For my second article review I choose the topic of poverty in the United States. In the article entitled “Poverty in the United States,” the author discusses many facts and important information on how society affects the country, and its individual cities as well. In fact, as of 2011, 49 million people lived in poverty; and this number increases each year. That is roughly 15% of the United States current population. With the population ever so increasing, the job market is in decline; approximately 9% of Americans are unemployed. This high number not only affects the people who are impoverished, but also takes a toll on the entire country as a whole as well. Food stamps, and other government assistance programs are at an all-time …show more content…
Which as Webster’s Dictionary defines it: “a social system in which a government is responsible for the economic and social welfare of its citizens and has policies to provide free health care, money for people without jobs, etc.; also: a country that has such a system.” This is the America that promises that hard work will get you where you want in life. The America that has opportunity around every corner. Yet, is this really the same America? Should we kill the welfare state? With so many people dependent on food stamps and government welfare it seems we have become “the land of welfare” rather than “the land of opportunity.” Despite this, welfare, in a sense is important and should be a part of our government. Because of welfare, we do not have very many people who die of starvation, or lie in the streets dying of starvation. I do believe that welfare is a good program. However, maybe there is a way to better improve the system. For example, states like Pennsylvania are pushing a bill that would prohibit persons with felonies, and convicted drug abuse from obtaining welfare. I personally, support this bill. If people have money to buy drugs and such, why should we help them by funding their food while they could be using their drug money towards …show more content…
One of the most impoverished parts of the country are the inner cities portions. There, jobs are scarce, due to high population, and amongst other things. These types of places are generally not safe, and therefore are not exactly welcoming to new economic growth. The public and private businesses and services are typically as dilapidated as the homes. Inner city impoverished people all bundled in the same location does not help their situation out any either. This usually creates an aggressive environment; and any kind of economic growth is merely nothing more than a dream.
Therefore, is poverty considered a national threat? In my opinion yes, it is. With the poverty rate as high as it is and the fact that it continues to climb should be quite alarming. We as a nation need to figure out some probable solution as how we can reduce this number/ Poverty itself, unfortunately will probably never be fully eradicated from anywhere; but we need to do our best to fix what we can. Whether that be fixing up the streets, helping those less fortunate, there are endless ways in which we can contribute to the