What does it mean to be poor? What does it mean to describe a nation as “developing”? A lack of material wealth does not define one as deprived. A strong economy in a developed nation does not mean much when a significant percentage or a majority of the population is struggling to survive. Development usually implies an improvement in living standards such that a person has enough food, water, and clothing, a stable so

high risk of poverty. Without these added benefits, people would be a lot worse than they are now. The safety net programs reduced the child poverty rate from 24% before the benefits were counted down to 16% (Egendorf: 1999, 19). Supplemental Security income, local general assistance, and earned income tax credits have also been popular components of income in the United States (Lynn, McGeary: 1990, 235).

What about the myth that America is the land of opportunity? With such a high standard of living, many believe this is not true (Shein: 1998, 13). Those who work hard and have the opportunity to be financially successful are rewarded with healthy, enjoyable lifestyles, while those who are disadvantaged and cannot receive these opportunities are punished and miserable. Disadvantaged does not mean those who are on welfare, or those who are too lazy to find work. People who have disabilities that make it hard for them to find jobs, and those that are born into poverty, who cannot escape it, must be tortured and remain helpless until a solution to this social problem is reached. In America, only 1% of the people own 50% of the wealth, 20 % of our children live in poverty, and a half a million people are homeless (Shein: 1998, 13). It is statistics like this that says our economic system depends on inequality in order to survive. How would this world be if the wealth were evenly spread out for all to share? What would we do without poverty? Our society has been deeply divided for so long that I think change would be too difficult to handle. An example of this is “ In 1985, 2 million adults worked full time throughout the year, yet they and their families remained in poverty (Katz: 1989, 243). However, the wealthy kept working all year long, and they became wealthier.

the amount of opportunities that will be available. Not every single person who is suffering from poverty will be motivated to take advantage of these opportunities, but the people who do, will greatly benefit from these arising chances at a new way of living. Hopefully, society will view those who suffer at the hands of poverty in a less discriminating way. Our nation must realize that because they may be poor, does not mean that they don’t deserve they same chances i

Some topics in this essay:
Lynn McGeary, World Bank, , Upper/Middle Class-which, Americans Egendorf, Security Food, Bill Clinton, Human Services, Supplemental Security, people living, paying jobs, egendorf 1999, shein 1998 13, levels poverty, reduce poverty, katz 1989, poverty nation, conflict theory, poor mean, poverty rate, egendorf 1999 19,