Opinions on American Poverty

    I was reading our school paper today-- which I don't read that often because I suppose I don't really care. But inside I found an opinion article on poverty....

    Interesting...

    I turned to A5 and first scanned the opinions-- six students polled on the question: "Why does poverty still exist in America today?" (a poorly constructed sentence but I'll forgive it.)

Six answers:

    1. "I think it is a combination of a lack of genuine love and care for our fellow man and an attitude of laziness by those who could make their own lives better."

    2. "Because some people are too lazy to go out and get jobs." (just because some people are too lazy, doesn't mean other poor people are.)

    3. "It is a combination of laziness and missed opportunities." (what opportunities? for work? for the lottery?)

    4. "The answer is simple: pure selfishness." (yes, but selfishness on the part of whom? The lazy people or the wealthy people?)

    5. "Because the govenment spends money on wasteful research and projects rather than investing into worthwhile preventative measures against poverty." (ummm...like welfare?)

    6. "It doesn't...(WHAT!?) The welfare system in the US creates dependent people rather than an able-bodied workforce. Even the poorest in the US are wealthier than the third-world middle class." (And this ignorance from a senior!)

Any thoughts?

Comments

[JayRodNU]

I wonder how much these sample responses reflect the mentality of your school. Or for that matter Christians in general. Or the US as a whole. It's difficult to say. I do find their responses disheartening and ignorant.

I'm confused at why so many people ignore the blatant fact that there are inequalities built into our socio-economic system. It's like Jim Wallis always says, "We can't keep pulling bodies out of the river and not send somebody upstream to see what or who is throwing them in."

And while I know the Bible says we should work. It also indicates that we will always have poor among us. And I think it's unfortunate that in many Christian circles, charity is actually seen as a mechanism that propagates poverty.

[Jwillis]

poverty stinks!I know this first hand. I think back on my family situation and how hard my mom worked but yet it never seemed like her head came up over the water. There are many different reasons for why poverty exist but not every case is because those who are in poverty are lazy. I have never ever met anyone who works harder then my mom. Yes she has made her share of bad decisions but she has gone out on the limb for people so much because they in relation to where we were, were dirt poor. Yes many nights we went hungry, but the love and compassion that she has taught me to have for people can not be replaced.

[Rach]

I think there is so much more to poverty than just laziness and missed opportunities. You're right, Johnathan! And these opinions made me angry.

And I think you both hit that nail on the head-- Johanthan's mom was kinder and generous to those who had less than she, and yet maybe she was labeled as helping to propagate poverty by not making those people help themselves?

I think I remember you telling me this.

In general, though, Christians suck about this issue.