Poverty in America

Who you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?

Individuals who are poor do not have the ability to obtain their basic necessities, on a regular basis, that is needed in order to survive. Poor people live under the poverty level in which ever state or country that they live in. These individuals do not have the ability to obtain luxury items, let alone the bare means to survive. These items include but are not limited to food, clothing, healthcare and transportation.

UPDATE: 09.27.2010

Through the reading of our class material, I have realized that even though poverty rates run higher amongst minorities, whites are impoverished at a high percentage compared to blacks. Media is one reason for this misconception about poverty. Media plays a big part in our views and how we view others. News coverage skews the viewer to believe that the majority of impoverish people in the United States are black because there are a higher percentage on news broadcasting illustrating African Americans being impoverished compared to whites.

In addition, the books illustrates that our government measures poverty on a absolute basis compared to a relative measurement. This measurement has been the same since its creation of measuring poverty. This perpetuates poverty in a way because the government helps welfare cases on measurements that are no longer current. The standard of living has increased since the introduction of the absolute poverty measurement; however the measurement has remained constant throughout the years. This means the amount that is given to its percipients is only enough for their minimal existence and not enough for them to live a part of society.

Why you believe people are poor in the United States and Globally?

I believe people are poor because of a variety of variables. One reason individuals are poor, in the United States and other countries, is due to discrimination, discrimination that may have created with the formation of the state and no longer exists or discrimination that is still persistent. Slavery, racism and other dividing factors has created great disparities in the wealth within the United States, which the majority of wealth amongst whites and the vast majority of the underclass, not necessarily the poor, are minority. These initial discrepancies between race and class have created a system whose foundation is also embedded with these discrepancies. As the United States grew and evolved, success in industry, business, and other profitable ventures fell in the hands of the whites because blacks were viewed of subhuman. As time passed and slavery abolished, these profitable ventures have become major industries and brands in the U.S. whose creation came at a time of racism and/or discrimination.

Another reason people may be poor is because they accept the status quo. Many individuals in the poverty may not see a means to get out. They may not have an idea, a skill, talent, ability or the money to better their situation, so they just accept their environment as norm for them and continue to live as such.

UPDATE: 09.27.2010

An additional reason people are poor in the United States is because it passes from generation to generation. African American who are poor as a child have a high risk of being poor as adults. This is because the majority of impoverished African Americans grow up with less advantaged compared to whites. I believe that majority of blacks who are poor, are also the same ones that are facing extreme poverty compared to moderate or lesser degrees of poverty. The term ghettos can refer to this idea of extreme poverty. Those locked in extreme poverty are surrounded by dilapidating governmental institutions and programs, such as the school system. The money towards the development of school and curriculum, come from the poverty taxes being paid throughout the area. If the area is considerable poor, then the taxes going towards the school system will be minimal. I believe this is why gentrification has become popular in some areas, a way to bring up the poverty value, however when this occurs are the poverty view goes out, the people who could benefit from this the most are pushed put because of their lack of ability to sustain a living at the new value that is set.

UPDATE: 09.28.2010

The structure of our economy has caused an increase of poverty throughout the decades. Technological shifts and the industrial/de-industrial revolution have played a major part in this change. The industrial revolution bought mainly people into the urban sector in search for employment and other opportunities that the industry might bring. However, as advancements in technology have arisen, there has been a shift in our economy from manufacturing to servicing. This shift caused a great deal of job lost for those individuals who came from rural/ farming areas in look of work. Once these industries began to breakdown, the every people who came to the urban areas looking for a better life, were ultimately trapped in this area once they lost their employment in the manufacturing industry. Globalization has also played a part in continual poverty amongst the poor. Industries that have the ability to obtain workers at a cheaper cost do so in order to increase profit and productivity.

What you think is being done about poverty (e.g. current policies and programs in the United States and globally)?

I believe in the United States, governmental programs do not help defeat poverty. Food stamps, Section-8, Medicaid and other programs only allow for the majority of its applicants to sustain a living but not to get out of poverty. Also in other countries, the poor area only given handouts from non-profit organizations which only allow for the recipients to sustain life but not further it. In order for there to be an end to poverty in the United States and other countries, jobs need to be created and institutions need to change. There has to be a change in order for poverty to end. Everyone should have a fair advantage when it comes to seeking employment and schooling.

How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally?

Currently, the United States is making strides to alleviate the problem of poverty, such as trying to implement a universal healthcare, which allows everyone to have access to medical care. However, though this is helpful for the growth and well being of the population, there still needs to be a creation of jobs and people have to have an equal ability to obtain these jobs. Globally, I do not think the problem of poverty is being fought aggressively enough. Poverty cannot be fought aggressively enough because there are flaws in some countries governmental infrastructures. There is also a recession and many countries do not have the means to try to combat the problem.

What you personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally (e.g. policies, programs you would suggest)?

The structure of a society needs to change in order to combat poverty. Again, jobs need to be created to allow impoverished people to make a living and take care of themselves. Discrimination needs to end in order to allow people to be treated equally in all circumstances, so they can have the same advantages as others.