Who?
Like I have said before, being poor in America is nothing like being poor in another country. Africa has the highest rate of extreme poverty, which means living on less then $1 a day. After Africa, there is South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, East Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. Could you image living on less than a dollar a day? That means no gas, cable, telephone, groceries, etc. Even though the US is doing better than many countries, when the US is compared to other industrialized countries it has the highest poverty rates. It is surprising to me that America has the highest poverty rates compared to other industrialized countries like Japan, Germany, France, Austalia, Denmark, UK, and Sweden.
Why?
When the US is compared to similar industrialized countries it has the highest poverty rates because many jobs in the US pay low wages, even if it is a full-time job. Public benefits are limites, higher levels of income inequalities, and capabilitiy failures. Globalization can also be blamed for the poverty rated in extreme poverty countries. Globalization is making rich countries richer and poorer countries poorer. Also the gap between the rich and poor is creating huge problems in all countries.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Session 4: The Geography of Poverty
Who and Why according to georgraphy?
Who knew that geography plays apart in poverty of people. The South has been historically the poorest region, followed by the West, the Northeast, then the Midwest. According to John Iceland, author of Poverty In America, rural areas are the poorest, then metropolitian areas, then the suburbs. Rural areas have the highest poverty rates due to the lack of schools, public transportation, jobs, isolation, and limited social support services. After reading this, it completely makes sense to me. For example, I use to live on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, which is considered the South and a rural area. There was one way in and one way out. There was one high school and no public transportation. It was hard to make a living there with so many people fighting for the minimum amount of jobs there were and the high cost of living on the Chesapeake Bay.
What?
Even though the South has the highest poverty rates, the Northeast has the highest concentrated poverty, which means one area has poverty rates of 40% or more. Several factors contribute to concentrated poverty. For example, the buliding of low-cost housing projects post-WWII grouped poor people together in one area. Also public transportation and several tax policies added to concentrated poverty. Even though the government thought these policies and housing projects were helping people, it blew up in their faces and added to the poverty problem. Like Galster's theory, trying to acheieve concentrated poverty of 10% or less needs to be the ultimate goal of our society. Government needs to strongly consider each housing project and tax policy they create to make sure it does not add to the problem.
Who knew that geography plays apart in poverty of people. The South has been historically the poorest region, followed by the West, the Northeast, then the Midwest. According to John Iceland, author of Poverty In America, rural areas are the poorest, then metropolitian areas, then the suburbs. Rural areas have the highest poverty rates due to the lack of schools, public transportation, jobs, isolation, and limited social support services. After reading this, it completely makes sense to me. For example, I use to live on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, which is considered the South and a rural area. There was one way in and one way out. There was one high school and no public transportation. It was hard to make a living there with so many people fighting for the minimum amount of jobs there were and the high cost of living on the Chesapeake Bay.
What?
Even though the South has the highest poverty rates, the Northeast has the highest concentrated poverty, which means one area has poverty rates of 40% or more. Several factors contribute to concentrated poverty. For example, the buliding of low-cost housing projects post-WWII grouped poor people together in one area. Also public transportation and several tax policies added to concentrated poverty. Even though the government thought these policies and housing projects were helping people, it blew up in their faces and added to the poverty problem. Like Galster's theory, trying to acheieve concentrated poverty of 10% or less needs to be the ultimate goal of our society. Government needs to strongly consider each housing project and tax policy they create to make sure it does not add to the problem.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Session 3: Poverty In The United States
Who?
I previously said that women and children were the poorest people in America,well I got one right. In 2005, 12.6 million children were classified as poor. Out of every 3 poor persons, 1 is a child. Surprisingly, after children comes ederly people. In 2005, 3.6 million elderly people were classified as poor. I also thought that African-Americans and Hispanics were typically the poorest, and that was confirmed in 2005. 24.9 percent black, 21.8 percent hispanic, and only 8.3 percent non-hispanic.
Why?
I don't think anyone can really pin point WHY people are below the poverty line, but it is easy to point out a few things that make it hard for people to get out of poverty. Poverty is definitely transferred. If a child is born into a poor household, it is next to impossible for that child to ever get out of poverty. Transferred poverty also related to family instability. If a childs mother is addicted to drugs and the father left when he was 2, how is that child going to know what to do day to day? That can lead to drugs for him, not caring about school, and eventually jail. Poor education and not stressing to children why school is important has also led to poverty. The education system has truely let down thousands of people in America. For example, if a person is never taught to read or write properly, how can that person get a good paying job? That brings me to the next reason people are poor, low income. If a person cannot make enough money to afford health care, housing, child care, and food, how can that person live above the poverty line?
Poverty is still an increasing problem in America and the government needs to reconize that ASAP and help its own people out. Its ridiculous how many children and elderly people are living without shelter or food. How can we afford to fight a 9 year war in another country and not take care of our own people?
I previously said that women and children were the poorest people in America,well I got one right. In 2005, 12.6 million children were classified as poor. Out of every 3 poor persons, 1 is a child. Surprisingly, after children comes ederly people. In 2005, 3.6 million elderly people were classified as poor. I also thought that African-Americans and Hispanics were typically the poorest, and that was confirmed in 2005. 24.9 percent black, 21.8 percent hispanic, and only 8.3 percent non-hispanic.
