A colleague referred me to some media information concerning world poverty that would be helpful in broadening my views. I still believe that poverty in America should remain the most important discussion. However, poverty around the world can be described as worse than here in America. America is populated by less than three hundred million people. If the poverty level represents around fifteen per cent, then we can estimate around forty five million people Americans are at the poverty level or below.
Comparatively, billions of human beings all over the planet do not have basic human necessities like education, health care or clean drinking water. This is according to Ashoka's Global Academy films on Social Entrepreneurship. I reviewed a film narrated and about Mahammad Yunus called Creating a Poverty Free World. Dr. Yunus begins by stating that poverty is not the result of poor people but of the system which he believes can be changed to benefit everyone. Mahammad Yunus created Grameen Bank (Grameen means Village) that specializes in micro-loans for poor people. These are low-interest loans whose goal is to help the borrower begin a journey out of poverty. The loans are start-up money for people who would otherwise have no access to the money it takes to become self reliant. Yunus believes that in a world whose movement involves money, "It takes a Dollar to catch a dollar." The poorest people are unable to get the first dollar needed to continue catching dollars. Dr. Yunus also asserts that CREDIT should be adopted as a "Human Right." Of Grameen Bank's borrowers (4,000,000), 96% are women. He determined that women have been the best stewards of the money by taking better care of the family. Several measures are used to determine if a borrower has escaped poverty. Adequate housing, children in school, savings in the bank, sanitary latrines, and proper drinking water are just a few.
Grameens Bank's success can be measured by the 56% of borrowers who have successfully escaped the poverty level in Bangladesh. 100% of the children of Grameen Bank borrowers are in school. They also boast a near 100% return on their principal loan amounts. The founders vision includes roles for not only the poor, but the citizen, the investors, the governments, the donors and other large banks to set goals of eradicating poverty. Dr. Yunus has been recognized by President Obama and he has been awarded around the globe. His strategic campaign ends with the idea of "poverty museums" He believes that through micro credit loans, it is conceivable that the images of deprivation, inadequacy and terrible neglect can be a memory to our children and future generations.
I applaud Dr. Muhammad Yunus, agree with him and am grateful to see through this film the impacted poor around the world. Being a social entrepreneur should no longer be a novelty.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Lets Bring America Back. Eradicate Poverty Now!
Who I think is poor, both in the United States and globally
Admittedly, I have no idea about international affairs and the conditions of impoverished people outside of America. I am saddened by the amount of people that are poor and seemingly hopeless just here in the metropolitan Atlanta area. In my opinion, defining poor people begins with homeless people on the streets who cannot afford shelter, food, necessary medical care, transportation and necessary social interaction to the working family who barely gets by unable to earn enough money for adequate and reasonable shelter, nutritious food, necessary medical care, transportation and social interaction. The previous list is not exhaustive but only the most basic necessities of a valuable human existence.
Why I believe people are poor in the United States and globally
From a philosophical standpoint, I believe that the curse of poverty is perpetuated by the greed driven premise of capitalism in America. In this story there are many villains. Their distinguishing characteristics are being overt and covert.
• Overt - The extremely wealthy class, often referred to as the top 1% of the economy, control not only the economy but also the political system. In my opinion, they are the most responsible for the poverty that exists here in America. They seem to believe that in order to have more money, there has to be a casualty; the poor person. They use their political influence with what is tantamount to politicians purchased legally. The politicians, in-turn, enact self serving laws that make the rich richer and have seemingly birthed and spread the aforementioned belief system. In the name of corporate profits, hardworking and skilled laborers lose their jobs and become the group that is being discussed.
