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

Jordyn Hartke Part 3

The third part of Abramsky's The American Way of Poverty was attention-grabbing to me. I thought the third part of the book was a lot easier to read because it had actual personal experiences that happened to people. The book states how to stop poverty and how we can prevent it from happening or even getting worse. One thing that caught my attention was the welfare system and how we could improve it and it could cause a change for those in poverty.

Test Question: What are some ways the government could improve the welfare system?

Kuhlig #3 Blog post

During the reading, it is easy to feel hopeless.  What can we do, we have seen where policies were put into place and new programs emerged and they didn't fix everything.  I like how the author provided an answer to some of those questions I have had while reading.  There are things that we, as a nation, could do to help fix this terrible epidemic.  We just all have to agree to do it.  The poor, middle-class, and wealthy have to agree to focus on this problem.  It has to start by everyone agreeing that poverty is a real problem.  On page 324, Abromsky points out that many have claimed ignorance of poverty in the country.  He says, "If we are honest with ourselves, as twenty-first century unfolded we saw the effects of poverty on a daily basis."  Then he lists where we would have seen it and when.  This was jarring to me.  I had to agree, as I hung my head in shame.  When I drive my children to school I pass a very run down trailer park.  If I am heading to school following this drop off I pass a section of town that is literally a neighborhood of shacks.  If I am honest, I try not to look at some of these buildings.  If I am honest, I know people inside these small run down buildings go without a lot of the time.  If I am honest, I try not to think about the not quite a house and their people.  I do this because it is easy.  However through the reading of this book I have felt my eyes open more to these things.  

Test Question:  What are the solutions that Abromsky gives to help end poverty?  Why are we not doing this?