Why?
I don't think anyone can really pin point WHY people are below the poverty line, but it is easy to point out a few things that make it hard for people to get out of poverty. Poverty is definitely transferred. If a child is born into a poor household, it is next to impossible for that child to ever get out of poverty. Transferred poverty also related to family instability. If a childs mother is addicted to drugs and the father left when he was 2, how is that child going to know what to do day to day? That can lead to drugs for him, not caring about school, and eventually jail. Poor education and not stressing to children why school is important has also led to poverty. The education system has truely let down thousands of people in America. For example, if a person is never taught to read or write properly, how can that person get a good paying job? That brings me to the next reason people are poor, low income. If a person cannot make enough money to afford health care, housing, child care, and food, how can that person live above the poverty line?
Poverty is still an increasing problem in America and the government needs to reconize that ASAP and help its own people out. Its ridiculous how many children and elderly people are living without shelter or food. How can we afford to fight a 9 year war in another country and not take care of our own people?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Poverty in the United States and Globally.
Who I think is poor, both in United States and globally.
In my opinion, minority women and children are the poorest people in both the United States and globally. Of course there is a difference between poor in America and poor in a foreign country like Liberia. A poor person in America can still eat, sleep, and cloth themselves. A poor person in a foreign country probably doesn't have access to a homeless shelter to eat, sleep, or get free clothes. For example, a poor child in America can still ride a free bus to school, eat free lunches at school, and most public schools even have programs to help supply poor children with school supplies and clothing. A poor child in Liberia has no way to get to a school, no way to get free food, and no one in Liberia is giving poor children the proper clothing and supplies he/she needs.
Even with the recent decline in America's economy, poor people in America still have it much better than poor people in other countries.
Why I believe people are poor in the Unites States and globally.
People are poor for multiple reasons. Mainly in America I believe people are poor for two main reasons. One, drug and alcohol abuse has completely taken over thousands of people's lives and there is no way to get treatment for their abuse. Two, the lack of jobs in America has greatly increased the amount of poverty. Globally I think people are poor mainly because of their economy, a lack of jobs combined with a government that does not care for its people is a sure fire way to drive people to poverty.
What I think is being done about poverty in the United States and globally.
In the United States, the government does have programs in place to help poor people. There are food stamps, housing assistance, subsidized daycare for single parents, and food shelters for homeless people. Globally, governments are becoming more democratic, which will lead to better representation of the people.
How well I think poverty is being addressed in the United States and globally.
Like I said before, the government does have programs in place for poor people, but currently poverty isn't being address to the extent needed. More money is being spent overseas and in the military then helping victims of hurricane Katrina or inner city children that have no where to sleep at night. Also global governments are not addressing poverty very much because they are more concerned about preventing wars.
What I personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally.
In the United States, the government needs to monitor who receives assistance money and they need to monitor if the people are clean, sober, and will use the money to better themselves/their families. I also think the government should create more jobs that can support a family well instead of just scraping by and free rehabs for people who are willing to get sober and clean. Globally, governments need to also create better jobs and better housing and schooling for people trying better their lives. In the end, government can only do so much, people need to take responsibility and do as much as they can to help themselves too.
In my opinion, minority women and children are the poorest people in both the United States and globally. Of course there is a difference between poor in America and poor in a foreign country like Liberia. A poor person in America can still eat, sleep, and cloth themselves. A poor person in a foreign country probably doesn't have access to a homeless shelter to eat, sleep, or get free clothes. For example, a poor child in America can still ride a free bus to school, eat free lunches at school, and most public schools even have programs to help supply poor children with school supplies and clothing. A poor child in Liberia has no way to get to a school, no way to get free food, and no one in Liberia is giving poor children the proper clothing and supplies he/she needs.
Even with the recent decline in America's economy, poor people in America still have it much better than poor people in other countries.
Why I believe people are poor in the Unites States and globally.
People are poor for multiple reasons. Mainly in America I believe people are poor for two main reasons. One, drug and alcohol abuse has completely taken over thousands of people's lives and there is no way to get treatment for their abuse. Two, the lack of jobs in America has greatly increased the amount of poverty. Globally I think people are poor mainly because of their economy, a lack of jobs combined with a government that does not care for its people is a sure fire way to drive people to poverty.
What I think is being done about poverty in the United States and globally.
In the United States, the government does have programs in place to help poor people. There are food stamps, housing assistance, subsidized daycare for single parents, and food shelters for homeless people. Globally, governments are becoming more democratic, which will lead to better representation of the people.
How well I think poverty is being addressed in the United States and globally.
Like I said before, the government does have programs in place for poor people, but currently poverty isn't being address to the extent needed. More money is being spent overseas and in the military then helping victims of hurricane Katrina or inner city children that have no where to sleep at night. Also global governments are not addressing poverty very much because they are more concerned about preventing wars.
What I personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally.
In the United States, the government needs to monitor who receives assistance money and they need to monitor if the people are clean, sober, and will use the money to better themselves/their families. I also think the government should create more jobs that can support a family well instead of just scraping by and free rehabs for people who are willing to get sober and clean. Globally, governments need to also create better jobs and better housing and schooling for people trying better their lives. In the end, government can only do so much, people need to take responsibility and do as much as they can to help themselves too.
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