Poverty

The problem of poverty can be examined sociologically, politically or historically. Economics also plays a role in poverty. Have the writers at Paper Masters research and write on any part of poverty in the world or poverty in the United States. The causes, solutions and current state of poverty may be overviewed along with any other statistical information you may need.

Poverty seems to be a natural condition at least in some areas of the world. It is unlikely that it can be eliminated everywhere. Some economic or social theorists believe that poverty is necessary either because no economic system can be perfectly just or because certain individuals are unable or unwilling to support themselves. There are two main conditions causing poverty.

1. One is an area that is poor in natural resources, such as areas of North Africa. Poverty is widespread because there are no resources to develop the society.
2. The other condition is where individuals take most of the wealth of a country for themselves either by force or by corruption. The Congo is an example of this political condition making for widespread poverty in a society.

There is some good news regarding poverty levels in America. As of the year 2000, poverty rates are at their lowest level since 1980. However, that is balanced by the fact that one-sixth of all children in America live in poverty - an increase over the past 20 years. The reason for the increase in child poverty is a function of their living in single-parent households or nuclear families where welfare checks and food stamps have dried up over the years under welfare reform. There is some good news for children in single-parent or other poor American families: their parents are now eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help thousands of American families move above the poverty level in household income.

Research on Poverty in the U.S.

The problem of poverty in the United States is not new, nor is it unknown by the majority of the nation's citizens. Even in the "land of opportunity" poverty haunts American streets and neighborhoods while scholars and politicians alike debate its causes. Society in general has been taught that those who are poor are so as a result of their own inaction and laziness. In addition, most assume these individuals fall far short of upholding American standards and ideals. Because the poor are often associated with crime, many Americans fear them. As a result of these generally held misconceptions and myths, the true issue of poverty is never dealt with since most Americans and politicians are too caught up in the effects of poverty on society rather than what causes it in the first place.

Politicians in recent years have paid lip service to helping the poor while ignoring them in reality. According to Murray, a primary reason for this is the growing gulf between the rich and poor due to the growing national wealth in the United States in recent years. As the growing number of those in the upper classes exert greater influence on the actions taken by politicians in the near future, the gulf between political promises and political action will increase, especially in the area of poverty.

Research on poverty and the writers at Paper Masters list two other reasons why the poor are likely to remain so in the future. First, government has failed miserably in its goal to increase the quality of education in many inner city schools. Although children of affluent families can switch to private schools, those from poorer families cannot, making them totally reliant on the education provided in public school systems. Growing technological advances have also served to segregate the poor from the middle and upper classes. The advent of fax systems, computer systems, and other such systems have changed the basic patterns of communication, leaving the those who do not know how to use them segregated in the United States.

The common theme in the works of both authors is that not enough is being done to address the causes of poverty in the United States. As a result, the quick fixes thrown at the problem by government will do little to better the situation in the future.