The Broken American Dream- No Freedom....Go Home!

Session 14: Immigration Policies and the Poor

Immigrants travel to the United States in hopes of obtaining a better life for their loved ones and themselves.  They pack their best clothing items, their favorite compact discs, a few pictures, many memories, and a little too often- their desire to stay home. Immigrants, legal and illegal, leave everything they love to come make a better living in the United States. Contemporary immigration policies regard immigrants as "criminals".  If someone who sacrifices their very essence, identity, and emotional stability with the mere intent to provide their offspring with optimum opportunities in life is regarded as a criminal, indeed, Americans have acquired a much-distorted view of reality.  The United States is a nation made of immigrants.  The first wave of Immigrants in the seventeenth century consisted of early colonists from England.  However, the Revolutionary War of 1775 resulted in fewer English immigrants thus increasing newcomers from: Germany, Ireland, and Scotland.  The second wave lasted from 1820 to 1870. More than seven million newcomers entered the United States.  Virtually all of them came from northern and western Europe .The third wave was from 1881 to 1920 where more than twenty-three million immigrants from various parts of the world entered the United States; however, the predominant newcomers came from southern and eastern Europe.  However, the increase of immigration from Latin immigrants to the United States is perhaps the most controversial because the universal stereotype of blonde-haired blue-eyed Americans is slowly vanishing behind the shadow of a more diverse and integrated generation of Americans.  While opponents of comprehensive immigration laws affirm that illegal aliens benefit from all social programs at the expense of taxpayers they evidently fail to realize that most immigrants pay taxes, in fact, undocumented workers who get the same percentage as any given citizen deducted from their paychecks, however, unlike any given citizen they do not have the opportunity to get money back from the government because most of them work with a different identity.  In 2004 the IRS declared that they had a surplus of more than $1.2 billion worth of unclaimed tax refunds, coincidently enough the top five states with most unclaimed refunds are: California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois, which are also the five states with most undocumented residents.  Another main argument regarding the negative impact of undocumented workers is that they lower the wages of Americans, this is a paradoxical statement since many economists argue that immigrants both legal and illegal supply the demand for gasps in the labor industry of the United States, as a result, industries maximize their profits and utility to create more job opportunities.  Furthermore, it is important for individuals to realize that the economic recession we are experiencing was not caused by immigration.  George W. Bush and everyone who voted for him are more responsible for our economic recession than any immigrant currently living in American soil is.  The war in Iraq during the past five years have cost America $506 billion, and continue to cost the nation about $12 billion a month according to economist Joseph Stiglitz.  This numbers do not include the long-term health care cost for wounded Iraq war veterans, which are estimated to range from $250 billion to $650 billion.  Do you still consider Immigrants responsible for the economic recession in the United States? However, opponents of immigration are right about one thing there is a crime being committed in the boundaries of our nation.  That is the crime of denying college-bound illegal immigrants, who graduated from American high schools, an opportunity to pay in-state tuitions at universities.  The Dream act would provide a solution for the 65,000 undocumented that graduate from high school each year; students who have lived in the United States for five years or longer to pursue a post secondary education and become active members of our society.  Unfortunately, this bill along with the illusions of these exemplary students has died many times in the Senate. Discrimination and Racism are the main forces driving the faith of millions of illegal immigrants in the United States, instead of addressing the issue; states have passed legislation that legalizes these two social enemies.

What you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest). The passage of a comprehensive immigration law can inject a significant amount of capital into our economy because the federal government could fine immigrants who entered the country illegally.  In addition, proof of tax forms would be one of the main requirements to apply for permanent residency; therefore, all immigrants who have not paid their taxes will do so immediately. Many individuals criticize illegal immigrants severely for crossing the border, but they fail to criticize border patrol for their inefficiency. If they did their job correctly, and by correctly I DO NOT MEAN shooting down innocent people just for the hell of it, then we would not have such a large influx of illegal immigrants. There is also a big moral hypocrisy regarding the immigration debate because I  highly doubt any parent who has to see their child starve will have a lot of respect for diplomatic laws if he/she knew that somewhere in the land of the free and home of the brave there are better job opportunities awaiting for them.  The United States and other Western countries have a great deal of responsibility for the state of the world; therefore, immigration is a low price to pay for abusing the resources of other countries.

