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Not knowing where your next meal is an issue that most Americans should not have to deal with; unfortunately this is a reality for a lot of minorities in poor communities. There is a crisis that is of epidemic proportions relating to food or the lack thereof. Food or the absence of food can have a profound impact upon a persons character. This will undoubtedly affect them and their individual station in life.
When someone is trying to survive, they will do anything they have to do to survive; its just human nature. But surviving is more than just eating; its paying bills, its having nice clothes, having a dependable car that also looks nice, surviving is basically enjoying all the perks of life. Imagine being greeted by a polite young man fancied in a three piece suit awaiting his guests arrival. Upon their presence he guides his guests to a table in a dim room with a full dining set on the table with wine glasses. He proceeds to pull out his guests chairs and patiently waits for them to sit.
He then hands his guests two menus: one for wine, the other for dinner. He continues by telling his guests that their server will be with them and for them to enjoy their meal. Many Americans are fortunate enough to enjoy meals and experience fine dining in such a way, however, the census bureau from 2004 states that nearly 36 million (12. 5 %) of United States residents will never be blessed with this opportunity all because of the simple fact that they live in poverty. Of this 36 million, African Americans remain nearly twice the national rate, with 24. 4 % of blacks living below the poverty line in 2003. (web). Poverty is the ultimate struggle for life and survival.
People have different views on why poverty exists. Some might say, Why help someone that cant help themselves and others might say, Since Ive been blessed I must bless my brother. I feel that minorities should not be the ones that have to sacrifice. Instead why cant we sacrifice some of our perks and give a little more? In a paper written by Nathan Rosenberg called, Capital Formation in Undeveloped Countries, he explains low aggregate savings as a result method of saving.
Rosenberg argues that while low aggregate savings does characterize underdeveloped countries, the generally accepted explanations for this condition may not be accurate. Because of the nature of the country, potential investors do not prefer investment in financial institutions. This situation can occur because of a structural lack of access to institutions or because of the unreliable nature of many of the institutions. Consequently, lower income persons in the country choose to save their earnings in alternative forms. Oftentimes this takes the form of consumption. Rosenberg points out that the purchasing of jewelry, gold, and other similar items that retain value are in essence a method of saving through items that are good source of value.
The implication of this finding is that the capacity to save is greatly underestimated by many calculations. The purchases are not squandering of income, but rather a rational savings device. If offered an alternative to this sort of consumptive saving, low-income persons may choose to invest in the alternative banks and other financial institutions. In conclusion, Rosenberg argues that we must ask why personal incentives lead to the consumption of items of good value retention as opposed to saving in established financial institutions. We then must act to alter this incentive to favor savings that can be turned into productive capital investment. Rosenberg's argument is valid but most of the poor are ignorant to skilled saving techniques.
We must teach are people the proper ways to save. Its hard to want to save, especially when you see the rest of the world spend a thousand dollars on a Gucci purse. Further, the impact that television as it relates to conspicuous consumption and other in your face marketing techniques portray the acquisitions of things as the American way of life. We must dispel this myth by not only being demonstrative in ways for Americans to create a diverse financial portfolio but also systemically prevent television from creating an illusion that just because it is marketed on TV its OK to go out and buy it.
We must also think of fundamental ways to bridge the economic gap between the haves and the have not. However, this delicate balance will only be struck if it can be demonstrated that material things will not reap long term tangible benefits. They only depreciate. The additional problem is coupled with the theory that keeping up the with the Jones will give a person instant status both personally and professionally. This in my opinion will open the flood gates for economic change and prosperity. It is further evident that the lack of a diverse financial portfolio will undoubtedly determine what type of food a person consumes and the extent of the phone the person consumes.
This is a vicious cycle because if you cannot save money you certainly will not have the luxury of being able to choose from a diverse daily menu for food consumption. I remain confident that the cycle can be broken. However, as a country the United States must be more strategic and methodical in its approach. Nathan Rosenberg captured the essence of this sentiment. Why cant we as a nation. I wonder.
In the article she reports fact of how an increase in poverty since bush has been in office. Poverty has rose 12. 5 percent. Blacks have it the worse she claims. 24. 4 percent of blacks live in poverty. 12. 9 percent of children live in poverty today. Andrea reports that the poverty line is set at an annual income of $ 9, 573 or less for an individual or $ 18, 660 for a family of four children with two children. Under that measure, a family would spend about a third of its income on food. She brings up John Kerry's argument of how Bush has done more for wealthy Americans than the poor or middle class.
I believe its sad that basically of black Americans are living in poverty and 12. 9 percent of children are living in poverty. We need to do more for our community and our children. I myself need to do more. As far as Bush goes he is doing his job as a republican. Republicans views on life have always been racist to me.
They do not care at all about the poor communities. Since most of the poor are minorities, they do not care about minorities at all. So Bush is doing exactly what I thought he would do as a republican; make the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and make necessity like gas more expensive so the middle class cant move up. A report by Representative Jim McDermott called, Poverty Report Shows Republican Budget is on the Wrong Track He gives his insight on how the Bush administration is handling the poverty issues the wrong way. He writes that Representative Charles B. Rangel declared, With four years of rising poverty, you might think so called compassionate conservatives would offer a helping hand to struggling families.
Instead, President Bush and the Republican Congress are offering a slap in the face. Jim McDermott feels that, Congress will soon vote on a budget bill that cuts health coverage, food assistance, and student aid to needy Americans. Other programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TAN), the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and the Social Services Block Grant will not be allowed to keep pace with inflation, so they will decline in real terms. He then implies that, These cuts have nothing to do with balancing the budget, and everything to do with providing more tax cuts for the wealthy.
Its a clear example of Robin Hood in reverse. Jim McDermott says, He will not stop until Americas poor become Americas priority. McDermott makes very good points about the Bush administration but I dont know how to feel about McDermott. He is just playing the game of politics; I know he doesnt sacrifice his perks to benefit the poor. As I searched the web I couldnt find any articles supporting Bush's plan on poverty or an article about Republicans view on poverty. This further let me know that poverty is not an issue that Republicans care about.
One republican said, That without the poor he wouldnt be rich. I feel that this is exactly how the Republican Party thinks. They need to poor in order to be rich. When I say sacrifice some perks; Im not implying that people dont deserve what they worked for, by all means should enjoy life to the fullest also but some things are just plain gluttony. For example when President Bush gave his speech on the war on poverty he unveiled it at Fiji's stylish Wakaya Club. Everyone was flown in on private jets; dinner consisted of Caribbean lobster tails and followed by Beluga caviar.
To me he should have held the event with some of Americas poverty. When trying to survive in America people do what ever they can do. People should not be so quick to judge other people. We NEVER know what another persons circumstances are. We also know that we are in a period in time when marketing takes center stage to concerns about eating. WE must change this dynamic.
What is it going to take? How many more people must die for malnutrition before we recognize that this is a problem of epidemic proportions? It is easy for someone to stand before a room full of people and proclaim that we must combat poverty and be whisked about by private security, CIA officials and private jets. However, what about the person who after it is all said and done will be going to bed yet again hungry. If not the adults, what about the children? This is the million dollar question.
What about the children? It pains my heart to know that the number of children in the United States that go to bed hungry each day is the size of state. This MUST change. If not know, when? If not my generation, whose? These will be questions that we will continue to ponder during the twenty first century and beyond.
We must solve this problem. I am willing to help. But who is on my frontline? President Bush, Secretary of State Rice...
I wonder.
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