Tice Jenkins
Mrs. Jank
English 2
9 February 2018

Not Acquainted Not Relevant

People of the world often see those in poverty as disposable in modern day society, due to the fact that most individuals say those who are in poverty do not benefit the economy in any way. They are more of a problem than benefit to the economy and society individuals say. General statistics of poverty gives individuals an idea of how often we will encounter with the word “poverty” and how it affects us. This includes, what or why certain groups discriminate those who are in poverty and why they are seen as disposable. The ways the government or community has “helped” individuals in poverty to have them obtain success, or attempt to. Finally, what a fellow Christian can do, from a Christian perspective, to help those in need. In the world, people continue to make this generally happen, if not always happen were one group looks at another group and thinks of them as worthless or a waste of time.
Oftenly many individuals hear the word “poverty” and allow it to zoom past their head. The occurrence for this big statement is said, due to the fact that we hear the word “poverty” abundantly and never ponder what the word or statistics truly say. The definition of poverty is the state of being extremely poor, University of California, Davis, have a handful of statistics, “The official poverty rate is 12.7 percent, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 estimates. That year, an estimated 43.1 million Americans lived in poverty according to the official measure. According to supplemental poverty measure, the poverty rate was 14.0 percent” (“What is the current poverty rate in the United States?”). A significant number of these americans live in the rural areas than the urban areas, Norris, Adele states through her research (Norris, et al.). This gives an idea that with those in poverty we throw them out into the country and kind of forget about them. In which these numbers have a significant impact on our world of how we deal with these “disposable” people, that our society calls them. A mass number of thoughts come to the conclusion that since the problem does not bother one’s life, it is not a big deal. With a reality we are very selfish people and numerous of times we do not notice it.
However, understanding the statistics is a crucial part of wrapping the human mind around how often one will come into contact with poverty. The amount of discrimination in different ways implies that society sees those who are in poverty as disposable.
In modern day, through every aspect of life, individuals attempt and at times successfully find ways to discriminate another group. This is not only occurring because of what the individuals have done in the present, but the reputation they have set from the past. The article, “Poverty And Human Rights: Reflections on Racism and Discrimination,” argues by making a bold statement for those in the Latin America and Caribbean area saying, “…racism and discrimination have historical, economic, social, and cultural features which have kept specific groups… in a state of marginalization, exclusion and extreme poverty.” Those in poverty in the Latin America and Caribbean areas are socially discriminated because they are someone they can not control unless an individual gives them a chance to stand back on their feet. In which the article continues to argue stating, discrimination is a crime since it “lays the ground for violation of basic human rights” (“Poverty And Human Rights:”). The piece of writing has a bold statement with a sour taste towards individuals who discriminate those in poverty.
The impactful outcome of discrimination results in zero benefits. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon referees racial of the poor as a dangerous obstacle to national development (“Poverty And Human Rights:”). The act of discrimination leads to different results, Southern American countries are experiencing income inequality. This act results with individuals in poverty or shifting toward that poverty line (Gasparini, Guillermo 51). Discrimination towards a certain ethnic group or poverty group results in the society viewing those in poverty as disposable. They are treated like dirt and individuals at times do not see the gain in picking them up out of the dirt.
Therefore, discrimination is a key factor in how the name of disposability radiates around those in poverty. For the individuals seeking to help support people in poverty through the community, government, and organizations. Allowing them to have a chance to stand back up on their feet.
At times, our societies alternative saying for helping the poor is that our government has it under control, in other words the ACA, Affordable Care Act. This provides health care to those who can not afford it or are not financially stable. Politically, there has been many debates stating, what is the minimum and what is the maximum. The benefits and acts toward those in poverty and what the government provides is not enough to sustain the poor (Abdus, et. al.). The government tends to find the bare minimum to gift those in poverty, to continue to provide and give a economic sustainable benefit. Obviously if poverty was a huge deal to the government, they would seek to resolve the problem. Poverty rates continue to stay near each other each year, which concludes that the government is not treating poor individuals like those who are not in poverty in this Affordable Care Act.
That is not the end though, sources state that there are a few benefits of being poor. What an oxymoron, why would being in poverty be beneficial? One’s income dictates the amount of taxing you pay to the government. There is also strong, supportive information about social service benefits with welfare payments, food stamps, and etc (Reader). Shasta Matova concludes that being poor allows you to obtain assistance from a variety of sources, including the government, the community, organizations, or from friends and neighbors. “When you are poor, you are qualified to receive assistance. You can apply for help from governmental agencies and social services. You might be able to get monthly stipends, help with your rent, heating assistance, and food stamps. You may be able to get free medical services…” (Matova). There are a lot of actions partaking in helping those in need. That involves the government to give support to individuals in poverty, but with all these benefits, why is the world or The United States still witnessing poverty?
The pros all sound heartwarming, but the information everyone hates are the cons. The biggest thing about a child’s future is their education, the USA taxes assist kids to go to school, but if they wanted private school. It is out of reach and impossible for them to obtain an outstanding education. Crime is a huge factor and is often in those low income family neighborhoods, which increases the risk of tragedy being the outcome (Reader). If an individual is on the edge of getting on their feet, they may become in eligible of getting the “community or government help” due to the increase in their income. In other ways in one’s self esteem it may decrease due to the fact that the individual feels worthless to society. Individuals in society will look down on those in poverty thinking they are lazy with no work ethic. Being in debt or poverty causes stress, which can lead to problems within families like relationships (Matova). All these negative outcomes leads society to believe they are disposable because they can not pick themselves up even with the help of the government and communities.
Although, fishing and digging out the positives and negatives provides a point of view that think negative toward those who are in poverty. Individuals think that poor people are absolutely disposable if they can not stand up on their feet with all the benefits provided for them. As a Christian, they are looking at those in poverty with a different point of view.
The Christian faith is based off of love and kindness to all people. This statement gives society an idea of what or how Christians play a role in assisting poor people. It is a statement of “All Lives Matter,” kind of deal. Christians believe that everyone is made with a purpose and God values all lives because of his unfailing love for all people. Leviticus 25:35 says to help those in need and not to let them be hungry. Not only that, but in Proverbs 31:8-9, it states to speak up for those that can not speak at all. Standing up to those who judge and discriminate those in poverty (Wellman). Christians are told by their God to treat everyone fairly with love and kindness, while defending for their rights that they are loved by God too.
Based on the research, individuals in poverty are not treated equally through human rights and ways of seeking to halfway help the poor. There are many different ways of assistance to those in extreme need, but not enough to have them obtain stability in their finances. The poor is just another group that society forgets about because it does not affect their life to not help the poor. Those in poverty are not worth the time to the majority and there will continue to be a group of people in poverty that everyone looks down on.

