Is poverty not a thing in Equestria?

[Azureth 687]

From what we have seen there is little to no poverty. Sure there are those that are rich but most everypony else seems to have a more or less middle-class lifestyle. True there was problems in Giffinstone but as far as the ponies in Equestria go poverty seems to be practically non-existent.

[cmarston1 5,959]

I am pretty sure there is, but seeing what type of show FIM is, we won't see anything like that anytime soon.

[Miss 6,234]

Well in A Hearth's Warming Tale there was that one mare who looked like an impoverished pony. But that was a while ago supposedly, so maybe it's not a problem anymore

[twiia 1,843]

Well its supposedly a kids show, so I'd assume theres no poverty involved.

[Valeska 184]

Well they are ponies. The honestly don't even need a currency because they could just go scavenge for food and shelter. But since the show is for kids and friendship spreads all over equestria, I don't think poverty is a very big problem at the moment. Now if Celestia was very greedy then, yes there might be a lot of poverty.

[woodgazer 71]

Seeing as a lot of other "grown up" issues have been addressed, it wouldn't be too strange to see poverty having a place in at least one episode. Personally, I love the serious themes of the show the most and I would love to see an episode about impoverished ponies.

[Jackie Snack 1,498]

It's like North Korea. You're not gonna see it.

 

HOWEVER, it should be seen. Many kids shows have tackled this topic in a responsible way, so why can't MLP? Unless...

 

Unless Equestria is a SOCIALIST SOCIETY, GOOD GOD.

 

Poverty exists everywhere, they're just not gonna show it.

[Daring_Do 552]

It's like North Korea. You're not gonna see it.

 

HOWEVER, it should be seen. Many kids shows have tackled this topic in a responsible way, so why can't MLP? Unless...

 

Unless Equestria is a SOCIALIST SOCIETY, GOOD GOD.

 

Poverty exists everywhere, they're just not gonna show it.

Everyone has a destined role, based on what they're good at...

 

Fluttershy doesn't look to have any obvious source of income that we can see, but she still has her own house and a comfortable enough lifestyle.

 

We don't see obvious signs of religion or worship in Equestria.

 

That hospital in Read it and Weep - We never saw them charge Rainbow Dash, did we? They just rushed her out as soon as she was better...

 

The state is ruled by a benevolent, parental protector who, apparently, has always been around and is said to be the reason the sun rises each day.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Daring_Do

[Jackie Snack 1,498]

Everyone has a destined role, based on what they're good at...

So, free healthcare, supplemented income? Socialism. xD

 

Equestria's just lucky enough that it has exactly the amount of citizens it needs so that none of these talents overlap.

 

BTW, cutie marks aren't only based on what they're good at. Look at Cheerilee. Her talent isn't teaching. Her PASSION was to help young ponies bloom so she chose to be a teacher. In all regards, she is a terrible teacher, because none of her students seem to learn anything.

 

What would poor Roseluck do if another pony that loved to grow roses moved into town? Don't most flower shops sell more than one type of flower and Ponyville itself has more than one flower pony? What happens when nobody buys roses that often?

 

Also, take a look at Fluttershy. It was even mentioned that she's almost as good at sewing as Rarity (whose cutie mark is finding gems, not sewing dresses) so, hilariously, Fluttershy could open up her own shop and put Rarity out of business, if she wanted to.

 

Also, it was mentioned that the unicorns would raise the sun as well. Just took a lot more of them.

 

Poverty exists everywhere, unless they're killing off the poor and/or homeless.

 

As for religion/worship, don't quite know what that has to do with anything.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Jackie: sleepy mare

[Daring_Do 552]

So, free healthcare, supplemented income? Socialism. xD

 

Equestria's just lucky enough that it has exactly the amount of citizens it needs so that none of these talents overlap.

 

BTW, cutie marks aren't only based on what they're good at. Look at Cheerilee. Her talent isn't teaching. Her PASSION was to help young ponies bloom so she chose to be a teacher. In all regards, she is a terrible teacher, because none of her students seem to learn anything.

 

What would poor Roseluck do if another pony that loved to grow roses moved into town? Don't most flower shops sell more than one type of flower and Ponyville itself has more than one flower pony? What happens when nobody buys roses that often?

