1/2) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
I think its easy to say that immigrants, more specifically illegal, are poor. Of course not all, but think of how hard it is to get a legitimate well paying job, with benefits when you aren't supposed to be in the country. I know many illegal immigrants who come to this country, work, to send money back home. They live in sacrificed conditions, many people squeezed into one small apartment, and work long hours for low pay. However, if you ask them, they are perfectly content. They came into this country for a new life. To help support their families. $1 earned in this country is worth 6 or more in many others. I can understand that people think illegal immigrants drive down wages. I really can. In a local union where guys are making $20-40/hr, I know for a fact there are many smaller business that do similar work and pay people well below 10. There are people who are willing to do it for less. There always has been and always will be. But how many Americans would take those hard labor jobs for less than $10 an hour? I don't know the statistics, but I'm sure it's a lot harder to find them.
3/4) Speaking of more border control, (Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1996) I don't think that the actual border control will work. Even if you double it. People are going to find a way into this country, even if they have to dig tunnels. I do think that imposing sanctions on the employers hiring illegals would be more effective. But then I wonder how many countries will outsource, aside from the numerous companies that already do. The Welfare Reform took away welfare, food stamps, and medicaid to many illegal immigrants...While it's understandable that there are laws to prevent people from using our system when they are here illegally, what is wrong with this is that these people are coming and have been coming, and aren't necessarily going anywhere. We've learned that keeping people from furthering their education has prevented people from excelling in life. So our immigrant system is pretty much perpetuating the poverty cycle. What about the children that are born to illegal immigrants that are citizens of the US? They will be raised in extremely poor environments, and will have a much harder time growing up.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Session 12
1/2) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
Many people struggle with their housing situation. This is a major cost, and one of the largest chunks of most household budgets. According the our slides, the highest rate of critical housing needs are in the west and the northeast. I found that particularly surprising for a couple of reasons. Since we have learned that education is a crucial factor in relation to the poverty level, it is no shocker that Georgia, being one of the lowest states ranked for education, would produced an environment that perpetuates a cycle of the uneducated. Regardless, critical housing needs have skyrocketed among more than just those who are poor rising 73% in recent years! I have friends who have applied for Section 8, the housing voucher program, and have been on the waiting list for over 5 years...5 years! They say so many people are just one paycheck away from homelessness that the fact that someone is waiting for 5 plus years to receive assistance is pretty disturbing. With that being said, it is very critical that these issues be addressed because housing after all, provides more than a roof over someone's head. It gives them more potential to become hired, let alone maintain a job. The stress levels on those who are struggling with these problems can lead them to become irritated, frustrated, stressed- issues we all face at times, and we all know how easily it can disturb our job performance- and we all need a job!
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 (e.g., specific private and government policies, programs, etc. that you would recommend)?
Aside from the Section 8 housing, which is a voucher system that gives allowances towards rent, there are other things that are also done. When I lived in East Atlanta, they tore down a housing project to replace with a tastefully done, large, gorgeous apartment complex. The re-gentrification process had to provide a certain percentage of those who were displaced by this renovation the opportunity to stay in the complex. The problem I had with it? I was paying over $1000 a month (and this was 8 years ago) with neighbors who didn't work, sold drugs, I lost count of the number of times the cops came to my house for repeat break ins (let alone attempts.) So many tenants left because they couldn't deal with it. I remember thinking what an awful cycle was being repeated. Small children were growing up in this environment, only to be surrounded by those who could tolerate the conditions(because they weren't giving up the amenities at such a low price.) These children were going to grow up seeing these crimes, raised by the uneducated, and most likely fall victim to their environment. On a side note, Section 8 is supposed to have a positive effect on this in some areas, offering children more stability and less moving, which helps their attentiveness and academic capabilities. While I couldn't handle that particular area, I was able to move to many other re-gentrified areas of the city. Areas that were up and coming and extremely mixed. Areas benefiting from the HOPE VI (via section 8 vouchers) which aims to improve the overall look, and maintenance of some of the dilapidated areas around the city. This will draw people who might not want to move there otherwise, creating a more mixed environment. Also, the city of Atlanta, and some surrounding counties are offering tax incentives/breaks to those that live in these areas. In 2011, we will take a break any way we can!
Many people struggle with their housing situation. This is a major cost, and one of the largest chunks of most household budgets. According the our slides, the highest rate of critical housing needs are in the west and the northeast. I found that particularly surprising for a couple of reasons. Since we have learned that education is a crucial factor in relation to the poverty level, it is no shocker that Georgia, being one of the lowest states ranked for education, would produced an environment that perpetuates a cycle of the uneducated. Regardless, critical housing needs have skyrocketed among more than just those who are poor rising 73% in recent years! I have friends who have applied for Section 8, the housing voucher program, and have been on the waiting list for over 5 years...5 years! They say so many people are just one paycheck away from homelessness that the fact that someone is waiting for 5 plus years to receive assistance is pretty disturbing. With that being said, it is very critical that these issues be addressed because housing after all, provides more than a roof over someone's head. It gives them more potential to become hired, let alone maintain a job. The stress levels on those who are struggling with these problems can lead them to become irritated, frustrated, stressed- issues we all face at times, and we all know how easily it can disturb our job performance- and we all need a job!