• Covert – The remaining voting American public: The group to which the legal control is actually afforded. This is the rest of us. We have not made our voices heard enough. We are too easily placated with temporarily dropping gas prices, value menus, our 401(k)s and our false sense of the true American Dream. It is morally safe for us to believe in a system that in design affords every individual an opportunity to succeed. By design, the American Dream seems like a great plan. Birth, school, higher learning, degree, credit (loans) mortgage, career, retirement, golden years and finally death. In reality, the American Dream was always a pipe dream. Somewhere along the lines, we are taught values, allegiance and to believe in this system. We also find it safe to blame the poor for being in their situation. While we look to the poor as the reason that the economy is lagging, healthcare is substandard and taxes are so high, we ignore the root cause of poverty; greed. As Americans, our democracy empowers us to help level the playing field for everyone. Our collective inaction not only allows the richest people to exploit, use and mistreat the poor, but will continue to allow more of us to be exposed to the possibility to become the same.
What I think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally.
I believe that the current presidential regime is attempting to address poverty in our country in what is arguably the most important necessity; Healthcare. Our last presidential election is proof that the bottom 99% of our economic hierarchy can use the power afforded to them. A platform built on Change launched democrats into the White House for a well needed review of our domestic strategies. Healthcare reform has worried the elite class that at some point poor people may be able to see doctors and get medication. The state of decent healthcare for “the rest of us” is often substandard and sometimes deplorable. The filthy rich pharmaceutical companies make sure that even the working professional (and especially the poor person) cannot afford to pay for life saving drugs. Healthcare reform will assure us and our children and generations to come that expecting to be cared for when you don’t have a penny is a right instead of a luxury available to only a few. Social programs that aid the poor often have the right premise but the execution is flawed. The federal government addresses housing for the poor via the Housing and Urban Development agency. This agency then funnels tax paid dollars to local housing authorities in cities all over America and its territories. Many of the difficulties lie in the housing authority’s ability to administer subsidies to the poor while still attempt to engage in for profit business. The Atlanta Housing Authority for instance decided to “de-centralize” poverty some years ago. Its premise was that concentration of poverty perpetuated poverty by ostracizing the poor. Most of the Government Housing Projects were in depressed parts of Atlanta. Surrounding businesses suffered, crime rates soared, and generations of families were forced to see assisted living as the only means of existence. Breaking up the projects could allow for the poor to be able to live amongst “the rest of us”, enjoy adequate living in safer neighborhoods, and expose the poor to a better way of life melding them into mainstream society. All these benefits while masking the ulterior benefit of a profitable sale of prime real estate makes this idea sound like a win-win. After the implementation of the “De-centralization of poverty” the problems began to show up early. Ushering families with no income into rental properties that accept the Housing Choice Voucher is / was unreasonable since most people had lived in these Government Housing Projects for many years without having the responsibility of utility bills, transportation costs, lawn care, association fees, and general living standards. For example, a person moves from Public housing and gets a voucher for a four bedroom home. The voucher will pay the landlord $1250 each month. The housing Authority calculates the minimum usage for electricity each month and cuts a check to the program participant for $59 each month regardless of the actual use. The program participant then uses the $59 to pay the bill that is routinely $159 each month. The unpaid balance compounds and after three short months a balance of $335 is owed to GA power. The electricity is turned off. The neighbors complain to the Housing Authority that the program participant is stealing power with a 50 foot extension cord. The Housing Authority then notifies the program participant that they are going to be terminated from the voucher program for failing to follow the “Family Obligations”. The participant is given ten days to straighten up or face permanent termination from the program. The participant is evicted by the landlord once the voucher is terminated. The participant and her children are separated and go to live with other low income family or foster homes. I witnessed the proceeding example repeatedly in my short time as a housing authority employee. The food stamp program is another measure aimed at assisting the poor. I am not sure how the program works but I believe the government could do more to train poor people to eat healthier meals. WIC helps Mothers and expectant mother purchase healthy nutritional food products for infants. TANF provides needy families with temporary monies to assist. Many of the same problems with public housing exist at TANF which seems to only help mothers and fathers of children but flat out ignores poor individuals without children.