 

Also, take a look at Fluttershy. It was even mentioned that she's almost as good at sewing as Rarity (whose cutie mark is finding gems, not sewing dresses) so, hilariously, Fluttershy could open up her own shop and put Rarity out of business, if she wanted to.

 

Also, it was mentioned that the unicorns would raise the sun as well. Just took a lot more of them.

 

Poverty exists everywhere, unless they're killing off the poor and/or homeless.

 

As for religion/worship, don't quite know what that has to do with anything.

Religion because of how communist countries (like North Korea) tend to clamp down on that kind of thing... I'm trying to claim they are socialist like you said.

[Lil Pip 775]

Wasn't there an alternate timeline where it showed bad conditions? So I think Poverty may exist, just mostly doesn't.

But you know the hooffields and mccolts episode? That was going on for years, and it wasn't the first thing the map alerted them to. Which implies theres more problems the map currently isn't addressing which means theres still problems in equestria before they find them. Poverty can be likely.

[Happyandrenewed999 106]

It's like North Korea. You're not gonna see it.

 

HOWEVER, it should be seen. Many kids shows have tackled this topic in a responsible way, so why can't MLP? Unless...

 

Unless Equestria is a SOCIALIST SOCIETY, GOOD GOD.

 

Poverty exists everywhere, they're just not gonna show it.

Great way of putting it. I hope they show it in MLP.

[Denim&Venöm 19,282]

I hypothesize that Equestria is an anarchy. Sure you do have princesses and a capital, but most towns have to fend for themselves. There's no army or police to enforce the government. Not even emergency services really. It's all militias and townsfolk who fight the battles and save the citizens. The princesses and positions like Mayor mare, are the people agreeing to representatives in those roles. Anarchy isn't bedlam and chaos. It's the absence of central government. Even in scenarios like that, people still organize and lot out responsibility. 

 

So perhaps with the lack of government takign funds, ponies agreed on high taxation to maintain infrastructure, much like the social democracies in Scandinavia. Poverty is relatively low in those countries.. A portion perhaps going to the princesses in exchange for their services.  Those taxes could be used in services for the needy. Effective programs to provide food, shelter, education & job training. The social behavior of the ponies could play into it. Being herd animals and believing the magic of friendship, they may be more predisposed to helping out those in need. 

 

And being in an anarchy, ponies know that the government won't bail them out (certainly didn't bail them out on more than a few occasions), so perhaps the poor take more of an incentive to bail themselves out. Find a way to be useful. Or like the heard mentality, townsfolk see those poor ponies and decide to help them due to the more practical implications. A poor pony is a drain on resources, and would be a benefit if they were on their hooves with a home, food and a job. 

 

Point is, there are reasons for Equestria to have low rates of poverty. 

[Looks 130]

Personally, I find it that poverty is about as common as real life may be (it's a monarchy, what do you expect?), but it's only hidden by the fact that it's a child-friendly show (meaning it's only shown if it's part of the plot only), and you're mostly viewing and experiencing through the mane six's perspective. Again, most, if not ALL mane six characters are filthy rich. If they aren't, then Twilight most certainly is for being a princess.

[sweetolebob18 728]

TV in general, very few people are poor, even servants.  Except maybe for Kenny on South Park, I can't think of a poor animated character.  Why should MLP be any different?

[Thrond 3,263]

Normally, I would suggest that because Equestria is an idealised world, poverty doesn't exist, but we've seen a lot of familiar and even non-idealised settings lately, so it's very possibly that poverty might exist. Griffonstone, for instance, doesn't seem particularly well-off. However, due to the target audience, it's difficult for the show to depict it until it has a strong message to tell about poverty. Therefore, poverty might exist in the setting, but we're unlikely to see it onscreen.

[Darthy Hooves 106]

As for religion, I always felt that Princess Celestia was the overall Goddess of Equestria with Princess Luna as her successor should something happen to her. Moneywise I think that everypony is above poverty, thought some do have greater wealth. I think that along with the currency of "bits" there's probably a barter system as well, so that everypony can get by comfortably. Free healthcare is probably provided for all citizens of Equestia.

Edited November 4, 2016 by Darthy Hooves

[EmeraldStar04 250]

No, because poverty is horrible and worthy rulers seek to eliminate it.