Chapter 5 Poverty in America

Some Misconceptions--Welfare Originally intended to help keep children with their parents Originally intended to help keep children with their parents Stopped funding orphanages and diverted money back to families Stopped funding orphanages and diverted money back to families Most money is in some sort of “coupon” form like food stamps, housing vouchers, etc. Most money is in some sort of “coupon” form like food stamps, housing vouchers, etc.

Social Security Originally intended to help people well beyond retirement age Originally intended to help people well beyond retirement age As America’s lifespan lengthened, the age was never adjusted As America’s lifespan lengthened, the age was never adjusted Many more people draw from SS than originally intended due to longer lives provided by very advanced healthcare. Many more people draw from SS than originally intended due to longer lives provided by very advanced healthcare.

Medicare/Medicaid Medicare—government provided healthcare for the elderly/retired Medicare—government provided healthcare for the elderly/retired Medicaid—government provided healthcare for low income people Medicaid—government provided healthcare for low income people Conceived when drugs were a VERY small portion of health care costs—that’s why a prescription drug plan is in the news so much, it was not planned for Conceived when drugs were a VERY small portion of health care costs—that’s why a prescription drug plan is in the news so much, it was not planned for

Politics aside… Most Americans have some feelings on the best way to deal with some or all of these issues— that’s not the point right now Most Americans have some feelings on the best way to deal with some or all of these issues— that’s not the point right now The idea is that we have notions about things that might not be as well informed as we might think, so we have to look more closely to find the answers to some of these difficult social issues. The idea is that we have notions about things that might not be as well informed as we might think, so we have to look more closely to find the answers to some of these difficult social issues. Keep an open mind! Keep an open mind!

Invisible Poor Urban and rural poverty are both real—urban poverty is what we usually think of Urban and rural poverty are both real—urban poverty is what we usually think of We try very hard as a society to not have to see the poor—even the poor try to either not be seen or not look poor We try very hard as a society to not have to see the poor—even the poor try to either not be seen or not look poor Most poor people are white (raw numbers) but the percentage of non-whites is disproportionate. There is no one consistent “face of the poor” Most poor people are white (raw numbers) but the percentage of non-whites is disproportionate. There is no one consistent “face of the poor”

Why “Get a job!” isn’t a solution Vastly fewer unskilled labor jobs exist within the US because of outsourcing Vastly fewer unskilled labor jobs exist within the US because of outsourcing The unskilled labor jobs that do exist do not provide a living wage The unskilled labor jobs that do exist do not provide a living wage With the rise of suburban America, getting from the types of places poor people live to the types of places jobs exist is another serious challenge With the rise of suburban America, getting from the types of places poor people live to the types of places jobs exist is another serious challenge

Welfare Reform In an effort to get people off of welfare, the common solution was to cut programs, thus saving money for the government In an effort to get people off of welfare, the common solution was to cut programs, thus saving money for the government Agencies were expected to institute programs designed to get people off of welfare and their incentives were huge since their money was being cut Agencies were expected to institute programs designed to get people off of welfare and their incentives were huge since their money was being cut Many consider this method unsuccessful Many consider this method unsuccessful

Christian Goals for Welfare Reform Protect human life and dignity Protect human life and dignity Strengthen family life Strengthen family life Encourage and reward work Encourage and reward work Preserve a safety net for the vulnerable Preserve a safety net for the vulnerable Build public and private partnerships to overcome poverty Build public and private partnerships to overcome poverty Invest in human dignity and poor families Invest in human dignity and poor families

Homeless and Near Homeless Obviously people with no homes are incredibly vulnerable—needs are obvious and solutions are simple (in the short term) Obviously people with no homes are incredibly vulnerable—needs are obvious and solutions are simple (in the short term) Near homelessness is more common and more dangerous Near homelessness is more common and more dangerous People have no financial safety net—one health problem, car problem, etc. away from the street People have no financial safety net—one health problem, car problem, etc. away from the street

Immigration Economically, much more complicated than it appears on the surface Economically, much more complicated than it appears on the surface No easy answer, but Jesus makes it clear that compassion is the option we should exercise No easy answer, but Jesus makes it clear that compassion is the option we should exercise The Society of Jesus adds that the “preferential option for the poor” should be exercised The Society of Jesus adds that the “preferential option for the poor” should be exercised

Children Poverty hits children particularly hard Poverty hits children particularly hard If we care about kids, trying to get rid of poverty is a great way to help If we care about kids, trying to get rid of poverty is a great way to help When it comes to being pro-life, we are quick to point out that they are innocent— yet we are less likely to remember that innocence when we speak of how we ought to treat the poor. When it comes to being pro-life, we are quick to point out that they are innocent— yet we are less likely to remember that innocence when we speak of how we ought to treat the poor.

The Goal Eliminating Poverty, not the Poor Eliminating Poverty, not the Poor It is easy to change the definition of who is poor if you want to make the numbers smaller It is easy to change the definition of who is poor if you want to make the numbers smaller You can not let in new migrants, encourage policies that eliminate people who make the numbers bad, etc. without eliminating poverty You can not let in new migrants, encourage policies that eliminate people who make the numbers bad, etc. without eliminating poverty We want to stop people from being poor, we don’t want to change who we call poor or get rid of people who are poor We want to stop people from being poor, we don’t want to change who we call poor or get rid of people who are poor

The Test Scantron section (definitions, very basic concepts) Scantron section (definitions, very basic concepts) Fill in the blank or short answer—we have had lots of ideas brought up on quizzes so far. At least half will deal with those same issues/ideas Fill in the blank or short answer—we have had lots of ideas brought up on quizzes so far. At least half will deal with those same issues/ideas Of the new half, most will come from Chapter 5, there will be a very small number of new concepts from 1-4 Of the new half, most will come from Chapter 5, there will be a very small number of new concepts from 1-4