Emma Feary

English 1213

Professor Hammett

Essay 1 Argument Proposal

February 19, 2023

1,283

    Poverty In the United States

Poverty in the United States of America is a complex and ever-evolving issue that affects millions of citizens every day. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are currently about 38 million people living in poverty in the United States, which is about 12% of the US population. This number has been consistently rising since the Great Recession of 2008, and is projected to continue to increase. The impacts of poverty are felt across all areas of life, from educational opportunities to access to health care and even the ability to find meaningful employment. There are numerous factors that contribute to the current levels of poverty in the United States, and there is no one easy solution to solving this issue.  

One solution to helping those living in poverty and combating poverty is education.  Education is one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. It is a tool that can be used to break the cycle of poverty and create a better future for generations to come.  Unfortunately, the lack of education can lead to poverty, as it can limit a person’s ability to find a job and earn a living wage. When people lack access to education, they are unable to gain the skills and knowledge that are necessary for finding a job and earning a living wage. Without education, people are unable to compete for higher-paying jobs and are often stuck in low-wage jobs that do not provide enough money to support their families. This lack of income can lead to poverty, as people are unable to afford basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. The lack of education can also lead to a lack of access to resources and opportunities. Without access to resources, people are unable to take advantage of opportunities that could help them break the cycle of poverty. In an article written by Arloc Sherman he states, “Siblings born at a time when the family is struggling with poverty tend to finish fewer years of school than their brothers or sisters born when the family is financially better off”(Sherman.) People who have a better education growing up have a higher chance of being successful. All of these factors can contribute to poverty and make it difficult for people to break the cycle of poverty.

       The United States also provides other social services to help those in poverty. They're are many different programs that help those in poverty but one of the most important is medicaid. Medicaid is a federally and state funded program that helps those in need get access to health care. Medicaid eligibility is based on income and other factors, such as age, disability, and family size. In general, people with incomes below a certain level are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid is an important part of the healthcare system in the United States. It helps ensure that people who cannot afford health care can still get the care they need. It also helps reduce the financial burden of medical bills for those who are eligible for the program. Social programs like medicaid and social security help those with low incomes get the basic health care they need to survive. Social security is another government funded program that helps those in retirement, disabled, and people who aren't able to work otherwise. Social Security is by far the biggest social program in the United States supporting about 66 million people. According to Charles Silver and David Hyman “ Social Security raises more than 20 million people above the federal poverty level each year”(Silver and Hyman.) That is fifty percent of people who were in poverty at the beginning of the year. Social programs in the United States are not perfect, but it is important that they are maintained and strengthened.

      While many people in America think that helping those in need is important, others think that hard work and determination is all someone needs to be successful. Hard work is essential for anyone who wants to get out of poverty. It involves dedication, perseverance, and commitment. People who are willing to put in the effort to find a job, increase their skills, and build their knowledge are more likely to be successful in their efforts to escape poverty. Hard work can help individuals gain access to better job opportunities, higher wages, and more resources. It also provides a sense of accomplishment and self-worth that can help people stay motivated and continue striving for success. Hard work can also help people build a better future for themselves and their families. It can open doors to educational opportunities, allowing individuals to gain the skills and knowledge they need to secure better-paying jobs. It can also help people develop a strong work ethic, which can lead to increased job security and a more stable financial future. While hard work can help someone living in poverty, it is not the only way for someone to get out of poverty. 

        Living in poverty is a difficult reality for many people around the world. One of the most pressing issues for people living in poverty is the lack of job opportunities. This lack of employment opportunities can have a devastating effect on individuals and families, leading to a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. The most obvious consequence of the lack of job opportunities for people living in poverty is the inability to make enough money to support themselves and their families. Without a steady income, people living in poverty are unable to afford basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. The lack of a job market for those without a college degree is limited, and many people living in poverty can't afford access to education outside of highschool. In addition, discrimination can play a role in the lack of job opportunities for people living in poverty. People living in poverty may be discriminated against due to their socio-economic status. This can make it difficult for them to find a job, as employers may be more likely to hire someone from a higher socio-economic background. In addition it is also difficult for those living in poverty to find affordable housing. According to Rubin Danberg Biggs and Patrick Holland, “Scholars of housing economics and urban planners have long noted that, when forced to choose between the two, residents of wealthy communities generally prefer affordable housing for seniors to affordable housing for families…funding new seats in schools can be expensive, so local governments tend to take steps to avoid having to create them.”(Biggs and Holland.) It is important to ensure that people living in poverty have access to the housing opportunities as those from higher socio-economic backgrounds. By addressing these issues, we can help to ensure that people living in poverty have the opportunity to find employment and escape poverty, and can find affordable housing. 

      Poverty in the United States is an important issue and there is not one single way it can fix it. By giving people living in low income communities better access to education it would help them get a degree so that they will be able to find a better job. Social services like medicaid and social security allow those living in poverty to access healthcare and financial support. Many people think that to get out of poverty all you need is hard work, which isn't a completely false claim but, most people can not escape poverty just by working hard.  Having access to job opportunities can greatly benefit those living in poverty by getting them good paying jobs to support them and their family. There is not one way to solve poverty nor is solving poverty easy but it is an important issue in America and around the world. 

 

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Work Cited

Bureau, US Census. “National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2023.” Census.gov, 20 Dec. 2022, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/poverty-awareness-month.html. 

 

Biggs, Rubin Danberg, and Patrick Holland. "Familial-Status Discrimination: A New Frontier in Fair Housing Act Litigation." Yale Law Journal, vol. 132, no. 3, Jan. 2023, pp. 792+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A738082691/AONE?u=odl_tcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=cbedbaf3. Accessed 11 Mar. 2023.

Davidai, Shai. “How Do People Make Sense of Wealth and Poverty?” Current Opinion in Psychology, Elsevier, 24 June 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X21000798. 

SHERMAN, ARLOC. "Children's Poverty in America." Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, vol. 14, no. 4, winter 1999, p. 68. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A60076795/AONE?u=odl_tcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=c6cc3a91. Accessed 11 Mar. 2023.

Silver, Charles, and David A. Hyman. "There is a Better Way: Make Medicaid and Medicare More Like Social Security." Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy, vol. 18, no. 1, Wntr 2020, pp. 149+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A624612008/AONE?u=odl_tcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=6d1ae821. Accessed 11 Mar. 2023.