Works Cited:

Abdus, Salam, et al. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Services and the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 105, 2015 Supplement 5, pp. S668-S675.
EBSCOhost, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302892.

Gasparini, Leonardo and Guillermo Cruces. “Poverty and Inequality in Latin America: A Story of Two
Decades.” Journal of International Affairs, vol. 66, no. 2, Spring/Summer2013, p. 51. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cookie,cpid&custid=nebstlib&db=f6h
&AN=87422019.

Matova, Shasta. “What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Being Poor and in Poverty?”
ToughNickel, ToughNickel, 31 Aug. 2016,
toughnickel.com/personal-finance/What-Are-The-Advantages-of-Being-Poor.

Norris, Adele N., et al. “Intersectional Perspective and Rural Poverty Research: Benefits, Challenges and
Policy Implications.” Journal of Poverty, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan-Mar2010, p. 55. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1080/10875540903489413.

“Poverty And Human Rights: Reflections On Racism and Discrimination | UN Chronicle.” United
Nations, Sept. 2007,
unchronicle.un.org/article/poverty-and-human-rights-reflections-racism-and-discrimination.

Reader, Casey. “Advantages & Disadvantages of Low-Income Families.” Bizfluent, 26 Sept. 2017,
bizfluent.com/info-7758560-advantages-disadvantages-lowincome-families.html.

“What is the current poverty rate in the United States?,” UC Davis Center for Poverty Research.
University of California, Davis, 18 Dec. 2017,
poverty.ucdavis.edu/faq/what-current-poverty-rate-united-states.

Wellman, Jack. “Top 7 Bible Verses About Poverty.” What Christians Want To Know RSS, Crossway,
2001, www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/top-7-bible-verses-about-poverty/.