Fight poverty not the poor
Many people believe if someone comes from a poor household, they are more likely to be poor as an adult.
In order to address poverty, do you have to know who is poor?
Should data be the reliable source to make this subjective issue exist but not be addressed? Does the government care about poor people? Have you considered that you are the government?
“We The People” should be fighting for impoverished children and families to enable them to provide for themselves. The government should be implementing policies and increasing resource agencies to reduce external factors preventing generational poorness. Having government assistance will help some children grow up strong and with hope, and possibly all communities will benefit.
Who is poor? According to available data on poverty, it is a certain population such as the working poor, disabled, under educated, or individuals receiving government assistance. The definition of poverty can go beyond data. Not falling below, the poverty line doesn't guarantee that you don't struggle with cash or that you don't need assistance. Conversely, someone who earns a low income but has family support or access to assets may not be or feel impoverished at all. Poor is such a subjective term.
What do you consider poor? Poor can be living without the things you want or need to survive. Poor is also defined as having no money, dependent upon charity or public assistance, looking a certain way, or hearing someone say, “poor thing” or “she or he was a poor looking thing.”
For many people, being poor is having the feeling of not having what others have or
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‘A Poliltical View’ By Sherry Holliman SHERRY HOLLIMAN (cont.)
having the identity of looking poor or having experienced working a low paying job that placed them in a position to qualify for government assistance.
Some people may feel poor if they have overdrawn their account or if they could not afford new clothes or a good education. Unfortunately, the definition of poverty goes beyond a feeling or an experience. There are governmental poverty measures and various income thresholds separating the impoverished from the lower-middle class.
The definition of poverty can be complex. You can feel that you are really struggling, and you, in fact may be really struggling, so is your income the reason or the way you choose to maintain your lifestyle that causes you to be considered poor? Did hearing people snicker as your mom was spotted paying with food stamps or living through the hot sticky summer heat in your un-airconditioned apartment or house cause you to believe you were poor?
What about having to sleep on the hard, squeaky and broken springs of the bed you shared with siblings or other relatives that poked into your body no matter how you positioned yourself? Did these experiences make you feel poor? What about the growling sounds from the emptiness of your stomach that seemed to echo in front of your classmates? What about looking into an empty refrigerator, cabinets, and at times drinking powdered milk, eating generic peanut butter, and government cheese that comes from a box.
Do you associate any of these experiences with being poor while growing up? How could you consider yourself poor if you had food, shelter, family, friends, and some clothing? This is the complex part of understanding about being poor for many. So what about the people who had nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep and no chance to improve their situations?
To those who are homeless or starving, someone living in government housing using government assistance seems well-off. The definition of poverty can go beyond data. Not falling below the poverty line doesn't guarantee that you don't feel strapped for cash or that you don't need assistance.
Conversely, someone who earns a low income but has family support or access to wealth and assets may not be or feel impoverished at all. Still debating whether you are poor? You can look at your income, official poverty measures or the day-to-day struggle of covering your expenses. If you feel that you are struggling, you are certainly not alone and you should consider looking into the social, political and federal programs implemented to help individuals. Elected leaders should always be expected to share knowledge about solutions for reducing poverty and constantly be searching for more effective programs that can be utilized by needed individuals with the world.
The government must push for long-term change. No one should never give up until the world is free from poverty. This can be accomplished by advocating for political and systemic
Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.
