Brooke Kimball Final Abramsky Reading

Brooke Kimball

I felt that as an FCS professional the third section of Abramsky's book was most helpful in understanding how to fix poverty. The focus was on poverty and how issues in the system can be fixed to better the lives of people living in poverty and pull people out of the hole poverty creates. The quote, "When the going gets tough...the tough take it out on the vulnerable", this quote has so much truth behind it. It seems like every time our government is in a pinch with funds the needy are instantly at loss and shoved further in to poverty. Abramsky discusses that if the government could just work on fixing issues in our system that affect our working poor and people in deep poverty then not only would it help the citizens in need it could also greatly boost our economy. Joanne Page's definition of poverty is simple and to the point. She gives a definition that I think would make people more sensitive to people in poverty. I think by bringing up the fact that poverty is about choices and sacrifice that's something everyone can understand or sympathize with. I think that the CDA program in San Francisco needs to be the standard for all states in the US. The program is literally trying to lower the future rates of poverty by giving children who are more vulnerable to staying in poverty a chance to get out. Although 500 dollars won't do a lot for college bills it is a start and a statement that someone in our society wants you to do better for yourself. With improvements to this a child could turn 18 and with interest over the 18 years be granted over 2,000 dollars to their college education. Like Abramsky stresses throughout the entire book change is possible and poverty can be greatly diminished but it won't be easy. America would have to be willing to spend the necessary money to get people out of poverty. Although copious amounts of money for the poverty stricken may seem unappealing to many people in the long run if we can help people before they even get in to poverty then we will be saving money. As with every reading I got a lot from the personal stories in the book, it's difficult to read about these people's lives and all the struggle they are trying to push away from. Overall, I felt this book was incredibly informational and useful, it should be read by everyone in this country.
Potential Test Question: After reading this book, how are you going to use your FCS background to better the lives of those living in poverty?