Mi Casa es Tu Casa- (My home is your home)

SESSION 13: Community Development & Housing Policies

·         What you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).

The lack of substantial governmental projects to provide affordable housing is one of the main contributors of poverty.  The minimum wage salary is an inadequate reflector of the cost of living because it is simply not enough to cover the expenses the average individual has to pay if he or she intends to have a decent life.  It is logical to assume that private corporations will not lose profits in order to help society since the goal of for-profit corporations is to maximize profits. Therefore, it is up to the government and private individuals to aid those who cannot afford the ridiculously high prices of the housing sector. The Housing Act of 1937 was the first federal piece of legislation that recognized the need to eradicate slums and create decent housing for low-income families. Then the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 created the Community Development Block Grant Program, which provides metropolitan cities with grants that serve to spread the creation of affordable housing and improve the facilities of already existing housing projects.  Despite the government’s efforts to provide affordable housing to low and moderate income families their success eventually reached a stagnant point, meaning it was time for the private sector to get involved. The Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 produced block grants for state and local governments.  In other words, the Home Investment Partnerships, Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP), and Homeownership Zone facilitate the transition of federal resources to local governments to support the development of affordable housing. This legislation designated two programs called HOME and HOPE.  HOME IV offers sophisticated, mix-income housing facilities, however, unemployment, lack of healthcare, and low levels of education are among the factors that challenge those who are trying to overcome poverty. There are more than 13,000 public housing developments in the United States- residents pay 30% of adjusted income. The largest federal housing assistance program are Section 8 Vouchers which allows the tenants to remain on their property paying a rent value equal to 30% of their income while the Housing Authority subsidizes the gap between their income and the fair market price for the property.  The Atlanta Housing Authority has been very active and successful in their quest to eliminate the ghettos.  By 2010, the last three major complexes will be closed (AJC). By eliminated the slums the Housing Authority is helping the children of these impoverished families because the context in which they are being raised will be a great determining force in the adults they will become. George Galster claimed in his publication, Do Neighborhoods matter?, that the best way to decrease poverty is to achieve a 10 percent or less poverty rate in any given neighborhood. Sadly, vouchers lack funding meaning that only 1 in 3 families who are eligible actually receive the benefit.  On the other hand,   Community Development Corporations are important community organizers and builders who are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to decent housing.

·         How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally.

The fact that the nonprofit sector is taking initiatives to alleviate poverty is a very positive social phenomenon. Programs such as the MVI of Philadelphia and the Palm Beach Country Community Development demonstrate that there are many individuals committed to creating progressive communities.  These volunteers often go unaccredited for their charity but they know that they are working hard to make a significant impact in the life of someone.  I used to think poverty was not being addressed at all but now I know that there are numerous individuals out there fighting a war against poverty, the only problem is that they are in desperate need of more soldiers.

Good news: The government pays for wrinkles! Bad News: They don't pay enough :(

Session 12: The Social Security Act

What you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).

President Franklin Roosevelt’s chief legacy was his transformation of the role of the government.  He passed a serious of legislative acts that enlarged the function of the government in the daily lives of Americans.  The Social Security act of 1935 was a major success for his administration because it protected workers with insurance for unemployment and old age. The Social Security Act is brilliant system where individuals are eligible for employer’s compensation only if they have completed at least forty quarters of work (ten years).  By setting such requirements, the government ensures that at least the beneficiary has paid some part of the compensation. The Social Security act is one of the most successful anti-poverty measures ever invented by the government. The funds, which are collected through taxation, have saved millions of individuals who otherwise might have fallen into the ill cycle of absolute poverty.  Social Security protects people from old age, disability, and provides hospital insurance. Although, social security is shadowed by the privatization vs. anti-privatization debate, up to the date, it has managed to keep millions out of poverty.  Although, social security benefits are not sufficient to provide the elderly with a decent life, at least it helps.  

