Who is Poor? Session 2

Hi all! As a second year student at Georgia State University and lifelong suburbanite, I just started taking a class called Culture and Poverty.  This blog is an assignment to show what I have learned.  I do not know much about poverty aside from volunteering at a soup kitchen and walking past homeless people daily to and from my classes in downtown Atlanta. So forgive me if I sound a little naive on the subject matter.  This is simply my opinion.  I have also had a few uncomfortable experiences on MARTA where a drunk homeless-looking man came on the train drunk yelling, "hey pretty lady" every 5 minutes.  I have mixed feelings on whether I feel pity toward these people or if I think that becoming homeless was their own fault.  When I see homeless people I tend to ask myself, "Is poverty avoidable?"  Here are a few of my discoveries after reading the first few chapters of John Iceland's Poverty in America:

1.) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact definition of the word "poor".  In some circumstances it is evident that people living on the street are poor, but what about the people who have a home and cannot afford to buy three meals a day? Are they poor as well?  In everyone's eyes, the word "poor" ranges.  Some people believe that a family can live off of a minimum of $100 a week while others claim to need a minimum of $1,000 a week.  Let's not even think about what we have seen or read that celebrities need to simply survive!  People also range in their answers of what is a considered necessity versus a luxury.  According to statistics, as well as the author, Mr.Iceland, minority groups, children, and one parent families usually face poverty.  In my experience I have found that war veterans and schizos are among the poor in downtown Atlanta.  I also believe that people who commit acts of crime are poor, or in some circumstances simply believe that they are poor. 

2.) Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
I believe that poverty is partailly based on the economy.  When the economy is at its lowest, people are out of work and are in desperate need to find a job.  I also believe that poverty comes from a lack of education.  The illiterate and uneducated struggle to find good paying jobs and often rely on government subsidies.  Speaking of the government, I think the government has perpetuated poverty in our country by creating generations of families reliant on food stamps and subsidized housing, a failed public school system and turning a blind eye to the starving of our nation while they dole out billions of dollars to other nations.  Politicians should be developing programs that encourage common place decency, literacy, good nutrition and simple math - how to balance a family budget - to break the need of the poor to rely on hand outs instead of a hand up.

3.) What do you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).
Many people believe that it is the government's job to fix this problem.  In my opinion, it is more often that not that the private sector, or the every day Joe, that volunteer their time or donate their hard earned money when there is a need by the poor or misfortuned.  Many programs have already been implemented in hopes of solving poverty.  TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides financial help for families with children.  Monthly cash payments help them with their basic needs.  Other programs such as Habitat for Humanity help build homes for the poor.   The Salvation Army sponsors soup kitchens and homeless shelters in nearly every state.

4.) How well do you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally?
Many people overlook poverty.  As a child I was always told to not give money to homeless people because they will spend it on things that are not necessities such as drugs or alcohol.  I believe that this is a touchy subject matter because some people simply do not care or they feel that it is impossible to truly help these people.  Poverty should be of more concern in our society because this increases the percentages of job loss, depression, and criminals.

5.) What do you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest).
Poverty could be eradicated by implementing a stronger importance of education in our society and reducing the levels of unemployment.  People should also become more aware of the options they have to be become self-sufficient and less supportive.  Before becoming pregnant women need to consider if they can financially support a child before they bring it into this world.