One thing that stuck out to me about this last part of the reading was how many people were in prison for nonviolent crimes. I do not agree with the three strikes policy, especially when some people's third strike was nonviolent, and they were stealing things that they needed to survive. I do not agree with people that steal, but I can understand someone being desperate and needing to provide for themselves and/or family to survive. After reading this book, it has really changed my view on taxes. I do not mind paying taxes, but I wish that our country could find a way to better use our tax money. Keeping people in prison for long sentences does nothing to help our society. I like how the author compared someone who has done prison time and coming out and having somewhat of a scarlet letter they have to wear. This is so true. Instead of our tax money going to prisons, I would rather our tax money went to helping the homeless and helping people with addictions. Let's be honest, we have all a television, how many times to we see a politician or famous person come out saying they are battling an addiction of some sort. They have the money to go to a fancy rehab center and get the treatment they need, then their lives can go back to normal. For a person living in poverty, society is too quick to label them as scum and throw them behind bars for very long periods of time. People do not have the understanding that it costs us tax payers money to keep those people behind bars. I really agreed with the author sharing the thoughts of Almaz Zelleke that instead of just looking at how much adults should be making to live above poverty, that children were included. I think that sometimes people forget that when we deny a parent resources and make cuts so less parents are able to get resources to survive, we are damaging America's future. Children are our countries future and it is absurd that our country does not do more to make sure every child is living above the poverty line. One problem that America has according to the book is how much politics plays a role in where the tax money goes and where taxes can be taken from. It seemed that whenever someone came up with an idea of a new program or new policy that would help impoverished families, the issue was always money. The analogy that I really loved was buying a hybrid car. The price of a hybrid car is higher than a non hybrid car, however, in the long run you will save money because you will have to spend less on gas. If politicians and other Americans can see the future savings of investing in a more expensive car, why do they not feel the same way about investing in human lives? The idea of micro-lending to help people start business or even just another alternative to bankruptcy intrigued me. What I did not like was how the author stated they are almost secretive. It boggles my mind that people who know about such resources try to hid them from the poor. I truly loved the bank in North Dakota. I think that each state should be required to have banks like this. Investing in your state and in your community will only benefit everyone's future. Investing in a home, personal business, and/or education will only benefit our country's future. To have a bank that will help people with student loans is amazing. It is also amazing that they will lend money to people to start their own business or to expand their business. This creates jobs and helps sustain current jobs. I think the reason it did not work in other states is because the people who control the money are too selfish to let other people have just even a little small bit. Many people are not asking to make a million dollars a year, but rather to just be able to not have to pick between paying the heat bill or buying food. Raul Grijalva had a great idea with the People's Budget. It is sad to me that people think some of his ideas are too big to start. People are too afraid of change. If we want to help people get our of poverty and stay out of poverty, we have to invest in the people who are in poverty. Instead of looking at them as poor and lazy, asking them what services they need and providing those service can give people the skill they need to thrive as adults.
Test Question:
Why do you think many politicians are quick to shut down ideas and programs to help people get out of poverty when they have seen positive results in other countries and in some states here in the United States?
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