Why do we allow corporations to dictate our health?

Session: 11- Healthcare in the United States
 

     How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States?

In the United States, healthcare facilities are primarily owned and operated by the private sector.  The lack of governmental agencies that offer healthcare insurance in the US have caused millions of Americans to be uninsured.  The United States leads the world in diplomatic relations, protection of human rights, and wealth but we fall far behind from the industrialized world when it comes to offering free healthcare to the vast majority of citizens.  Private and Government insurance are the main types of health care insurances available.  Statistics show that in 2008-2009, the number of uninsured individuals increased to 50.7 million and the number of uninsured children rose to 7.5 million.  As a result, in 2008 the private sector experienced a decrease of 66.7 percent, however, government insurance increased by 29 percent.  This statistics are very alarming because the fact that more people are now eligible to receive government insurance most likely means that more people are being dragged into poverty.  Furthermore, it emphasizes the urgent need for health insurance that is affordable for everyone.  Young adults, 18-24 year olds, are the portion of the population who is least likely to have health insurance.  On the contrary, the elderly are the ones with the highest rates of insured individuals.  The South is the region of the United States that holds the greatest number of uninsured individuals.  According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Georgia’s rate of uninsured individuals increased by 20.5 percent from 2008 to 2009.  Minorities compose one-third of the population in the United States, yet they conform 52 percent of the number of uninsured individuals.  The great disparity that exists in the health care system of the United States precipitated the creation of The National Center on Minority Health and Disparities. They made some alarming discoveries regarding the inequality of the healthcare system; however, to address these problems, Medicare, Medicaid, and S-CHIP were created.  While these programs provided rudimentary health services for children and the elderly, they failed to address that our youth is also very vulnerable since they are the part of the population with highest rates of uninsured individuals.  A country such as the United States can no longer afford to ignore the issue of healthcare; it is not possible that we lag so far behind on life expectancy.  As a result, the Health Care Reform was finally approved by congress. This government initiative will allow millions of Americans to have access to much-needed healthcare! 

Chronicles of a Broken System

Session 9: Historical and Current Policy Responses: Social Welfare and Tax Policies

Although, the United States is recognized worldwide for the wide range of laws that protect workers, the truth is that these laws did not always exist.  During the period of Industrialization, laborers were subject to exploitation because our government employed a laissez-faire policy towards large industries.  This hands-off government policy allowed wealthy business owners to sacrifice fair working conditions in order to maximize profits. Eventually lack of government regulation, over-expansion of industry, and banks giving out risky loans led our economy directly into the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, Americans witnessed a significant shift in the role of the federal government.  Three significant pieces of legislation emerged from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Program.  The Federal Emergency relief act (1933) gave federal grants to the states for destitute workers. This act put money in the hands of the people.  The Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) established minimum wage, maximum working hours, and banned child labor. Finally, the Social Security Act (1935) provided unemployment insurance and retirement compensation. These laws provided the foundation for the current governmental initiatives to fight poverty.

•  How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally.  In the United States, poverty is being addressed through the implementation of several government programs that aid families whose salary falls under the poverty line.  For instance, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, also known as the 1996 Welfare Reform, was expected to break the cycle of poverty by proving jobs for welfare recipients.  This act was a reform because previously welfare recipients were not required to work in order to receive cash benefits. The bill also included a maximum of 60 months to receive cash assistance and states have the right to determine the length of assistance. Another prohibition is that only minor parents enrolled in school are eligible to receive help. POWRA created Temporary
  Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) which is responsible for assisting needy families so that children can be cared for in their own home, reducing dependency of needy parents, reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and encourage the formation of two parent households. The effect of this legislation from 1994 to 2000 indicates that the program served to decrease poverty and child poverty rates and increased employment rates for single mothers.  However, the poverty rate for single mothers has increased by 26.4% in 2001, 26.5% in 2002, and 28% in 2003.  Simultaneously, the child poverty rate has increased every year since 2001-16.3%; 2002-16.7% and 2003-17.6%. Overall, we have not invented a piece of legislation that deals effectively with the poverty issue.

