How can we stop poverty?
With 46.2 million People living in poverty in
2011, as reported by: Population Survey Data.
A SUMMARY OF 2012 CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY DATA
(September 12, 2012)
• The Census
Bureau today released data indicating that the overall poverty rate in 2011 was
15.0 percent – statistically unchanged from 15.1 percent in 2010. This
represents 46.2 million people living in poverty in 2011.
• Today’s
data indicate that there were 16.1 million children (persons under 18) living
in poverty in 2011, not significantly changed from 2010. The child poverty rate
was 21.9 percent, not significantly changed from the 2010 rate of 22.0 percent.
• In 2011,
6.6 percent of all people, or 20.4 million people, lived in deep poverty (had
income below one-half the poverty threshold, or $11,511 for a family of four).
• The
overall poverty rate of 15.0 percent in 2011 did not change significantly from
2010. In contrast, the poverty rate had risen significantly in seven of the
prior 10 years from a recent low of 11.3 percent in 2000.
• These
figures reflect money income only and do not reflect in-kind public supports,
tax credits, most ARRA-funded expansions and temporary reductions in the
payroll tax. Data incorporating these and other noncash benefits and how they
affect measures of poverty will not be available until November.
In a country
that is said to be the richest nation in the world, we still have poverty? What
can be done to change that? How do we help? What do we offer these people that
are struggling to get by every day?
For extreme poverty we need social programs, we need to do whatever
possible we can help those that have fallen through the cracks. But for the
rest, what do we do?
I have heard that the solution is more jobs, with 46.2 million people
living in poverty – a job is not enough. We have millions of poverty stricken
families working to three part time jobs. Many are working two fulltime jobs
and are still struggling to get by.
I have also heard the answer is better paying jobs – higher wages. This is
also a strange solution since most people know that any company that raises the
wages of its employees also raises the cost of its products to cover the rise
in wages. If the bulk of the economy is small business, mom and pop shops –
they have no choice but to raise prices on their products or services. Just
consider it part of the inflation problem.
Another solution is to stimulate the economy, get business thriving. The
problem with this solution is that business ”thrive” when people spend. How can
people spend when they have nothing to spend with? With every recession we are
always told – a call to the masses, go and spend, that is how our economy
works. But the last economic crisis, the last recession has proven one thing:
how can you spend on frivolous things when you are watching every penny you
spend in order to make ends meet. Or in this current economy – to make sure you
have something to eat.
I have a solution and you might not like it.
What if we instead of telling
people “you can’t make it and you need our help”, what if we told them that
they have the power to change their circumstances? What if we told them I know
you can rise above this – we will help you, because we believe in you. What
if instead of telling people that it’s hopeless, why not tell them the truth – you
have control, you can achieve, you can change all this.
It’s not wishful thinking or a positive attitude I am promoting: its truth
that so many want to deny. The poor may be in dire need, but they can rise to
the challenge, they can overcome – The American dream is still ALIVE and well.
“Give a man a fish and
you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.“
~ Chinese Proverb
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