Chapter 5Chapter 5

Poverty in AmericaPoverty in America

Some Misconceptions--Some Misconceptions--WelfareWelfare

Originally intended to help keep Originally intended to help keep children with their parentschildren with their parents

Stopped funding orphanages and Stopped funding orphanages and diverted money back to familiesdiverted money back to families

Most money is in some sort of Most money is in some sort of “coupon” form like food stamps, “coupon” form like food stamps, housing vouchers, etc.housing vouchers, etc.

Social SecuritySocial Security

Originally intended to help people Originally intended to help people well beyond retirement agewell beyond retirement age

As America’s lifespan lengthened, As America’s lifespan lengthened, the age was never adjustedthe age was never adjusted

Many more people draw from SS Many more people draw from SS than originally intended due to than originally intended due to longer lives provided by very longer lives provided by very advanced healthcare.advanced healthcare.

Medicare/MedicaidMedicare/Medicaid

Medicare—government provided Medicare—government provided healthcare for the elderly/retiredhealthcare for the elderly/retired

Medicaid—government provided Medicaid—government provided healthcare for low income peoplehealthcare for low income people

Conceived when drugs were a VERY Conceived when drugs were a VERY small portion of health care costs—small portion of health care costs—that’s why a prescription drug plan is that’s why a prescription drug plan is in the news so much, it was not in the news so much, it was not planned forplanned for

Politics aside…Politics aside…

Most Americans have some feelings on the Most Americans have some feelings on the best way to deal with some or all of these best way to deal with some or all of these issues—that’s not the point right nowissues—that’s not the point right now

The idea is that we have notions about The idea is that we have notions about things that might not be as well informed things that might not be as well informed as we might think, so we have to look as we might think, so we have to look more closely to find the answers to some more closely to find the answers to some of these difficult social issues.of these difficult social issues.

Keep an open mind!Keep an open mind!

Invisible PoorInvisible Poor

Urban and rural poverty are both real—Urban and rural poverty are both real—urban poverty is what we usually think ofurban poverty is what we usually think of

We try very hard as a society to not have We try very hard as a society to not have to see the poor—even the poor try to to see the poor—even the poor try to either not be seen or not look pooreither not be seen or not look poor

Most poor people are white (raw numbers) Most poor people are white (raw numbers) but the percentage of non-whites is but the percentage of non-whites is disproportionate. There is no one disproportionate. There is no one consistent “face of the poor”consistent “face of the poor”

Why “Get a job!” isn’t a Why “Get a job!” isn’t a solutionsolution

Vastly fewer unskilled labor jobs exist Vastly fewer unskilled labor jobs exist within the US because of outsourcingwithin the US because of outsourcing

The unskilled labor jobs that do exist The unskilled labor jobs that do exist do not provide a living wagedo not provide a living wage

With the rise of suburban America, With the rise of suburban America, getting from the types of places poor getting from the types of places poor people live to the types of places people live to the types of places jobs exist is another serious jobs exist is another serious challengechallenge

Welfare ReformWelfare Reform

In an effort to get people off of welfare, In an effort to get people off of welfare, the common solution was to cut programs, the common solution was to cut programs, thus saving money for the governmentthus saving money for the government

Agencies were expected to institute Agencies were expected to institute programs designed to get people off of programs designed to get people off of welfare and their incentives were huge welfare and their incentives were huge since their money was being cutsince their money was being cut

Many consider this method unsuccessfulMany consider this method unsuccessful

Christian Goals for Welfare Christian Goals for Welfare ReformReform

Protect human life and dignityProtect human life and dignity Strengthen family lifeStrengthen family life Encourage and reward workEncourage and reward work Preserve a safety net for the vulnerablePreserve a safety net for the vulnerable Build public and private partnerships to Build public and private partnerships to

overcome povertyovercome poverty Invest in human dignity and poor Invest in human dignity and poor

familiesfamilies

Homeless and Near Homeless and Near HomelessHomeless

Obviously people with no homes are Obviously people with no homes are incredibly vulnerable—needs are incredibly vulnerable—needs are obvious and solutions are simple (in obvious and solutions are simple (in the short term)the short term)

Near homelessness is more common Near homelessness is more common and more dangerousand more dangerous People have no financial safety net—one People have no financial safety net—one

health problem, car problem, etc. away health problem, car problem, etc. away from the streetfrom the street

ImmigrationImmigration

Economically, much more Economically, much more complicated than it appears on the complicated than it appears on the surfacesurface

No easy answer, but Jesus makes it No easy answer, but Jesus makes it clear that compassion is the option clear that compassion is the option we should exercisewe should exercise

The Society of Jesus adds that the The Society of Jesus adds that the “preferential option for the poor” “preferential option for the poor” should be exercisedshould be exercised

ChildrenChildren

Poverty hits children particularly hardPoverty hits children particularly hard If we care about kids, trying to get rid If we care about kids, trying to get rid

of poverty is a great way to helpof poverty is a great way to help When it comes to being pro-life, we When it comes to being pro-life, we

are quick to point out that they are are quick to point out that they are innocent—yet we are less likely to innocent—yet we are less likely to remember that innocence when we remember that innocence when we speak of how we ought to treat the speak of how we ought to treat the poor.poor.

The GoalThe Goal

Eliminating Poverty, not the PoorEliminating Poverty, not the Poor It is easy to change the definition of who is It is easy to change the definition of who is

poor if you want to make the numbers smallerpoor if you want to make the numbers smaller You can not let in new migrants, encourage You can not let in new migrants, encourage

policies that eliminate people who make the policies that eliminate people who make the numbers bad, etc. without eliminating povertynumbers bad, etc. without eliminating poverty

We want to stop people from being poor, we We want to stop people from being poor, we don’t want to change who we call poor or get don’t want to change who we call poor or get rid of people who are poorrid of people who are poor

The TestThe Test

Scantron section (definitions, very basic Scantron section (definitions, very basic concepts)concepts)

Fill in the blank or short answer—we have Fill in the blank or short answer—we have had lots of ideas brought up on quizzes so had lots of ideas brought up on quizzes so far. At least half will deal with those same far. At least half will deal with those same issues/ideasissues/ideas

Of the new half, most will come from Of the new half, most will come from Chapter 5, there will be a very small Chapter 5, there will be a very small number of new concepts from 1-4number of new concepts from 1-4