My Findings of Poverty

Poverty for each individual means something different.  It is their personal belief.  Even government's view seems unclear.  Answering these four questions: who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally, why do you believe people are poor, what do you think is being done about poverty, and what do you personally think should be done about poverty allows me to grasp the main picture of poverty and come up with my personal views.  Doing so, I will be learning more about poverty until the semester comes to an end.  This is my story.

1) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally? In the United States certainly homeless I consider beyond poor.  But families who struggle to put food on the table for themselves as well as pay for their children I consider poor, along with not being able to afford medical attention.  I think an income less than 25,000 dollars a year for a family of four to be considered poor.  Globally, since I am uneducated enough now to give a money ratio for other poor family's outside the United States, I believe if they are homeless, can't provide food for their family, and pay for medical attention they are considered poor. After session three, I have learned that research shows  the southern region in the U.S. has the highest poverty percentages, where as the Midwest typically has the lowest poverty rates. Session four, I learned that the U.S. has one of the highest poverty rates among 11 wealthy industrialized countries.  In Africa has the highest rate of extreme poverty , 50% in 2001, next being south and east Asia.  10% of the world population lives in moderate poverty.  In Session five, more facts were thrown out at me, but this time pertaining to economic issues.  Four theories pertaining to the cause of poverty was lack of human capital, cultural deficiencies, economic processes, and structructural/ Institutional factors.  After reviewing my notes ad watching the short videos I agree.  All four theories influence who is poor.  Along with the fact there is a big rang between who is rich and who is poor.  Lastly Diana Pierce says poverty is rapidly becoming a female problem.  Women typically have higher poverty rates due to the lack of economic resources and they are more likely to be head of single parent families.  Women also face labor market discrimination.  Men are paid more than women for the same type of work being done.  In session ten, it was about health care but based off the information given much of the poverty populated ares were in the south, young adults, Hispanics, and non-citizens who were uninsured.  Session twelve, clearly after this week people who receive housing through government funding are below the poverty line, to the point where they can not make ends meet on there own. After watching the videos majority seemed to be possibly single mothers or those who might not have a clean record, but are not bad people. 

2) Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally.  For both the United States and globally I believe people become poor due to being uneducated, loss of job, not enough resources, and the overall economy for that particular country.  Generally speaking people who have there Masters or Bachelors (higher education) make a higher income than say a high school graduate.  Majority of high school graduates are limited to the jobs they can obtain.  Also when the overall economy is below average people begin to panic, which can then result to a lack of resources.  After session three, i have learned people who are born into a low income family generally are more likely to be poor.  Also people who live in high concentrated poverty are more likely to be poor due to education rate, marital status, age, race, and unemployment.  Session 4, I learned that many full time jobs in the U.S. pay low wages, public benefits are more limited in the U.S., and high level of income inequality lead to a high rate of people living in poverty.  The Gini Index is an example that shows the gap between the rich and poor, by giving a margin and range to see which countries fall under what category.  The US with .47 falls under difference is serious and improvement needed.  Globally countries that are not industrialized lack resources need to overcome poverty, therefore majority of the population is poor. Example: Africa.  In 2001 50% of Africa faced extreme poverty, 31% in South Asia, and 15% in East Asia.  Session five, after mentioning earlier that one of the causes of poverty is human capital, I believe a lot of that falls on the individual and their work ethic.  For instance, income differences are a result of differences in productivity.  Poor for instance generally lack knowledge, skill, and training and education.  But after reading this weeks of notes the percentage level of those who have a HS diploma and who don't have a HS diploma is significant.  From 22.3% to 9.6% that's huge!  That I feel is the individuals responsibility for being lazy.  For females the primary reason for being in poverty is they are more likely to be head of a single parent family.  Session six, part of the reason why people are poor is due to a low minimum wage budget particularly in the state of Georgia.  The current minimum wage is $5.15 in the state of Georgia but if we raised the minimum wage budget to $7.25 per hour it would help an estimated 672,000 workers, which would essentially help 413,000 children in Georgia.  In the end earning the minimum wage means earning a poverty wage, causing poverty.  For many after getting paid a full time minimum wage budget still isn't enough money for them or their families, giving people a lack of hope.  Session tens, Since I am for health care and believe it is beneficial, the reason I believe certain people are poor is due to not having health care is illegal immigration which causes a lack of education as well.  Also those who are not citizens can't apply for health insurance.  Also I believe it is due to a lack of resources and knowledge of the health care options to help benefit our population.  Session thirteen:  one of the reason why I feel people are living in poverty is due to the lack of proper documentation of being a U.S. citizen.  Basically, illegal immigration leads to poverty, not only illegals but U.S. citizens as well.  Illegal immigration takes away job opportunities from American and drives down wages.  Although I am against illegal immigration I feel if the individual becomes a citizen, pays for taxes, and has proper documentation it should be allowed. 