“You are not poor! You just can’t afford housing, childcare, transportation, healthcare, etc”

Session 7: Poverty & Wages

The federal government dictates the minimum hourly amount an employee’s wage should be. This amount is known as minimum wage which is currently $7.25 an hour. At a first glance, a wage of $7.25 an hour may appear to be a respectable salary, however, any further examination regarding the cost of living might lead you to the realization that minimum wage is not enough. In order to fight poverty it is imperative to have a minimum wage that takes into account the cost of living. Raising the minimum wage to meet the costs of living would allow families to cover their expenses without relying on governmental aid. In addition, putting money in the hands of low income individuals is a great economic stimulator because they are more likely to spend money on necessities rather than saving it. Even the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour fails to acknowledge tipped workers. Young mothers who do not have a college degree often find employment in restaurants because the qualifications are not extensive. However, the minimum wage of tipped workers in Georgia is $2.13 an hour. These are the workers who suffer the most during economic recessions because people abstain from eating out and if they do they are very likely to tip less. When the economy slows down restaurants start promoting meal deals that can range from $3.99-$6.99, which is good for the consumer but terrible for the waitress/waiter because that means their tip will suffer. I am currently a tipped worker, I work at a restaurant near my house, personally I have no bills to pay because my parents cover all of my expenses, and therefore, most of the money I make is to cover the expenses of commuting to Georgia State University and other small expenses. However, if I had to sustain a household I would soon become a poor individual because my salary is not even enough to cover the rent of a one bedroom apartment. A tipped job is not only underpaid, it can also be emotionally distressing because some individuals treat you as if you were less than them. In conclusion, fair wages encourage fair working ethics which is likely to result in business productivity which in terms benefits businesses.

·         How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States? Poverty  is not being addressed correctly in the United States, I feel as if we are not putting enough effort to alleviate the needs of those who are already living in poverty and we are not doing anything to help those who are fighting the poverty threshold.

·         What you personally think should be done about poverty in United States? We can’t just increase the minimum wage because the reality is that most companies will not sacrifice their precious profits in order to pay fair wages, therefore, they will most likely pass on the cost to the customers, which raises the price of things and we will again be at square one. Therefore, in order to have a real change we must have a wage that reflects inflation without causing further inflation. 

Land of the rich, and home of the discriminated

Session 6: Causes of Poverty

Who are you?  Most individuals will answer this question by disclosing their nationality (I am American), religion (I am Christian), race (I am black), and/or in honor of the current global recession you might encounter an “I am a very broke individual” answer.  Infrequently, does one encounter an answer like “I am human” or “I am a citizen of the world”.  This phenomenon is known as identity.  Our identity is our perception of ourselves. It defines our place in the world by answering who we are and what we are.  Our nationality, ethnicity, race, and religion are among the aspects that contribute the formation of our reality, they are, in other words, the core of our essence.  If my identity in the eighteenth century were of a wealthy white man, then I would perceive everyone who was not like me to be inferior.  Many injustices, atrocities, and years later, we are all civilized and equal!  In reality, an immense amount of progress has been made and overall we conform an integrated society.  However, inequality thrives and its devastating effect is corroborated by high poverty rates.    