How well I think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally
The United States has room for exponential improvement of our policies and attitudes towards the poor within our own borders. We have an immediate urgent problem in the United States and our traditionally conservative approach is not working. Politicians should re-prioritize and address this issue immediately. Many of us blame the poor person for their current state. We foolishly think that the same opportunities are out there for every man woman and child.
What I personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally
I believe every American should first recognize that we all can find ourselves without work sustainable income and in the proverbial poorhouse. This is the first step in properly addressing poverty here at home and then globally. Secondly, everyone should use their voting power to empower politicians that still believe in a by and for the people government. Then politicians should enact powerful reform to the tax laws that recover lost revenues from the richest Americans and filter money to programs that not only assist the defenseless poor people but educate them and expose them to real opportunities for improvement and ways out of their situation. Pass a federal minimum wage that provides for a reasonable standard of living. The standard should be based on more than the absolute minimums calculated in the past but rather on a livable wage the considers that everyone needs social interaction as well as food, shelter , transportation and healthcare. Finally, after efficiency improvements in Government subsidized assistance programs, add in a graduating measure of accountability for the people benefitting from the social programs. If we all get involved, we can take our successful example abroad and conquer poverty globally.
Admittedly, I have no idea about international affairs and the conditions of impoverished people outside of America. I am saddened by the amount of people that are poor and seemingly hopeless just here in the metropolitan Atlanta area. In my opinion, defining poor people begins with homeless people on the streets who cannot afford shelter, food, necessary medical care, transportation and necessary social interaction to the working family who barely gets by unable to earn enough money for adequate and reasonable shelter, nutritious food, necessary medical care, transportation and social interaction. The previous list is not exhaustive but only the most basic necessities of a valuable human existence.
Why I believe people are poor in the United States and globally
From a philosophical standpoint, I believe that the curse of poverty is perpetuated by the greed driven premise of capitalism in America. In this story there are many villains. Their distinguishing characteristics are being overt and covert.
• Overt - The extremely wealthy class, often referred to as the top 1% of the economy, control not only the economy but also the political system. In my opinion, they are the most responsible for the poverty that exists here in America. They seem to believe that in order to have more money, there has to be a casualty; the poor person. They use their political influence with what is tantamount to politicians purchased legally. The politicians, in-turn, enact self serving laws that make the rich richer and have seemingly birthed and spread the aforementioned belief system. In the name of corporate profits, hardworking and skilled laborers lose their jobs and become the group that is being discussed.
• Covert – The remaining voting American public: The group to which the legal control is actually afforded. This is the rest of us. We have not made our voices heard enough. We are too easily placated with temporarily dropping gas prices, value menus, our 401(k)s and our false sense of the true American Dream. It is morally safe for us to believe in a system that in design affords every individual an opportunity to succeed. By design, the American Dream seems like a great plan. Birth, school, higher learning, degree, credit (loans) mortgage, career, retirement, golden years and finally death. In reality, the American Dream was always a pipe dream. Somewhere along the lines, we are taught values, allegiance and to believe in this system. We also find it safe to blame the poor for being in their situation. While we look to the poor as the reason that the economy is lagging, healthcare is substandard and taxes are so high, we ignore the root cause of poverty; greed. As Americans, our democracy empowers us to help level the playing field for everyone. Our collective inaction not only allows the richest people to exploit, use and mistreat the poor, but will continue to allow more of us to be exposed to the possibility to become the same.
What I think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally.
