of things are. Just need more. Nations must meet their commitments.

OF:  If changes are made, FINE; But doing the same thing we have been doing for decades and expecting different results is INSANITY.

TPG:  Agreed. Many changes are already happening. We must also have patience. Sustainable development is a process.

OF:  Agree with each of your points: changes, patience, sustainable development. We have total agreement here!!

TPG:  Well then I guess all that is left to say is . . . Have a great day and thanks for the discussion!

OF:  Thank you for the discussion; poverty is the worst indignity a man can suffer and we agree that it can and will be removed.

Be respectful. 
Share ideas with one another without fear or defensiveness. 
Remain open to learning and adjusting your ideas accordingly. 
And, above all, treat others as you wish to be treated. 

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 79 - 80 (January 18^th – January 19^th)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  217 lbs

Available Funds:   $1.11 (leftover) + $7.50 (Jan 18) + $10.50 (Jan 19) = $19.11
Funds Spent Today:  $3.77 (Purchases)
Remaining Funds:   $15.34

New Loan:  $0.00
Loan Payment Due Today: $0.00
Loan Payment:   $0.00
Outstanding Loan: $25.73 as at Jan 17th (originally $50.00 Loan on Jan 3, $25.00 principal remaining) @ 3% per month = $25.78 Owing as at Jan 19^th . . . full re-payment due January 31^st (or earlier)

Items Purchased:   Breakfast at A & W (used coupon)

Free Stuff:   Nil

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.0 litres @ $1.109 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 3.62 litres (gas remaining) = 3.62 litres (36.2 km)
Driving Today:  16.0 km (i.e. 1.60 litres)
Gas Remaining:  2.02 litres (i.e. 20.2 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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