Changing Poverty

Imagine a young child's eyes pleading in hunger. Imagine a homeless person on a cold winter night. Imagine that you are not imagining these things. These images are the quintessential snapshot of poverty. Poverty can be reduced by understanding the type and reason for its existence. Only through understanding the cause and effect relationship of poverty can we hope to reduce it.

One understanding is that poverty is income-related. I know this sounds silly. However, poor living conditions can be improved by having more income. John Kenneth Galbraith states, "People are poverty-stricken when their income, even if adequate for survival, falls radically behind that of the community." (Jacobus 407) Many people today just barely survive, living hand to mouth. Surviving poverty might be possible by examining different types of poverty.

One type of poverty is case poverty which can happen anywhere. Case poverty is the result of certain deficiencies. Galbraith writes, "But some quality peculiar to the individual or family, mental deficiency, bad health, inability to adapt to the discipline of industrial life, uncontrolled procreation..." (Jacobus 407) This example explains that some poverty is unavoidable. We can try to implement social change but this type of poverty exemplifies the need for programs to feed, clothe, and house them. They should not have to suffer especially if we can afford to help.

A second type of poverty is insular poverty which is an island of poverty. All of the people are poor. This is seen in some locales of Appalachia where the coal mines have dried up. The entire community thrived on the success of the coal mine and suffered when it failed. Galbraith explains, "Most modern poverty is insular in character and the islands are the rural and urban slums. ... The most important characteristic of insular poverty is forces, common to all members of the community, that restrain or prevent participation in economic life at going rates of return." (Jacobus 408) Much of this type of poverty is purely economic. The cheapest worker gets the job. The idea that cheap is good is the main driving force in modern society today, in my opinion. My favorite statement is, just because Wal-Mart says cheap is good does not mean you have to believe them.

Cheap labor is the new buzz word in corporate board rooms. Robert Reich states, "...routine data processors in the United States find themselves in ever more direct competition with their counterparts abroad, who are often eager to work for far less." (Jacobus 422) More for less improves the bottom line, right? Do we sacrifice people's lives for money? Are we seeking self-gratification or helping others achieve a better life? Helping others is a far better vocation.

Money or income is not the only solution to poverty. Indeed, Galbraith adds, "The most certain thing about this poverty is that it is not remedied