Why you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?  Social Stratification is a primary cause of poverty in the United States. This theory consists of two classifications: owners of production and  workers.  The owners are- important industrialists and massive corporations.  The workers are everyone else.  “Social Stratification across status groups occurs when social groups seek to maximize their rewards by restriction others’ access to resources and opportunities.”  Racial and ethnic stratification states that minorities in the United States are poorer than whites. On average, minorities have lower levels of education and employment, therefore, lower wages. Females, regardless of race, are also subject to inequality thus they usually receive lower wages. As a result, female-headed households are more likely to suffer from economic hardships. Racism and discrimination are prominent causes of poverty, which means that poverty also has a cultural dimension. In conclusion, social stratification of race and gender, level of education, and a significant increase in the number of female-headed households are the prime causes of poverty. 

[1] Poverty in America: a handbook

John Iceland - University of California Press - 2006

Globalization- Capitalist Exploitation or Global Prosperity?

In contemporary times, technology, capital investment, production, marketing, and communication networks all have global dimensions. Technological advances have caused time and distance barriers to vanish, which greatly encourage companies to join the international arena.  Globalization is the term used to describe the international network of communication, transportation, and trade.  While supporters of globalization claim that it promotes global peace and prosperity by establishing interconnectedness among all countries of the world, others claim that globalization does not help everyone and further increases the wealth of corporations at the expense of the working class. Globalization has greatly facilitated the improvement of many social indicators and contributed to the worldwide decrease of absolute poverty, however, it has failed to alleviate poverty where it is most urgently needed.  Nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than $2 dollars a day and 23 percent live on less than $1. This statistics are truly heartbreaking.  Half of the inhabitants of the world struggle to survive, they lack food, clean water, and shelter.  Poverty in the developing nations is nothing like poverty in the industrialized nations.  For instance, the threshold for poverty in the United States for a family of three is $17, 738 annually, while the established poverty line for developing nations is $1,095 to $2,190 annually.  In the industrialized world, the United States has a rate of 13.6 percent of absolute poverty, only surpassed by the United Kingdom and Canada.  In addition, the United States has the highest relative poverty rate of the industrialized nations. This might be due to the fact that Western European countries spend a significantly higher percentage of their GNP to subsidize social welfare programs than the U.S.

What is being done about poverty in the United States and globally? “The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger, and disease affecting billions of people.” The Millennium Development Goals are a time-bound targets set to eradicate absolute poverty and its devastating effects. The 8 Development Goals are: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development, respectably in that order. While, there are many rumors that the goals set for 2015 will not be achieved, at least the United Nations, NGO’s, and others are working extremely hard to alleviate poverty.

Shattered Dreams Boulevard = the slums

Session 4: Geographic Poverty

“Where one lives affects the opportunities one has and the type of living one earns.”[1] The main four poverty regions in the United States are the South, West, Northeast, and Midwest. The region with the highest poverty rate is the South with 13.8 percent.  The west has the second highest with 11.6 percent, followed by the Northeast with 11.5 percent. Finally, the Midwest has the lowest poverty percent with 11.2 percent. The main problem with concentrated poverty, also referred to as ghettos, is that it negatively influences its inhabitants. For instance, the index of drug abuse, crime, welfare dependency, and single parent households have a propensity to be significantly higher in areas with high-poverty concentrations.  George Galster corroborates this statement in his publication, Do Neighborhoods matter? He states that children are the ones who suffer the most from growing up in this concentrated poverty neighborhoods. He presents the Nature vs Nurture theory and explains that it is not only about the way a family raises their children but also about the context in which the children are raised.  He explains that most poor families live in metropolitan cities known for their poor school systems, thriving underground economies, and extensive crime rates and that this conditions encourage children to make wrong decisions. He claims that the best way to decrease poverty is to achieve a 10 percent or less concentration of poverty in any given neighborhood. “Concentrated poverty results from several factors, including past government policies, racial and ethnic discrimination, residential segregation, economic changes and employment dislocations, and the movement of prosperous residents to the suburbs.”  [2]Concentrated poverty is a primary contributor the increase of the poverty rate in the United States. Successful individuals move away from home to live in better neighborhoods, taking with them their accomplishments that could serve to demonstrate that there is hope, but leaving behind a more noticeable population of drug dealers and criminals.  In conclusion, poverty is a cycle, a child might be raised in a neighborhood where the only people who hold a comfortable lifestyle are the drug dealers, and those individuals are the only ‘role models’ these children see.

