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?