If you had the power to fix one of the world's problems, which would it be?

If you had the power to fix one of the world's problems, which would it be?

I'll argue for and against fixing poverty:

Firstly - If you fixed poverty it would sort out hunger and disease as well. Plenty of money means the ability to purchase all those expensive drugs from the first world - you would need unlimited funds though - because a glut in the market of money would just cause the pharmacutical companies to raise their prices etc until you progressed to hyperinflation. Well that's not so good.

If we make all the world's countries like the US (as an eg for unlimited funds in a country - I know that plenty of Americans live below the poverty line) it would most likely lead to an increase in environmental destruction (all those concrete roads everywhere). Not good again.

Fixing poverty would lead to an increase in equality between different countries - increasing the tendency for war between countries. Very bad. Although war promotes industry which raises GNP.

So - difficult - I believe my point is that you can't fix one thing without fixing all things - universal balance and all that jazz.

I voted for racism and hatred

Enviromental destruction because if you thought it was hard to feed the people now/today ... wait till the population doubles and the average earth's temperature rises a few more degrees. ...

they'll be nothing but flood and famine!

i vote for political corruption...when corruption pervades, and integrity is lost, governance is lost and if governance goes, there is nothing to tackle the challenges we face...the challenges of poverty, hunger, disease, environmental destruction and wars...

I would say poverty (and I don't mean everyone has SUVs and big cars, but basic needs, such as food and shelter and access to medical care) because when people have their basic needs met they can afford to begin to worry about the others. It is hard to care about the rainforest and the environment when you can't feed your children. You don't often see big campaigns to save the homeless dogs when a large percentage of the population is sleeping on the street. An interesting topic that can bring about a lot of positive and informative debating!

Wish I could solve ALL of above but OK, I’ll try to manage with one and that will be the Political Corruption. Because, all other problems can be solved (well, at least the intensity can be reduced) if we have honest decision makers.

Hmmm... my choice is not listed here

I will keep all the irresponsible persons (can't call them trekkers), those who litters, make loud noises and treats trek only as venue for party at exotic locations, well out of the trails.

I know, I know, its not an issue worth mentioning at the same thread which had listed Proverty, Hunger, Racism, Corruption, etc, etc....
But someone has to think of small issues too!

Anindya

Hi I voted for political corruption, cause I believe if we have people with integrity and courage to be true leaders in political office, we can mitigate, poverty and hunger to a great extent, take right decisions so as not to go to war and promote democracy thereby not allowing dictatorship

If Maslow can be trusted, then the vote must be for hunger.

For example, if you were unfortunate enough to be poor, hungry, ill and living as a minority in a racist, polluted, corrupt dictatorship, which would be your priority to fix?

I would try to fix political corruption as it pervades the society here and even though India has a Surplus of Food grains ,yet 1 out of 3 people here everyday go without food at night.

I am surprised that the biggest problem that is -

Population

hasnt been provided as an option....this problem if solved then more than half of others would be solved automatically

Depends on your perspective...

India? Hugely overpopulated and in desperate need of a public campaign on contraception or self-control

However, there are countries in Western Europe where the decline of population growth is a big concern - the mean pop. average age is getting older! An extreme case is Scotland, where the population (from an article I saw a little while back) is declining! (The urge to crack a joke at this point is great, but I'll excercise a bit of self-control myself)

Point taken Penri
but looking from a global viewpoint
Population still seems to be the biggest problem....

reducing population is a more to be noted in countries with harsh climates like Russia, Few East and central european countries...
if things go they way they are goin....no guarantee that these places will also wont be effected from the spill over effects.

If this incarnation is school wherein we are afforded opportunities to learn who we really are, then I would choose not to wave my magic wand in order to 'fix' any of the world's problems. Iwould then vote none of the above...

This coming from a person who works for a company that generates funding to help feed hungry humans & pets, provide free mammograms, preserve rainforest, pay for child health care and provide free books for children... Ah, the paradox of it all!!!

The idealist in me would vote to remove the veil of ignorance, slice and dice that which blinds us from knowing who we are and promotes separation consciousness.