Poverty In America Essay

1996 Words8 Pages

Despite what many may believe, poverty is not always a chosen lifestyle. Many become impoverished due to financial, family, or medical reasons and are trapped in the constant cycle. While I believe Singer’s claim that humanity should forfeit all possessions but necessities of life to be a bit too much, I think society should not be too quick to judge the beggar on the street or the kid who wears the same outfit everyday. We need extend a little grace and charity and give reasonably to the poor who can’t help where they are in life. The panhandler on the corner, the homeless man in the community shelter, and the single mother struggling to make ends meet in a rough neighborhood all share something in common. They are often pre-judged and misunderstood. The poor in America tend to be overlooked as though they don’t exist simply because we consider ourselves “the richest nation in the world.” Their struggle is real and Americans must address this difficult issue.
I am convinced that in many …show more content…

It is not an issue that exist in isolation, it affects everyone of us. It is a major cause of crime and homelessness and cost billions of dollars for local, state and federal governments to attempt to address it. Increased awareness, accurate poverty level assessment, work for welfare programs, more effective means to address mental health, more accessible substance abuse treatment, and affordable job training are all potential ways to approach to this problem. While forfeiting all we have into a communal redistribution of wealth may not be the best answer, we cannot simply ignore the plight of the poor at home or around the world. It is unreasonable to pass laws which force people to be generous, but governments must do all they can and private citizens must do their part as well. Together, we can make a difference and make our country and our world a better place to live for