Can Poverty Be Eliminated?

Poverty is a polarizing issue because when we are not around it we can pretend it doesn't exist, but when we are confronted with its reality, it seems inescapable. There are numerous thoughts on how (and if) it can be eliminated and everyone from William Graham Sumner to Mother Theresa has chimed in, offering different ways to deal with this issue. As I drove into work this morning I thought maybe I could toss a few more ideas into the forum.

First, poverty is a social problem and the source of other social problems. If we want real change, then we need to recognize that poverty is one of the results of a broken system that traps people and ensnares them in a vicious cycle.

Poverty is caused by a lack of resources and not a deviant value system. One unfortunate stigma attached to the poor is that they will do anything to alleviate the burden of their situation, even if that means breaking the law or committing crimes against others. The real issue here is the absence of resources that put people into a hole from the beginning and they feel there is no way to catch up or break even; forget about getting ahead.

Those living in poverty cannot do this alone. It would be great if the poor could wake up, eat breakfast, and then shake off the shackles of poverty on their own, but this is not reality. The kindness, compassion, and fortitude of others is essential in helping eliminate poverty.

Poverty cannot be eliminated by the private sector. Conventional wisdom says that private business will generate more jobs which will lead to a greater opportunity for those living in poverty. On the surface this looks great (and does help the economy) but there is one slight problem: with an overabundance of overqualified applicants (I know people with college degrees working in the fast-food industry) the jobs that were previously available for the poor are now being taken by other who normally would not fill these jobs.

Poverty is a national problem and, therefore, requires a national solution. There are two states that receive no state-funding for homelessness: North Dakota and Montana. Poverty must be addressed at the federal level to ensure the poor throughout the nation will receive equal benefits and services. Poverty needs to be attacked nationally to deal with the structural problems that cause poverty.

(Much Thanks to Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Zinn, and Kelly Smith)