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[1] Poverty in America: a handbook

John Iceland - University of California Press - 2006

[2] Poverty in America: a handbook

John Iceland - University of California Press - 2006

POVERTY IN AMERICA: DISHEARTENING STATISTICS

There are about 37 million people living under the poverty line in the United States. Thirty-seven million people whose American dream has turned into an authentic nightmare. Children and the elderly are the age groups most vulnerable to poverty.  Children account for the highest poverty rate.  In 2005, reports indicate that 12.9 million children are poor in the United States, meaning that 17.6 percent of our precious little people go to bed hungry every single night.  Out of these 12.9 million poor children, 9 percent are Non-Hispanic White, 34.2 percent are Black, and 27.74 percent are Hispanic. This statistics highly defy the widespread notion that all poor individuals are deserving of their poverty because this children have done nothing to be poor, they were simply victims of fate.  A poor child is not a child that is crying because Santa brought him an XBOX and not a PS3, a poor child is one that is crying because he is hungry, thirsty, and in many cases cold.  The elderly constitute 10.0 percent of the poor people of our nation, which is the second highest percentage of poverty.  Single mother households are also more prone to poverty than two-parent households.  For instance, black female-headed households have the highest poverty rate at 39.6 percent. They are closely followed by Hispanic female-headed households, which account for 39 percent.  Lastly, White Non-Hispanic female-headed households experience the lowest poverty rates in this category at 22.6 percent.   Due to the complexity of defining who is poor and more importantly how poor these individuals are, Amartya Sen developed a method to develop more descriptive statistics.  She categorized poverty into two main divisions “Extreme” Poverty and “Near” Poverty.  “Extreme” poverty is when the family income falls below half of the poverty threshold. These individuals endure critical hardships.  “Near” poverty is when the income of a family is less than 1.25 of the poverty threshold. These individuals endure serious hardships.  One can conclude that the development of effective poverty measures is one way in which the government can begin alleviating poverty because it is  impossible to find a solution if you do not fully comprehend the problem. 

Poverty: Definitions, Evolved Perspectives, and Relative Measures.

Children who are so malnourished that their bone structure, something that should be seen in an X-ray, is now visible to the naked eye, your eyes.  Dark, penetrating eyes screaming, “I have hope, help me!” One gets this typical picture when imagining extreme poverty.  However, we rarely think of the young woman who lives in the apartment next door, we do not realize that she works all day to provide for her child and yet she struggles month after month to make ends meet.  She made one mistake in her youth and now she walks around carrying the weight of her shattered dreams upon her shoulders.  She only has a high school diploma and lacks the financial means and time to achieve a higher education; therefore, her chances of improving her lifestyle are highly limited.  This is the emerging face of poverty, precisely the one we often fail to acknowledge.  For instance, the poverty line for a family of three in the United States is $17,738 annually, meaning anyone whose income falls below that line is considered poor. The two most common poverty measures are absolute and relative measures.  Absolute poverty is the minimum requirement necessary to afford the most rudimentary necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare.  In this approach, the poverty line remains constant.  On the other hand, relative poverty takes into account the comparative economic status of a society.  The malnourished child described above would live under absolute poverty while the young woman would be considered relatively poor. Despite the differences between absolute and relative poverty, they have one tremendous similarity: they are both considerably inefficient. In spite of inadequacy, the United States created the Quasi-Relative Poverty Measure.  “The recommended measure is quasi-relative because the proposed update would be based on consumption expenditures for only basic categories of goods and services- food, clothing, and utilities- that would be expected to rise less rapidly than total consumption expenditures.” [1] All three systems have advantages and disadvantages but they are the only method we have for measuring poverty. There are several definitions of poverty.  For example, “Galbraith’s The Affluent Society (1958) — poverty occurs when income falls markedly below that which the community considers necessary for decency, even if it is adequate for survival.”  “Webster 1—having little or no money and few possessions, dependent on charity, lacking in financials or other resources, inadequate, inferior, undernourished.” Intellectuals have established the parameters of what poverty is; now it is imperative for our society to define what we can do to alleviate poverty.

