Session 5

1/2) Who/why do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?
As we get further into our readings it is easy to begin to understand who and why some people struggle to keep their families above the poverty line, and understand why so many have fallen below. We learned this week that family structure can be associated with higher poverty rates which makes sense, such as larger families with limited job skills for the working parents, families who have to take care of extended family members (disabilities, grandparents,etc.) can also easily cause tension for a family's income. Single parent households will always face a greater disadvantage as it is one income that has to absorb an entire families needs financially. The conclusion of the impact of racial discrimination and poverty (deviant cultural response) in combination with Oscar Lewis' theory that the poor contributed to their own impoverishment makes me fear the inevitable- a perpetuating cycle that will be hard to break. Unfortunately we do not live in a discrimination free world, and the argument that the attitudes, values, and personality traits of a people, prove that it will take much more than just higher paying jobs/job availability to break this cycle.



3/4) What do you think is being done about poverty (e.g., specific policies and programs in the United States and globally) and how well do you think poverty is being addressed? What do you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally
In the US there are many programs in place that offer some assistance to people who are below certain income levels: food stamps, section 8 housing, unemployment, etc. I know from first hand however that some of the income restrictions on these programs are beyond asinine. So many people need help that are above these maximum requirements. I understand that of course, these wells will eventually run dry and not everyone can be helped. But maybe our government could figure our a way to offer assistance to people above these program's cut off lines for temporary periods. I know that there are many people who do not rely on aid indefinitely and they would only need it for a temporary period of time to get out of their rut.

Also, There are many programs that you can find to donate to that help children around the world with basic necessities such as food or water. There are even organizations that you can send money to sponsor children in different countries around the world. My grandmother used a private organization decades ago, and sponsored a Native American boy in the United States. Her donations were beyond appreciated, and the money that she contributed help to feed him, send him to school, etc. He grew up realizing the importance of giving, went to college, and lived a comfortable life. He always kept in touch with my grandmother and constantly thanked her for the opportunities that her donations had afforded him. Maybe if we all give just a little bit more, whether through time, donations, etc., we could see many who are struggling have a little bit more weight off their backs.
I think that poverty is, at least through the media in the U.S., is highlighted on an international level, and forced to minimize the issues that we have domestically. When there are natural disasters across the globe, we instantly come together and run to help countries that were plagued with poverty long before the devastation of mother nature. While it would be next to impossible for many countries to recover from such disasters without foreign aid, when will we stop to think what we can do to impact our homeland's issues? We donate to foreign relief funds but how many of us donate regularly to domestic programs such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, even our local soup kitchens? I do make an effort to contribute when I can and as much as I can, and am always donating things to charities. While it may not be money, the books that I donate help children learn, and offer them an opportunity to enjoy them that they might not have without donations. The clothes that I donate might not be money, but I know that another woman and her children can have clothes on their back without having to worry how they will afford them as the seasons change, or as their children grow up.