Another Day in Paradise

The times that we currently live in are not the easiest. We are close to a double digit percentage in terms of unemployment and after two years, people are struggling to either make ends meat or keep their job. But, at the end of the day most of us have a roof over our heads. We have a meal on our tables. We have a family to be there for us whenever we need them. We might not be where we want to be and things are difficult, but they could always be worse. You could be living on the streets wondering when your next meal is going to be. Wondering if there is a way to escape where you are. Or even if you have a place to live, things aren't that much as you are still living in poverty.

Living in New Brunswick, NJ for four years during college, I would run into more than a handful of "bums" or homeless people. Some nicer than others. Some who might want to reform themselves from where they are. That has got me to thinking more about the poverty situation in this country.

With estimates the last couple years, we are able to gauge that the poverty rate in this country is somewhere between 13 to 17% and that percentage rate rises to 40% when looking at people who have spent roughly ten years homeless or below the poverty line. Tragically, statistics also display the fact that at some point between 25 and 75 close to 60% of Americans will have spent a year or so below the poverty line. Among many of the industrialized countries in the world, the U.S. has one of the higher poverty rates. That speaks to how there is going to a super rich and super poor sector of our population. I hear many complain about closing the gap between the rich and the poor as a bad thing; but that is easy for you to say because in all likelihood you are not poor or close to it. Not too shocking is the fact that there is a higher poverty rate among inner cities compared to suburban areas. Walk around a big city like New York City and you are bound to see several homeless people or dilapidated living quarters at some point. Then go across the river to Hoboken or Weehawken and you will see less homeless and hardly any lower quality of life living areas.

I will be the first to admit that the war on poverty is not the biggest pressing issue this country currently faces. But on the same cord, not nearly enough attention is given to one of the unknown or unheard problems. Back in the 1960s, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, he declared a war on poverty. The absolute poverty line was defined and it would a line that anyone below it was lacking resources to meet the basic needs for a healthy living and not having sufficient income to provide for food, shelter, and/or clothes to continue a healthy life. Since the 1960s, we have seen limited to no attention towards the subject as economic measures, wars, health care, impeachments, and tragedies have occurred that have taken more of the attention of our presidents. In 2008, there were 39.1 million people that qualified as being poor.

Taking it a step further, looking at poverty by race or ethnicity and their family status we see: 5.8% among married families; 5.4% of white people; 8.3% of black people; and 14.9% of Hispanic people like in poverty. When you take it further and look at single parent families, things get worse: 26.6% of all people; 30% of white people; 40% of black people; and 30% of Hispanic people. When you open the picture a little more things look a little better, but still bad: 13.2% of all people; 8.6% of white people; 24.7% of black people; and 23.2% of Hispanic people were living in poverty as of 2008 data. Looking at all this we see that minorities are more likely to be living in poverty and below the absolute poverty line. What worries me even more is the fact that data shows that individuals under 18 are the most likely to go with food, shelter, or clothes than adults or older people.

Poverty in this country can be contributed factors such as education, income, and job loss. The three are independent of each other, but also inadvertently are linked to each other. You lack education you are less likely to generate a high income and a lack of education might land you a job, but it is one that is not as secure. Even the households we don't classify as poor or below a designated are not immune. There are several households that might not be "poor" but have someone who works multiple jobs to make ends meat and pay bills and feed and cloth their children.

In 2007, the Center for American Progress took the mantle for the cause and outlined 12 steps to attempt to cut poverty in half over ten years. Such steps included raising the minimum wage, promoting unionization, and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.

It is irresponsible and foolish to ignore the fact that there are so many in this country classified as poor. Or even worse: homeless. I will acknowledge that there are some people on the streets and others living in poverty that have only caused their situation and lack the desire to want to change their lives. But there are so many more who are prisoners of their situation. I will not pretend I have the answers to what has been an epidemic in this country for decades. We see soup kitchens, Salivation Armies, and other outputs to ensure that people are denied things they need to survive.

So even though my situation is not ideal. And I'm sure that many others might think there situations are not ideal. Be thankful if you have a job. Be thankful that you have a nice house or apartment to live in. Be thankful that you are able to go to school. Be thankful that you know that you don't have to worry about when your next meal is coming. Because there are many out there who don't have those same luxuries. If you see a homeless person on the street, consider dropping a few cents that is in your pocket their way. If you have the time, donate your time to a soup kitchen or similar place. But most of all acknowledge people who might not be in as good a situation as you whether they are on the streets or live somewhere that might be classified as poor conditions. We are all humans and deserve common decency. I am guilty of not always being respectful to those who at least deserve a smile or a nod. The older I get the more I appreciate what I have; I hope that I am not alone in that sentiment.

I leave you with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6vFI . It is what really got me thinking about this subject. I hope it has a similar impact.