Horton: Book review

I have always had health insurance up until I was a freshman in college under my mothers name. My mother eventually help me put my insurance in my name and that covered me for a couple of years. Recently, I've noticed that it is important to have health insurance, because of a new policy, it will now be legal to arrest a person for not having health care. I'm currently in the process of obtaining this type of care but when you're not financial stables it creates issues. Forcing jail time to people who can't afford it is only creating issues for everyone else. Paying more taxes, breaking up a family, etc. I don't agree that prison time for not obtaining health care should be the end solution.

The end solution to end poverty involves the government allowing states to implement programs to help people out of poverty. That approach saves money for the economy and saves people that hassle of their taxes being raised and school systems lacking resources, etc.

Dionna Slaughter #3

One of the very first things that stood out to me was the quote, “poverty is when the money that you need isn’t there, and you have to make choices that compromise your health or your future or your ability to care for your family,” because I have dealt with that before. There have been times when I did have health insurance because I could not afford it. The last part of the book brought me so much joy because it was actually the author was thinking of ways to end/fix poverty. Another thing that stood out to me was how he explained how the justice system sets you up to fail. For example, if I got to jail for aggravated assault in the first degree, then I have the label of a convicted felon. This means that I have a felony. Now when I get out of jail I will always be labeled a felon and have to categorize myself in that way on job application and college application. This indicates that I will not matriculate into the college I want or get the job. This leads me to do some criminal and I end up back in jail with more charges. The justice system should identify and fix the underlying problems a person has instead of wasting money. The money spent in regards to prisons could go elsewhere in the country and state budgets.

The last part of the book was about the solutions of poverty. It was also about the fact that everyone deserves a few second chances. Life will happen and that’s okay, but there needs to be someone or something there to help a person if he or she needs help. This part of the book was the best part to me because she brought up how stable economic neighborhoods tend to not have gangs, homelessness, or drugs. Stable economic neighborhoods have less disruption in the classroom and the students can actually learn and engage. Most of the solutions she mentioned were ideas I had before because I lived in poverty before. I must say I really did enjoy the third part of the book. From investing in education, reforming the prisons, and treating the vulnerable populations (drug addicts and the mentally-ill), poverty can end, but it will take a lot of work and time.

 

Test Question: What are some other ways to fix the poverty we have in America?

Rosalyn Jones #3

the last portion of The American Way of Poverty was very interesting. The chapters mainly talked about ideas and ways to improving the welfare system so that less people are living in poverty.What I found, even more interesting in each chapter is the personal stories that are told and how they all discuss ways to improve issues that are affecting individuals living in poverty.The hardest part is trying to figure out how to break the cycle of poverty, this  involves thinking holistically about the big things  such as housing, health care, education, criminal justice systems and etc. This was one part that stood out to me because I  agree that if all the different systems listed came together and agreed upon a plan to improve in making things more affordable  and less complicated to get for those that actual need it, I personally think that there wouldn't be as many people living in poverty.



Test Question: What is known to be the #1 cause of the  fiscal crisis in the  state of California?

Desiree Utz- Blog 3

            This is where the book get so good, in my opinion. I like that Abramsky is less focused on the reasons the government has failed the poor and how in the last few chapters he shares his thoughts and findings about how he believes the government can help. Abramsky's solutions really made sense to me. For example, he suggests that "change would happen at the local level first; we would have to figure out how to disband really bad structures, and then build new institutions." I think this is true. Based on the last two readings we know that our current safety net programs are not cutting it. So it is time to fix something that is broken.
            How should we move towards the future and towards narrowing the gap? As Abramsky proposes we need to make "down payments on the future", take preventative or rehabilitative measures to help people struggling with addictions and mental illness, care for the sick, work to reform our prisons, invest in education. One idea would be to make worker cooperatives, communally owned homes, and build stores that people could use their EBT to buy consumer goods. I think this is an idea that is both simple and rational. Another idea would be to "set an annual income floor between $6,000 and $7,000 per year to every man, woman, and child in the country." I think this is change that we would all happily welcome. However, it has a greater impact than being an allowance, it would work towards eliminating deep poverty. The final thought that I gathered from this reading is that if we work like the people in Detroit and create agencies of participation we might be able to achieve change even quicker than expected. The people of Detroit each have a role to play in their community and they each realize that by helping their neighbors, they are helping themselves. Being without jobs and without your needs being recognized by the state the people of Detroit looked to each other as being their number one resource and chance to survive.
             If I could pose one question to my classmates it would be: If you were asked to come up with a solution to end poverty what would it be? Give an in-depth explanation.

