Blog #5: Identifying the Working Poor

Chaundy argues that we are asking too much from the less fortunate and really not taking any responsibility for the financial hardships that are taking place in their lives. The video that really summed up this argument for me was the video Poverty in America, where it broke down how families of 4 live off of a mere $21,000 every year (the poverty line in America). The expenses of the family of 4 to live in good conditions cost more than what the income is bringing in. After food, shelter (but nothing that would be considered in good condition), health care, child care, etc. there are still so many aspects of life that were not able to be covered by the income -- one of the most important being education. I think that the first responsibility of the public is to recognize that a family of four living off of $21,000 is WAY below what should be the poverty line. Some families of four are not able to live off of double that. I think that a major point for which Chaundy's basis his argument is the fact that if one cannot afford to be educated they will be stuck in a down-hill spiral for life. They will always work low-income jobs and this will then be passed along to their children. The public needs to step in and break these families of this life-threatening cycle, because they will not be able to do it on their own. Expecting these families to work harder to provide the minimum for these families will just add to their problems, including medical problems. The children that are born into these families are already a step behind, and it is up to the community to step in and help these children make a life for themselves so they do not get stuck in the low-income "trap". I think that a lack of self-esteem translates to a lack of motivation to do better for themselves because they are only used to what they have. Offering child care or helping to replace the negative in their life with positive could be very beneficial to helping these young children break the cycle and understand that they can be different if they put their mind to it.