3) What do you think is being done about poverty and how well do you think poverty is being addressed?  I'll start with the last portion of the question first.  I don't think poverty is addressed enough.  Clearly, because it is hard for me to answer the first part of the question.  I know their are government programs, I just don't know what they are yet.  I know there are food stamps and medicaid to help support the poor but other than those examples I don't know.  Globally, I know there are some sort of government programs to help fund the poor, but I don;t know specific ones.  Something for me to learn.  Session 4, I learn about a project called the UN Millenium that was created to help individuals get out of poverty globally.  It is based off of 7 goals to help lower poverty.  If every countries stick to this plan hopefully we will be successful an getting people out of poverty. The seven goals being: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality & empower women, reduce child mortality, combat diseases, and ensure environmental sustainability.  Also magazines such as Times magazine have educational articles about poverty.  These articles let people know the severity behind poverty.  Session five, there are simulation programs that the public can go to, so they can see what it would be like to be poor.  In these groups people are put into random groups and given a situation.  The situation consist of day-to-day activities that a family facing poverty might go through.  Many discover through doing this course families aren't capable providing for their needs. But I still don't feel like it is enough.  Session eight, after reading the material for this particular chapter it aloud me to grasp what polices and different types of welfare there is for people who struggle to make ends meet.  The 1996 Welfare Reform Law replacted former programs (AFDC) with TANF.  Personally this reform was all sorts of confusing, with all the different types of grants, policies, and programs.  In the end after watching the video for this week families say they couldn't financially hardly see a difference between receiving welfare or not.   Since 2000 each year fewer people are on TANF.  In the end however I have a hard time seeing a benefiting change from the Welfare Reform.  It does seem however it has benefited more women than men.  On a better note the federal EITC seems to have a more positive influence to the poor.  The credit increases the income of families who have low wage or have limited hours typically considered "working poor".  The federal EITC lifts about 5 million people out of poverty each year.  Session 10, was very beneficial in learning all the different types of health care options that is out there.  Health care that will help support the elderly, children, along with different ethic groups.  I believe this is great if we can continue the circulation going, meaning having enough money to fund health care along with having the right people to fund to.  I believe majority of people agree with taxes being taken out of their pay check is reasonable as long as they know it is benefiting someone in desperate need and qualify.  I believe without a doubt children and elderly should be insured and not have to worry about financial situations.  Having health care plans like Medicare and Medicaid can make that possible.   Session 11, after reading this session one way the U.S. tries to help out people is through Social Insurance.  This system is where people are compelled to insure themselves through payroll and taxes.  The goal being to replace a portion of income by replacing a portion of lost energy.  However, Social Security is beginning to show signs of fiscal trouble involving a decrease in funds and a deficit in the resources, due to birth rate, life expectancy, and the numbers of workers paying into social security taxes has declined.  Session twelve,  through this session we learned about the many different types of housing option for those in need.  One in particular that caught my eye was HOPE.  HOPE aims to improve neighborhood conditions by creating mixed income inside the community through the session 8 vouchers.  This plan is low cost which allows many people to have a chance at better housing and community.  Basically, residents pay 30% of monthly income or rent.  These housing vouchers improve the outcome of children and help families leave or stay off of welfare.  Another program being the CDC's, which is another plan to help better the community and produce jobs.  Like HOPE CDC's are supported through government policies.


4) What do you personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally?  First, I think the government needs to make people more aware about poverty in the United States but also globally.  I think the best way to prevent poverty is with every individual contributing in some kind of way.  There always someone who has less resources than you.  Whether it is non perishable food drives, building shelters, or giving water every contribution would make a difference for those in need.  I believe the best way to limit poverty is through community contributions.  Session 5, I like the idea of simulating what it would be like to be poor through certain programs.  I feel it gives people a better chance to what it would be like to be poor first hand.I also feel like those without at least a HS diploma, that part of being poor falls on their shoulders.  Clearly, numbers show the rate of how much having a HS diploma means in terms of finding a job.  Basically it is the individual being lazy if they can not obtain a high school diploma.  It benefits the people in the long run. Lastly I feel wage should be equal for men and women doing the same job to keep women poverty from increasing. Session six, After this weeks session I feel the state of Georgia should raise the minimum wage budget to the federal budget.  Currently the wage in Georgia is $5.15 but if we raised it to the federal budget $7.25 it would benefit thousands of people. Those living on minimum wage full time even after the month don't have enough money to provide for their families.  People knowing that no matter what they do they still won't have enough money at the end of the month makes them feel a lose of hope.  Raising the minimum wage will help thousands of people and their children.  Session eight,  for this session I'm a bit unsure of what should be done for the poor.  To me the best government policy does seem to be the federal EITC because it has the numbers we need to see as Americans of people getting out of poverty, but it comes with a price and the price being taxes.  But willing to pay if benefits.  Session 11,  After looking at this session and the declining rate of money in Social Insurance, I believe the first priority should be to raise the funds.  One way in which I believe the funds will increase is if the number of  workers paying into Social Security increases how it used to be.  Social Security needs to have stricter rules in order to give more benefits to retirees, people with disabilities,  lose of job for part time, or death of family.  Session 12,  if these different housing options through government funding is beneficial towards the public, such as HOPE or CDC plan, I say continue with the funding if we have the numbers to prove success.   Session 13, since illegal immigration causes poverty laws need to be enforced.  We can not keep allowing people to get the easy way out, it makes the country suffer.  Illegals might work for cheap labor but in the end they do not pay taxes which has become essiential to this country to help provide to others.  New laws need to be formed and enforced to prevent less illegal immigration.

Thank you for reading my story.