I believe that the current presidential regime is attempting to address poverty in our country in what is arguably the most important necessity; Healthcare. Our last presidential election is proof that the bottom 99% of our economic hierarchy can use the power afforded to them. A platform built on Change launched democrats into the White House for a well needed review of our domestic strategies. Healthcare reform has worried the elite class that at some point poor people may be able to see doctors and get medication. The state of decent healthcare for “the rest of us” is often substandard and sometimes deplorable. The filthy rich pharmaceutical companies make sure that even the working professional (and especially the poor person) cannot afford to pay for life saving drugs. Healthcare reform will assure us and our children and generations to come that expecting to be cared for when you don’t have a penny is a right instead of a luxury available to only a few. Social programs that aid the poor often have the right premise but the execution is flawed. The federal government addresses housing for the poor via the Housing and Urban Development agency. This agency then funnels tax paid dollars to local housing authorities in cities all over America and its territories. Many of the difficulties lie in the housing authority’s ability to administer subsidies to the poor while still attempt to engage in for profit business. The Atlanta Housing Authority for instance decided to “de-centralize” poverty some years ago. Its premise was that concentration of poverty perpetuated poverty by ostracizing the poor. Most of the Government Housing Projects were in depressed parts of Atlanta. Surrounding businesses suffered, crime rates soared, and generations of families were forced to see assisted living as the only means of existence. Breaking up the projects could allow for the poor to be able to live amongst “the rest of us”, enjoy adequate living in safer neighborhoods, and expose the poor to a better way of life melding them into mainstream society. All these benefits while masking the ulterior benefit of a profitable sale of prime real estate makes this idea sound like a win-win. After the implementation of the “De-centralization of poverty” the problems began to show up early. Ushering families with no income into rental properties that accept the Housing Choice Voucher is / was unreasonable since most people had lived in these Government Housing Projects for many years without having the responsibility of utility bills, transportation costs, lawn care, association fees, and general living standards. For example, a person moves from Public housing and gets a voucher for a four bedroom home. The voucher will pay the landlord $1250 each month. The housing Authority calculates the minimum usage for electricity each month and cuts a check to the program participant for $59 each month regardless of the actual use. The program participant then uses the $59 to pay the bill that is routinely $159 each month. The unpaid balance compounds and after three short months a balance of $335 is owed to GA power. The electricity is turned off. The neighbors complain to the Housing Authority that the program participant is stealing power with a 50 foot extension cord. The Housing Authority then notifies the program participant that they are going to be terminated from the voucher program for failing to follow the “Family Obligations”. The participant is given ten days to straighten up or face permanent termination from the program. The participant is evicted by the landlord once the voucher is terminated. The participant and her children are separated and go to live with other low income family or foster homes. I witnessed the proceeding example repeatedly in my short time as a housing authority employee. The food stamp program is another measure aimed at assisting the poor. I am not sure how the program works but I believe the government could do more to train poor people to eat healthier meals. WIC helps Mothers and expectant mother purchase healthy nutritional food products for infants. TANF provides needy families with temporary monies to assist. Many of the same problems with public housing exist at TANF which seems to only help mothers and fathers of children but flat out ignores poor individuals without children.
How well I think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally
The United States has room for exponential improvement of our policies and attitudes towards the poor within our own borders. We have an immediate urgent problem in the United States and our traditionally conservative approach is not working. Politicians should re-prioritize and address this issue immediately. Many of us blame the poor person for their current state. We foolishly think that the same opportunities are out there for every man woman and child.
What I personally think should be done about poverty in the United States and globally
I believe every American should first recognize that we all can find ourselves without work sustainable income and in the proverbial poorhouse. This is the first step in properly addressing poverty here at home and then globally. Secondly, everyone should use their voting power to empower politicians that still believe in a by and for the people government. Then politicians should enact powerful reform to the tax laws that recover lost revenues from the richest Americans and filter money to programs that not only assist the defenseless poor people but educate them and expose them to real opportunities for improvement and ways out of their situation. Pass a federal minimum wage that provides for a reasonable standard of living. The standard should be based on more than the absolute minimums calculated in the past but rather on a livable wage the considers that everyone needs social interaction as well as food, shelter , transportation and healthcare. Finally, after efficiency improvements in Government subsidized assistance programs, add in a graduating measure of accountability for the people benefitting from the social programs. If we all get involved, we can take our successful example abroad and conquer poverty globally.
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