Alexis Brown Blog #3

The last part of the book The American Way of Poverty has really made me reflect on the many things I am thankful for. The book at first was long, but the personal stories really help push the book along. There were a few chapters that stood out to me when reading.  People, who don’t live in poverty, don’t understand the hardships people have to face. As a society we talk about poverty, but yet have found a solution for this group.  The way society view poverty is very hurtful. We view poverty as being lazy, unemployed, and addicted to drugs or alcohol.  I can say that I used to be one of those individuals that would judge a homeless person on the street. When a homeless person is on the street asking for money, I would say all they going to do is get drugs or alcohol. The reason for that thinking is because my family and friends would tell stories about a time they gave money to someone. What made me change my idea of people in poverty was when one of my family members was having a hard time. To help these families we need to find a solution they can help benefit these families but also the nation. This last part of the book really helps me open my eyes to issues, and how society views them.

Question: What are some programs that can help homeless people and what can FCS professionals do to contribute?

D'ARA Townsend

What was written in this section makes a lot of sense, for example it talks about the flaws in our system. How we spend so much money funding the prison system and sending people to jail who really need help. The money the spend doing so can be put back into the communities to help those who need help helping themselves. I really loved the $200 a month Nixon implemented. In addition to that I appreciated how the book concluded on a happy note. A lot of the policies I didn’t know existed. I never knew Alaska was giving money to women and children in poverty. What enjoyed most about this section is that it revealed that the government has often stepped in to help the poor, I feel that it is easy to acknowledge what hasn’t been done instead of the good that has been done, and I’m glad this was included and included at the end so it won’t be easily forgotten.

Test Question: Do you think it was fair for the citizens to receive the $200 a month, but if it wasn’t used in a month the money be forfeited?

Blog#3: Crawford

Blog # 3: Abramsky's The American Way of Poverty third portion of the book was quiet interesting. I found out that in the early 2000s in Boston "Children in families on waiting lists for public housing lost weight in winter as compared to children who lived in public housing, because parents of former were having to pay for their heating instead of for food." It's sad, because although the family has a place to lay their head at night lieu they don’t have any food to fill their stomachs. The state letting the families pay lower security deposits gave the families hope. Abramsky , believes everyone deserves a second chance. No matter how many times the individual messes up, they are capable of a second chance. It amazes me how individuals who aren't in poverty are willing to help. A lot of homeless and poverty victims are living with no one to count on. This book has taught me a lot and I believe that it will benefit me in the long run.  

Test Question: Being a FCS major and you had one opportunity to stop poverty, how would you do it?  

Jessica Bellephant Blog Post #3

While reading the third assigned reading for the book The American Way of Poverty I was able to learn more about the hardships that poverty brings to many peoples lives. One part of this reading that really stood out to me was in the beginning of the chapter called Breaking the Cycle of Poverty. "When the money that you need isn't there, and you have to make choices that compromise your health and your future or your ability to take care of your family" (Abramsky, 236-237) This really stood out to me because we forget that the choices we make daily in some way, shape or form affects our future. Everyday people living in poverty make sacrifices to be able to provide for themselves or their loved ones. One day you may not be able to afford the electricity bill and groceries but since you need electricity to be able to keep your home warm and powered you skip out on buying groceries and like in the quote you're compromising your health and future. The stories that were shared in this section was very personal and made it more interesting to read. The solutions that Abramsky shared also gave more insight on what needs to be done to fight and win the war on poverty.

Test Question: What other solutions should the government take to end poverty in America?

