POVERTY IN AMERICA
RUNNING HEADER: POVERTY IN AMERICA
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Poverty in America
Introduction
THESIS; studies and research reveal that poverty still exists within America despite being rated amongst the developed countries.
Poverty exists within a country when the consumption level is at its highest level reducing the disposable income of consumers within the country. This majorly occurs when the economy is at its worst thus the value of money drops reducing the availability of resources. On the other hand, the most affected individuals are usually the citizens living in areas that are not endowed economically. This thus means that they are deprived of money, goods and even services. High levels of poverty often come along with unemployment and all negative factors that reduce economic performance of a country. America is one of the countries that have been poverty stricken and the efforts to get rid of the same have always been difficult for the nation. The most affected individuals include those who reside in the rural areas as access to resources often proves difficult for them. The performance in these places is also poor in terms of contribution of revenue to boost the economy (Pimpare, 261).
Reasons for its occurrence
A survey done recently shows that the United Nations has a population of 46 million people and the census taken recently shows that out of the whole population, 15% of this number is affected by poverty. The rate of poverty increases from one year to the next resulting in more and more of these individuals to be affected. This is due to the lifestyle adopted by the Americans as well as the changing climatic conditions. The lifestyle can be dealt with by examining the increase in the number of single mothers who are bestowed with the role of guarding their children (Pimpare, 28-44). With the existing low income wages, then such individuals are not in a position to sustainable guard themselves and the children too. Consequently, the global warming effects have largely contributed to the inadequacy of resources worldwide and the United States is most affected due to its industrialization. Despite the many industries, growth of natural foods as well as health is largely compromised.
There are several factors that increase poverty within the United States despite the fact that it is a developed nation. These factors include the high levels of loss of jobs amongst individuals. Consumption levels as per economics are hard to adjust after a certain level has been achieved. This thus means that these individuals searching for jobs find lots of difficulty adjusting to the change in their income and thus the contribution to poverty. The other factor is the level of education acquired by these individuals. Illiteracy contributes highly to the inability of individuals to raise income for use and it also lowers the creativity to act and earn for a living. Individuals of this kind thus face poverty and lower the economic state of United States. Consequently, the inability to perform increases unemployment rates within the state and with this income levels reduce to a great extent (Reef,248-296).
Another factor is the taxation levels within the country. High taxation levied on citizens often reduces their disposable income. With low earnings, then the ability to take control of needs reduces and thus the poverty levels increases for such persons. On the other hand, taxation systems often differ and the system adopted in the United States has an obligatory nature on citizens, this pressure often creates demotivation amongst individuals. The other factor is the increased divorce and separation instances within the state. This affects performance of children and demoralizes those guarding their needs thus eventually increasing child poverty levels (Reef,247). Divorce often comes along with displacement of wealth to the superior person in the affected marriage and when such happens, children may be left with broke parent who is unable to cater for the basic needs. This contributes to the resultant poverty level and increase of begging children within the streets as they search for ways to survive.
The other factors that have contributed to high poverty levels in America are the prices on services such as healthcare services. These are part of the essential needs for the citizens and when it is over rated then individuals at low income levels often suffer as meeting such proves difficult. Racism is the other factor that weakens the economy of Americans and poses the risk of poverty to the affected. The fight against this has always been the top most but the challenge to fully eradicate it comes up and prevents it. This is the reason why individuals of black nature tend to be discriminated by nature of their skin color. Therefore, from time to time access to jobs and services becomes a problem hence rendering them either jobless or unable to meet their basic demands. This is the greatest factor to poverty level increase within America (Shipler, 69-74).
Solutions to poverty in America
There are several ways of eradicating these problems as they are the only factors to end poverty in this nation and evenly distribute resources. These ways include the following; first, is through ensuring that the poverty stricken areas are looked into and this includes offering jobs to such persons and also engaging them in activities that can earn them income. Such steps promote performance and thus necessitating a hardworking nation that works towards building of the economy. Secondly, the government can take part in investment decisions that look forward to administering needs of the poor. Such functions belong to government officials as this is the key to ensuring justice for citizens and especially those in the rural areas and interior parts of America (Shipler, 75). Moreover, strict rules to education providers can be instilled as this can facilitate free education systems or even affordable ones. Measures of this kind aid in developing learning culture thus reduction in the levels of illiteracy.
