Poverty can have so many different meanings that it’s not always wise to assume it’s meant as a money issue. Poverty itself means one who lacks. That lack could be of love, material possessions, and knowledge just to name a few. However, our biggest issue, at least in the United States, is with money. When you live in a world where over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day, it becomes increasingly alarming how detrimental poverty is to society (1). With the poverty rate on the rise and an increasing bigger gap between the upper and middle class, it’s clear there is a disconnect with the wealth of our world. Although the upper class makes up most of the wealth, we need every class/person helping to build our nation in particular.
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I think the culture of poverty is very misconstrued. One of the contributing factors is labeling such as the class system. By segregating ourselves in to and upper, middle, and lower class, we are creating a conflict. Weber, himself, said that we measure by wealth, power, and prestige. Therefore, those of the upper class are held at a higher regard than those of the lower class. Yet, it’s quite possible there are those in the lower class who are just as if not smarter than those ranked higher than them and are only in the financial predicament because of a stock market crash and they were unable to recover. There is a big communication gap with the culture of poverty. I, myself, have thought when a homeless person comes to me and ask me for money, “ Why can’t you just get a job and quit begging for what I make from my job" or “ Why should I have to pay my hard earn tax dollars for people who sell their EBT cards or buy only junk that’s not for children in need?” One the other hand, people in poverty could be thinking, “If you have a roof over your head and a safe place to lay it at night, why can’t you spare a few dollars” or “Being a single parent is hard enough, is it too much to ask that my government assist me in making my child’s life more comfortable?” I think there will always be a disconnect unless one has been in the other’s situation. It’s easy to judge what we don’t know and make assumptions on why things are the way that they are. This doesn’t mean either side is wrong nor are they fully right. Still, understanding can go a long
I think the culture of poverty is very misconstrued. One of the contributing factors is labeling such as the class system. By segregating ourselves in to and upper, middle, and lower class, we are creating a conflict. Weber, himself, said that we measure by wealth, power, and prestige. Therefore, those of the upper class are held at a higher regard than those of the lower class. Yet, it’s quite possible there are those in the lower class who are just as if not smarter than those ranked higher than them and are only in the financial predicament because of a stock market crash and they were unable to recover. There is a big communication gap with the culture of poverty. I, myself, have thought when a homeless person comes to me and ask me for money, “ Why can’t you just get a job and quit begging for what I make from my job" or “ Why should I have to pay my hard earn tax dollars for people who sell their EBT cards or buy only junk that’s not for children in need?” One the other hand, people in poverty could be thinking, “If you have a roof over your head and a safe place to lay it at night, why can’t you spare a few dollars” or “Being a single parent is hard enough, is it too much to ask that my government assist me in making my child’s life more comfortable?” I think there will always be a disconnect unless one has been in the other’s situation. It’s easy to judge what we don’t know and make assumptions on why things are the way that they are. This doesn’t mean either side is wrong nor are they fully right. Still, understanding can go a long