“The reason there will be no change is because the people who stand to lose from change have all the power. And the people who stand to gain from change have none of the power.” This was the very first line in the documentary: Poverty, Inc. The quote comes from Machiavelli, who was talking about the global aid system today. The film, directed by Michael Matheson Miller focuses on the deficiencies within the current global aid and development industry. It exposes how food aid is dispersed all over the world in a way that is capable for the United States to reap the benefits of it. The documentary first calls out the US global food aid system, and claims it must be improved for the better of society. It shifts to uncovering how foreign aid is often unsuccessful due to corrupt governments neglect of its citizens when handling the proceeds it receives. This film exploits global aid and the damage and dishonor a government can do to its people, while also explaining how reform is needed in a powerful, yet capturing way.
What fascinates me about this documentary is that it changes my perspective on poverty in an entirely new way. People are always discussing different ways of how to fix world hunger, yet not enough to start at the source of the problem. Although there is a “plan” set in place (if you can even call it that), it obviously is not working and is very corrupt. A quote that stuck out to me within the film was “Today’s poor need all the connections that they can. Being poor can mean being excluded from networks of inclusion, social networks, cell phones, and financial institutions.” The chasm that separates the poor from connections such as global trade is a massive contributor to this issue.
Within class, perhaps the main focal point we have learned over the course of the semester has been how advancements and innovations we make as entrepreneurs is what pushes society forward. While this issue is often one of sadness to discuss, there are still positive takeaways from it. Due to the government's neglect of its people in this regard, entrepreneurs such as Jean-Ronel Noel took matters into their own hands in order to benefit both the general public, as well as herself. Noel and others attempt to transform their community by providing jobs to local citizens in order to increase business possibilities, and diminish poverty. Often in the course we have discussed how regulations from the government can suppress innovation within society. This documentary showcases this issue as a prime example of this scenario. With the current system in place, a question you can ask is who truly benefits the most from the way things are currently set up? The people they should be trying to help, or the people who work in the poverty industry? While sad but true, the answer to this question is the people within the poverty industry. They have created a perfect illusion to the public by making it seem they are helping the problem at hand, when in reality they are just doing more damage. An example of this is TOMS shoes, and their relationship they have. Although the concept they have in theory is good, because they are supporting and strengthening the current corrupt system in place, they are only damaging the true solution to this cause. If we want to truly limit hunger and poverty the power must be taken out of the government's hands, and placed into the hands of entrepreneurs who actually care for these people, and are determined on making a difference in this industry.