 Quick Fact:

Who you think is poor, both in the United States and globally. In the United States, any family of three whose income falls below $17, 738. In the developing world, any family who earns less than $1,095 to $2,190 annually. 

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[1]Poverty in America: a handbook

John Iceland - University of California Press - 2006

Initial Thoughts about Poverty

Poverty is the most devastating reminder of our failure as citizens of the world. It is a tormenting souvenir of our lack of activity. While most individuals wish poverty would vanish; how many of us actually make an effort to alleviate poverty? How many of donate our time, money, or care to improve the life of others?  If we intend to make the world a better place then it is our responsibility to rise above our egoism.  As individuals, we have a choice to make, to look the other way, or aid those who are in need. 

Who you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?

                Poverty is a multidimensional global issue.  Therefore, it is very hard to define who is poor because humans can be poor in so many aspects: economically, spiritually, and affectionately.  However, the form of poverty that we can eradicate as a society is the one produced by economic hardship.  In America, a poor individual is someone whose salary is below the poverty level, meaning such individual cannot afford the most rudimentary necessities to live a decent life.  Globally, poverty is living in the slums, searching through the garbage to feed your children.  Nearly half of the world’s population survives on less than $2 a day. These people are subject to harsh weather conditions, malnutrition, death, abuse, and helplessness. Poverty is the root to many other branches of injustice such as human trafficking, drug cartels, child prostitution, and human slaves.
Why you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?

              I may not be very knowledgeable regarding the causes of poverty; however, I firmly believe that poor individuals do not choose to live that way.  In my opinion, poverty is the result of social inequality, exploitation from the corporate world, failure to make responsible economical decisions, and incompetent legislation.  Poverty is like a vicious cycle, a person who is born into it lacks the resources to get out of it.    
What you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).  

             There are hundreds of non-profit organizations who work hard to fight poverty and its effects.  Some are highly influential international organizations such as the Peace Corps, the Red Cross, and Doctors without Borders.  While others are local organizations such as Hands on Atlanta, United Way, and Stand Up for Kids. The individuals who become active members of these organizations donate their time and effort to improve the living standard of the impoverished population, They are the ones who deliver the message of hope while the rest of us sit at home watching our favorite reality show, still looking the other way.  Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, and WIC are the only forms of government aid that attempt to diminish the poverty problem, however, this government agencies are notorious for their ineffectiveness.
How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally. 

             Poverty is not being addressed properly.  Every single policy implemented to aid poverty is like a patch we place on a broken system.  Although certain statistics portray that poverty has declined during the past years, we are currently falling short of a tangible resolution.  Despite the efforts of active members of our society, the truth remains that we are a segregated world. We are separated in so many levels: nationality, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, education, and the list never shrink. It is very difficult to eradicate poverty without eliminating ethnocentricity.

What you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest).

           To alleviate poverty it is imperative that we achieve higher social involvement. We need to encourage individuals who are able to extend a helping hand to do so. It is also important to make businesses accountable for their actions, not by punishing them but by encouraging them to create employment opportunities for the poor both in the United States and globally. In the United States, we have greater possibilities of expanding access to education and technology to produce more workers that are skilled. Sovereign countries should commit to regulate the prices of necessities for survival such as food, water, and medical care. This measures might seem to ideal but they are not impossible.