Plight of the Poor in the American Society - Assignment Example

Plight of the poor in the American Society Introduction The United s poverty is measured by the standards that were set by the U.S government. The measure of poverty threshold entails lack of services and good that are commonly taken for granted by the populace in the society. Many of the Americans spend a year or so below the poverty line at some moment between the ages of twenty-five and seventy-five. The rates of poverty are significant in the regions of inner cities and rural areas as compared to suburban areas. According to the 2012 census, it was estimated that more than sixteen percent of the population was living in poverty, where at least twenty percent was children. In 2009, the poverty rose to over fourteen percent, which was the highest since 1993. In 2008, the poverty rates reduced to about thirteen percent. Generally, since 1980s, the poverty rates in U.S have been higher compared to the other wealthy nations (Hefner 7). Currently, California has over twenty percent of the poverty rate, which is the largest in all the States of America. In 2009, the poverty rates were approaching the levels of 1960s, which prompted the war against the poverty in America. In2011, the poverty levels in children, reached record high levels with over sixteen millions of children living in poverty. In 2013, the UNICEF records showed that U.S was ranked second with the highest child poverty levels among the developed nations. As at January 2009, over six hundred thousand sheltered and unsheltered people were homeless in the nation. Close to two-thirds stayed in the transitional housing program, and the emergency shelter and there are three were waiting in the streets. In 2008, over one million people of the America’s population were using transitional or emergency housing program and in2009 there were about forty-four percent of the employed people who were homeless. The America’s poor population has a lot that they offer in the nation building. However, the poor have been neglected in many ways, and their recognition has been assumed on many occasions, they have an alt of wealth of ideas that can be of critical importance in the nations growth. According to the article “born poor and smart,” refers to the mother who was destitute but she had brain wealthy. The woman never did things that were done by the poor counterparts. The woman had self-believe her and never allowed anyone to demean her due to her social class. In another article by Matt Yglesias, it addresses the concern of the equality between the poor and the rich (Yglesias 23). It illustrates that the tax should be paid as the persons earnings. This aspect would relieve the oppressed poor in the society. Finally, in the article “when shelter feels like a prison,” illustrates that the poverty levels can change as the writer was initially living in homeless circumstances in early life before his single mother got employment. After she was employed, they moved from the poverty life, and they acquired their house where they lived. However, his mother had financial difficulties before being employed, their life changed from that point forward. Plight of the poor in the American Society The poor should not allow them to be oppressed whatsoever. Sometimes the poverty-stricken category gives in to the oppression that is directed towards them. Poor people should stand their ground knowing that they have equal opportunities as the rich in the society. People portray the poor people as ones whom they cannot share their ideas with as they think they can be of no impact to them. Some of the male coworkers to the woman who was making them the coffee was arrogant enough not to relish an opportunity to share the dream of imagery with a woman who was making them coffee. The poor were intelligence woman had her brains paying off as two of her four kids managed to achieve academic excellence and received college degrees. The writer was one of the two who excelled but narrates that social class still maintained. The narrator took a longer time to finish the studies, but the essence was that he finished as the others who were supported socially by their parents (Yglesias 22). The narrator underwent numerous humiliations as he was studying with people of diverse social classes as he tried to much them. The interesting part of his beliefs was that he never had an idea of the difference between the poor and rich. Some people have the notion that the success is only made for the rich people, but the truth is opposite, everyone has an opportunity to nurture what is in the inner self. Every person regardless of the poor or rich has their talents, values and interests that they can use and make the difference in their lives. Many poor people just lack models of success from their backyard, but they have enormous potential in them that if utilized well they can detach themselves from the trap. All the people should be given equal opportunities and treated in the same manner. The improvements in the living standards of persons in the countries that have had their economies growing have taken place because the countries had pulled all the resources that they have together. This aspect has given the recognition of all people, and every person is obliged to perform their duties as expected. The rate poverty can reduce if all the resources can be equitably distributed among the population. The big reason for the big gap between the poor and the rich in America is the fact that the resources are just shared among the small number of the wealthy class. If nation countries can ensure that the resources are distributed evenly among the population, the poverty levels can be reduced significantly (Locke 1). The leaders of the nations should ensure that all the people get real medical treatment, excellent schooling facilities and other social amenities. The taxation policy has made many poor the struggle a lot in their daily life situations. If a system can be done such that the wealthiest people can be paying taxes about their earning it could be a reprieve to the poor and can get a better reason to live. There are programs such as the Medicare and social security where every person is entitled to contribute to, to benefit without regard to the social class. These programs bring some equality to all people in America. The government should ensure that the foods that lead to many lifestyle complications are taxed heavily since the affluent group mostly buys them, it could serve as another way to get more money from the wealthy. All people should be given the sensitization as early as possible from the schools at lower levels for them to acquire knowledge about the economy and how to live positive without regard to the social status. All kids should be exposed to the same situation from the start so that they can appreciate them and move on from the effects poverty. The poor also have their capability to change their status to a better one. The poverty status is just a condition that can be overcome with time and people lead a life that is similar to that is led by the well to do the class. The narrator in the article had his mother being sick and homeless, but a time came she was employed, and their life changed from that point. There was a time when the mother had financial difficulties as a single mother raising up kids alone. The narrator of the article recalls they used to spend in a small room that was filled with many beds. That was just a time when the poverty level to their family was so significant to them built all came to pass at some point in life. There are many factors that contribute to poverty increase (Edgar SEC4). These factors entail divorce, joblessness, AIDs, early pregnancies, lack of information and the lack of education. Poor people should not be oppressed in the society as they are just normal being as the rich people and can be able to rescue themselves from poverty and turn things around. Once the mother of the narrator in the article got a job, their life changed and they acquired their home. Again, when the two brothers got educated they been self-sufficient and they catered for their needs and those of the family. Conclusion Poverty in United States of America has been an issue of major concern. Many people have experienced a lot of poverty where some have managed to rescue themselves from the impacts. The poor people should not be viewed as the lesser being in the society as they only lack opportunities that the rich came across. The poor people should appreciate themselves and work harder towards achieving their goals of life. Nothing should deter anyone from working towards their objectives. The homelessness among the poor should not be viewed as a terminal problem as it comes a time when it is over. Thus, the poor should be respected and given equal opportunities as the rich in the society. Works Cited Edgar, Jennifer. When Shelter Feels Like Prison. New York Times 2002: Sec 4.WK13. Print. Hefner, Philip. Poverty in the United States: Ministry and Protest. Dialog 52.1 (2013): 6-8. Web. Locke, Angela. Born Poor and Smart. (2005): n. pag. Print. Yglesias, Matt. A Great Time to Be Alive?’ The Daily Nation (2010): 22-23. Print. Read More