Lennie Austin Book Blog #3

Lennie Austin

December 9, 2015

FCS 4840-001: The Disadvantage Family

Instructor Moyer

Book Blog #3

            In the third section of the reading The American Way of Poverty by Sasha Abramsky was very intense. Sasha talked about the view that people have on individuals that live in poverty and why individuals that are not in poverty tend not to help them. During this particular part of the book, she makes personal connections with poverty, to provide the readers with a different view on poverty. For decades, there have been poverty but poverty early on was not fully recognize. Many knew there was poverty but only a few recognized and did something about it. In recent years, poverty have become very recognizable and much more have been done about it. Before reading this part of the book, my outlook on helping those in poverty that I did see, was mainly shaped by society view on poverty and by others around me. Whenever I saw a homeless individual, I was not eager nor jump to help them or give them money because my view was they were going to spend it on drugs or alcohol, some were pretending to be homeless just to get money from you, and when you do help them by giving them food, they do not want it. These thoughts came from other people thoughts, experiences, and from society perception. It was never my own. When I got out of everyone else thoughts, I was able to create my own thoughts off my own beliefs. The reason why other individual’s thoughts are a factor into people perceptions and doing is because we as a nation put labels on things. We use label on things to make it be what we want it to be. By society and many individuals having the perception that individuals in poverty are going to neglect help, use the help for negative behaviors, and it is being their fault that they are in poverty, then poverty will never change and those that are in poverty would not get the help they need. Instead of letting labels misjudge a situation, we need to destroy labels and pay closer attention to what been in front of our eyes for years. This part of the book really touched me because I can totally understand where the author is coming from and the direction she is headed in. This part of the book really helped me maintain my own eyes on events that are going on in the world and helped me want to do more than what I was doing when it comes to poverty.

Test Question: By society having stereotypes on poverty, what do you think can be done to remove these stereotypes, so the individuals that are in poverty can receive the help they need. 

Shondell Bohanan Discussion #3

One part that definitely stuck out to me during this reading was when JoAnne Page, a woman who works with impoverished people, said that poverty was "when the money that you need isn't there, and you have to make choices that compromise your health and your future or your ability to take care of your family" (Abramsky, 236-237). This stood out to me, because it speaks volumes to everything we have learned in class thus far. Money, or the lack there of, can lead to a multitude of problems, sometimes one after the other, similar to a domino effect. I appreciate that the writer incorporates not only the problems with poverty, but also solutions to it. A lot of times when someones eyes are opened to a problem, such as this one, they are not always equipped with the knowledge to get rid of the said problem. Abramsky not only opens the eyes of those who are blind to the problem, but also offers up solutions to them. Like when he says that the government should "encourage parents to put money aside for their children's  college education" (256). I thought this was a great idea, because students would not have to deal with as many loans as most deal with today.

Possible Test Question: Did your parents and/or guardian have money sat aside for you when it came time to go to college? Do you plan on starting a college fund for your child? Why or why not?

Jackie Swanson- Online Discussion #3

The third section of the book The American Way of Poverty by Sasha Abramsky was very intriguing, as it took a more personal approach sharing some stories of those affected by poverty. But the part I found personally most fascinating was how Abramsky wanted her audience to take a closer look at poverty, specifically those who have been convicted of nonaggressive offenses and its effects on those individuals in our society. For example, we pass a homeless man on the street begging for change, but most people would not give the man money and say he would spend it on drugs or alcohol. Although criminal offenses should be punished if the offender is found guilty, the problem with our society is that we label those in poverty. Our culture labels these individuals because we believe that This wrongdoing can really affect those who are being labeled, because they are more likely to be convicted of these nonviolent offenses than individuals labeled as upper class. The author also suggests that as a country, we need to recognize the poverty epidemic and admit that it needs to be the primary focus of our attention so we can start to resolve the issue. Instead of continually overspending our tax money on things such as incarcerating people convicted of nonviolent offenses and overspending on keeping them in jail. In lieu, we should put our tax dollars towards helping to fund homeless shelters, programs to assist those in poverty, and organizations like the Salvation Army or Good Will. With the gap between the rich and poor continuing to divide, more individuals will find themselves dealing with the hardships of living in poverty. This is due to the rising costs of living, which is based on inflation. This section of the book was my favorite because it aims to open the eyes of society and realize that we need to stop this problem for our future generations before its too late.

Test Question- What is one example of a negative stereotype that society has placed on those living in poverty?  

Jordyn Hartke Part 2

Jordyn Hartke

The second section of reading was more interesting to me because it stated to give more personal stories. It was a lot easier to read and understand. It talked about factories closing and people losing their jobs causing them to go into poverty. It left many people unemployed and looking for jobs.

Question: Programs to help those with unexpected job loss