“Whatever money you are spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away.” Singer argues that Americans should give their extra money away to people who actually need it in his article, “The Singer Solution to World Poverty.” That we could help and save a life one day. Now, it sounds like the right thing to do, to give up our selfish ways and share our money, but Singers solution isn’t very reasonable. He ignores some many key factors. I think that Americans could give a small portion of money away if they wanted to. People that work hard, and even stay for overtime, should get to use their money however they want to. With that being said, people who earned their money should not have to give it away.
To get away from everything, Americans have the money to go and take a little vacation. Singer would argue that Americans should used that money to save a poor child’s life that is in need, and use it to help those in poverty. According to, www.inc.com, its says that it’s actually better for us to take vacations. It says, ” A Boston Consulting Group found that high-level professionals who were required to take time off, were significantly more productive overall than those who spent more time working. When you’re more productive, you’re happier, and when you’re happier, you excel at what you do.” It proves that it’s actually better for Americans to take days off, so they can come back and be more effective. It’s a positive of metal health. It states that it can have a stress reduction, heart disease prevention, improve productivity, and make you sleep better. Yeah, that money can go towards what Singer is saying, but it’s a fact that Americans do better when they use their money on something for them, like a vacation. According to, www.thelifeyoucansave.org, it says “Poverty can’t be solved. The World Bank sets the standard for extreme poverty at $1.90 a day (October, 2015). Currently, 702 million people, or 9.6 percent of the global population, fall into this category, struggling to survive on that amount or frequently less. That is, what the equivalent of what $1.90 USD would buy in local currency.” Singer states that poverty can be solved if we help the poor countries by donating money, but clearly not. Poverty isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom.
Americans may make a lot of money with their type of job, but they’ve earned that. They went through the long hours, the cold nights, the sweaty afternoons, and the late cold dinners. Americans deserved the right to do whatever they want with their money. Singer says that, “The money you will spend at a restaurant could also help save the lives of children overseas.” Yes, it will, but maybe some Americans are probably tired of eating their wife or husbands food, maybe some can’t cook. Americans deserve a well cooked meal from anywhere. It’s like saying , “good job at work, keep it up.” It’s how we celebrate something good that has happened to us. They earned it. Although I admit that donating large portions overseas to the people in poverty of our income would be considered the right thing to do, I think that having a lot of donations would destroy our economy and make those countries dependent on our donations that we donate to them. In 2014, it reports that $135 billion that the world’s most developed countries spent on official aid may not have ended up helping the poor. They would rely on us to give them money and then when we stop, the countries will be in jeopardy.
In the essay, “Solution to World Poverty,” Singer suggests that most Americans should give away their income to those in needs. That Americans don’t need to spend money on luxuries, or anything that they need, that they should donate it to the other countries who are in poor need. Although, donating a vast amount of money can help dying children, Singers advice is not only unrealistic, but it also too difficult for Americans who have a family of their own, and responsibilities to take care of. It’s a fact that Americans helping the other counties in poverty, isn’t going to do much. So Americans should go buy the things that they want and need. Americans who worked hard for their money shouldn’t have to give it away.