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 (e.g., specific private and government policies, programs, etc. that you would recommend)?
Aside from the Section 8 housing, which is a voucher system that gives allowances towards rent, there are other things that are also done. When I lived in East Atlanta, they tore down a housing project to replace with a tastefully done, large, gorgeous apartment complex. The re-gentrification process had to provide a certain percentage of those who were displaced by this renovation the opportunity to stay in the complex. The problem I had with it? I was paying over $1000 a month (and this was 8 years ago) with neighbors who didn't work, sold drugs, I lost count of the number of times the cops came to my house for repeat break ins (let alone attempts.) So many tenants left because they couldn't deal with it. I remember thinking what an awful cycle was being repeated. Small children were growing up in this environment, only to be surrounded by those who could tolerate the conditions(because they weren't giving up the amenities at such a low price.) These children were going to grow up seeing these crimes, raised by the uneducated, and most likely fall victim to their environment. On a side note, Section 8 is supposed to have a positive effect on this in some areas, offering children more stability and less moving, which helps their attentiveness and academic capabilities. While I couldn't handle that particular area, I was able to move to many other re-gentrified areas of the city. Areas that were up and coming and extremely mixed. Areas benefiting from the HOPE VI (via section 8 vouchers) which aims to improve the overall look, and maintenance of some of the dilapidated areas around the city. This will draw people who might not want to move there otherwise, creating a more mixed environment. Also, the city of Atlanta, and some surrounding counties are offering tax incentives/breaks to those that live in these areas. In 2011, we will take a break any way we can!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Session 11
1/2) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
As we have discussed earlier there are many things that can attribute to people falling below the poverty line. Covering Social Security it is easy to assume that the very people who live below the line, would be those that depended solely on Social Security. I know that it is frustrating every week that are paychecks are dissolved to taxes. A question I ask myself is, I am having all of this money taken out to Social Security, but is it worth it? Will I even see it? I wonder if I would be better off choosing to not have it taken out and take the money and invest it into some stocks, or CDs. Now that I think about it....Hmmm....It is very important for our generation to realize this will be a major problem for us in the future. Because, imagine the struggle people are having now, and when we are older, the idea that there will be even less to depend on (if any of all...projected exhaustion- 2041!)I am fortunate enough to have a 401k plan that I consistently add to. I am also very disciplined in not touching that money. Another problem that many people struggle with that hit hard times. Pulling out from your 401k plans will lead you to being double taxed, and minimize what is there to rely on later when Social Security doesn't cut it.
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 (e.g., specific private and government policies, programs, etc. that you would recommend)?
Unfortunately, there is alot on the government's plate here in the US. Wars, foreign issues, poverty levels, a dissipated economy....I think Social Security isn't a priority. While Social Security is a program that helps those in need, along with Disability, and Medicare trust funds, they problem still at hand is there is just not enough. I find it ironic that the suggestion for people to work into their 70s to help decrease the problems, yet last week we learned that we have one of the lower life expectancy rates in comparison to other industrialized nations! I remember my grandfather, an oral surgeon, pulling teach into his 80s! I used to think, while he was fortunate enough to not need to continue working, that he was lucky that he was still healthy enough to work if he had to! Think of how many people aren't that fortunate? How will we provide for them in 2041 and beyond? I think that it is important to evaluate other ways to ensure that people will have assistance in those decades and beyond. And ideally, be receiving more than they are now.
As we have discussed earlier there are many things that can attribute to people falling below the poverty line. Covering Social Security it is easy to assume that the very people who live below the line, would be those that depended solely on Social Security. I know that it is frustrating every week that are paychecks are dissolved to taxes. A question I ask myself is, I am having all of this money taken out to Social Security, but is it worth it? Will I even see it? I wonder if I would be better off choosing to not have it taken out and take the money and invest it into some stocks, or CDs. Now that I think about it....Hmmm....It is very important for our generation to realize this will be a major problem for us in the future. Because, imagine the struggle people are having now, and when we are older, the idea that there will be even less to depend on (if any of all...projected exhaustion- 2041!)I am fortunate enough to have a 401k plan that I consistently add to. I am also very disciplined in not touching that money. Another problem that many people struggle with that hit hard times. Pulling out from your 401k plans will lead you to being double taxed, and minimize what is there to rely on later when Social Security doesn't cut it.
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 (e.g., specific private and government policies, programs, etc. that you would recommend)?
Unfortunately, there is alot on the government's plate here in the US. Wars, foreign issues, poverty levels, a dissipated economy....I think Social Security isn't a priority. While Social Security is a program that helps those in need, along with Disability, and Medicare trust funds, they problem still at hand is there is just not enough. I find it ironic that the suggestion for people to work into their 70s to help decrease the problems, yet last week we learned that we have one of the lower life expectancy rates in comparison to other industrialized nations! I remember my grandfather, an oral surgeon, pulling teach into his 80s! I used to think, while he was fortunate enough to not need to continue working, that he was lucky that he was still healthy enough to work if he had to! Think of how many people aren't that fortunate? How will we provide for them in 2041 and beyond? I think that it is important to evaluate other ways to ensure that people will have assistance in those decades and beyond. And ideally, be receiving more than they are now.
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