SESSION 9: POLICY RESPONSES

Blog Update: I have learned that the Governments' Response to poverty sometimes lacks the full potential for success.

The movie American Dream was very eye opening!  The programs aim to move women from welfare to work is an excellent goal, but the Government was not prepared to deal with the family as a whole.  The focus on the jobs for the mothers was a one sided approach by the Government to quickly move people off of welfare.  The program would have benefited the family as a whole if every member of the family was included in the Governments' planning process of the program.  The Governments' focus should have included an education program that encourage the children to stay in school and a GED program for the mothers that did not finish school. Each mother needs to be given an equal opportunity for advancement.  Mothers without a high school diploma are not able to move up the ladder and earn more money.  Keeping the mothers at the same level of income continues the poverty cycle.  Some of the mothers never have a chance to make an amount of money well above 130% of poverty.  The Government needs to make a concerted effort to focus some attention on helping the mothers that don't have a high school diploma.  A mother with a GED would earn more income and help to move their family off of Welfare and other Government Assistance.

Session 7 - Poverty and Culture

I was shocked to learn that 63% of hourly wage jobs in Atlanta pay less than $10.50/hr!

A family of three cannot survive off of this low wage.  This amount does not cover full cost of living for a family of three.  I see why so many people are living in poverty especially with the high percentage of hourly workers making so little money.  I feel that the minimum hourly rate needs to be set to an amount sufficient for a family of three.  This standard minimum hourly rate should be determine by  including all costs associated with current living expenses such as: rent, utilities, food, car, clothing, gas, etc.  The amount also needs to be adjusted every 6 months to reflect any inflation.  The United States Government needs to do allot more to remove people from living at or below the poverty line and help people become more self sufficient without having to apply for Government Assistance.

Session 6: The Economics and Causes of Poverty

Blog Update!  Let’s talk about income inequality and its link to poverty.

Income inequality has a strong link to poverty throughout the world.  A disparity in income distribution creates a wide gap in income levels between the rich and poor.  During times of economic distress when the rich continue to get richer and the poor continue to get poorer the gap widens and many working class citizens are forced into poverty.  As income levels stay stagnant or decrease for the average working class citizen they continue their slide down the slippery slope into poverty, but yet the rich increasingly become wealthier.  The rising costs of consumer goods ie: food, clothing, housing, etc continues to place the average working class citizen into this situation because their pay does not increase with the rising costs of consumer goods and services.  The rich person does not have to worry about rising costs of consumer goods because their endless bucket of gold will protect them from being forced into poverty.