Mark Sandford                                        Marsh 1

English 200

Mr.Whisnant

Summary

February 08, 2004



               Summary of the Singer Solution to World Poverty



     Both stories proclaim that you should not spend your money on material or

unnecessary things or wants, but to give them to children in foreign countries that we do

not even know. The fact that Dora did not make enough money and that she could only

make ends meet was a key factor to her agreeing to pick up a child and drop it off at a

so-called wealthy foreigner’s house. In return she is given 1,000 dollars to spend at her

leisure, only to be told that night that she gave the child to a children’s organ peddler.

     If Dora in fact did not at least try to get the child back or locate it, then in every

moral situation she would be wrong. To say that her new T.V. is more important or worth

more than the child would be correct. But the fact that we are so easily interested in

making more money, we seem to let our morals just slip away.

     In Bob’s case he has a chance to save a kids life and chooses not to in fear of

losing his classic vintage car, along with the savings which he has not been able to insure.

So in reality he would lose everything he owns, in which case he does not want to lose.

This seems harsh, but the fact is that children die every day because they do not have

enough money to feed and clothe themselves. Is it really up to us to support these total
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strangers that we have never, and will never meet even if we did send them money or

food.

     Both of these people did something morally wrong, but Bob unlike Dora had a

chance to save a life that he could have easily avoided by smashing his old car. Bob is like

the people who have enough money, but are not willing to send to overseas children. Dora

on the other hand let greed overcome her and put the child in the situation which led to

the killing of the child. A lot of people would still think that Bob is worse between the two

considering he chose his car over a little child’s life. In fact you also have to agree that if

you do not send some of your money to overseas organizations then you are like Bob. The

big difference between the people who have the money and Bob is that only Bob can save

the child on the train track. So how come we will not give our hard earned money to these

overseas organizations?

     Singer goes on to say that instead of going out to eat at a nice restaurant, you

should give your money to needy children. How could we spend $200 and some how save

a child’s life? Or how could we give up enough so that you feel like you are making a

contribution to a good cause? Singer also thinks that instead of spending your money on

material possessions, such as a suit, that you could some how save five children. In

addition, he states that more money should be taken out of taxes to send to overseas

organizations.

     Finally, Singer states that by not giving our money to these

charities, that we are in fact not living a moral and decent life. Bob’s dilemma at the train

track caused him to make a moral decision, in which he chose the wrong one. He goes on

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to say how Bob must have felt incredibly unlucky, and was just in a tough predicament

having to choose between his savings and a young child’s life.