1. I think the poor are defined differently in the U.S. as opposed to globally. The poor in the United States I think are essentially the un- and undereducated and un- and underskilled who cannot get adequate employment to be self sufficient. Globally, especially in Third World countries, it seems as though the poor are people living in stark conditions that are exacerbated by natural and political constraints.
2. I think people are poor for a number of overlapping reasons: political, social, educational, prejudicial all are factors in the situational landscape of the poor. I think in the U.S. the poor are mostly comprised of the working poor; in other countries, adequate health care, housing, food, clean water - basic essentials to support life - are greater factors.
3. I am somewhat confused about what is being done to help alleviate poverty. Globally, poverty is exacerbated and even caused by political divides: division of food and other resources, access to clean water, etc., can be obstacles to establishing and maintaining adequate standards of living. In the U.S., living conditions vary dramatically from rural to urban environments. And, while local governments may attempt to ameliorate these conditions with problems, they don't really appear to solve problems. An analogy is how pharmaceuticals may allay illness symptoms, few actually solve the health issues, instead perpetuating dependence for whatever modicum of reduction in symptoms they provide. Government programs seem to have the same effect on poverty.
4. For this reason, I don't think that programs currently in place are truly effective. The relief they provide is cyclical in nature but thy do not provide resolution to issues. Lyndon Johnson's War in Poverty initiative of the 1960s did much to lift many from poverty, but two generations later many are so mired in dependence on failed government program, the war cannot be claimed to be a true victory.
5. There are two tiers of poverty, according to our text: serious hardships and critical hardships. Addressing critical hardships - those that threaten basic needs for survival, as defined in our textbook, are imperatives for all. Only when these are addressed, can serious hardships (those that impact quality of life) become priorities. We must find ways to unify across political, social and racial lines to make minimum standards of living an imperative for all. That is perhaps the intent of government entitlement programs. But this standard must be achieved in a manner that is uniformly applied and maintains the dignity of all involved.