The other strategy to solve poverty is the introduction of strategic goals that aim at ending corruption and violence within America. Violence and corruption hinders performance especially when it comes to job policies. It is also hindrances to employment and thus a contributing factor to unemployment rates within the state. It is therefore through its end that poverty can be dealt with easily and at ease. On the other hand, corruption is a way in which resources are mishandled while benefiting a few individuals. Facing this can majorly change the resource distribution and ensure that all individuals are in a position to receive adequate resources as purposed by the distributing channel. Demands and consumption vary with individuals and thus, the ability to positively manage consumption enables the citizens to strive as per their provisions thus eradicating poverty levels (Glenn, and Kevin, 964).
It is believed that steps towards poverty reduction require participation of all individuals since satisfaction of needs is often close to impossible. This is contributed by the fact that increase in income comes along with increase in consumption. Consequently, adoption of specific ways of consumption can be quite difficult. This goes hand in hand with the American ways of spending where the spending behavior is often a matter of question worldwide. It is rated amongst the highest yet still poverty is in existence in this nation. With this therefore, poverty reduction can only be achieved through spending habits reduction (Glenn, and Kevin, 964). The excesses of this can aid in building the economy and in the long run facilitate meeting of the needs of the less fortunate in the society. Moreover, a one nation era is quite achievable and tolerable hence the need to offer proper education on both spending and sharing of resources to help engulf and end poverty in America.
Measures meant to monitor the solutions
Goal achievement, when made possible and attained from time to time can be difficult to maintain since individuals tend to forget the required alternatives. It is thus the duty of the government officials in this state to monitor the poverty levels. Statistics on the same should be done from time to time as provision of such progresses not only act as an informative platform but also reminds the officials of the alternatives operations. Consequently, such data aid in addressing of areas of concern while also being on the awareness concerning the position of the country when it comes to poverty. This thus calls for the required knowledge and expertise on poverty within the nation (Gilbert, 209). This group can help fight the war against poverty. The government in this case can also be in a position to get the required information regarding this issue and thus the ability to address it objectively. These follow ups are quite useful as they maintain the status and nature of the issue at stable conditions thereto.
Areas affected with constant poverty in America
Other issues that relate directly to poverty levels include the population whereby, with high number of individuals within the country then the level of poverty rises. This is contributed by the nature of population and the demand that comes along with it. When the number of people is high, then the resource availability is doomed but when the population can be managed easily, then resource availability is at reach of all individuals. The group of parties to be blamed on the same is the economists who are concerned with distribution of funds to the poor. Failure of these individuals has rendered the group unethically irresponsible and thus the blame is often on their hands. When such persons direct little or no resources to poor, then meeting such problems becomes hard for the public (Gilbert, 209).
This issue does not need politicization as politics are full of promises that sway away citizens. Therefore, being on the watch out to avoid false information is necessary. On the other hand, fighting against factors that causes poverty is of great help to the nation. Movements to end the same are quite beneficial as such formations have power and a voice on the government. Consequently, America as a nation can implement ways of dealing with the affected population as neglect of the needs of such affects the economy in the long run as well. Taxation can also be made easier to attain but alongside this rule, revenue collection from individuals endowed with resources can be used to meet the problem (Gilbert193-203).
Conclusion
In conclusion, poverty is a natural calamity but the remedies to this phenomenon are the most important to address. This is due to the fact that poverty levels are manageable and only need acting against it so as to achieve a better means. The United States can thus act to ensure its reduction or full eradication through implementation of the possible solutions. In addition to this, the negative factors brought along with ignoring this subject matter should act as the motivating factor. Economy is so beneficial and important but actions to uphold the two only fall in the wrong direction as poverty and economic success clash.
Works cited
Beck, Glenn, and Kevin Balfe. An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World’s Biggest Problems. New York: Threshold Editions, 2007.
Gilbert, Geoffrey. Rich and Poor in America a Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2008.
Pimpare, Stephen. A People’s History of Poverty in America. New York: New: 2008.
Reef, Catherine. Poverty in America. New York: Facts on File, 2007.
Shipler, David K. The Working Poor: Invisible in America. New York: Knopf, 2004.
