Poverty: Americas Real Problem

"More than 45 million people, or 14.5 percent of all Americans, lived below the poverty line in 2013" (Gongloff, 2014). As the world's largest economy this is unacceptable and things have to be done to combat this growing and prevalent problem. The focus was on the middle class in the election, but in order to have a strong, thriving middle class you must build it up. Helping the poor helps the middle class and puts more people in the workforce, helping us to continue to grow as a country. Poverty is not asking for a hand out just a few helping hands. 

The culture of poverty is perceived as a no way out situation, no hope dreams not deferred but destroyed, we challenge that notion daily by the success stories that accomplish the difficult task of defeating poverty. These individuals beat the odds placed against them and came out stronger and with a drive unmatched. While these stories do exist they are few and far between and if we developed a laser-like focus on poverty we'd see more success stories and truly build the middle class from the ground up.  

The President and Congress could improve many aspects of society by helping the poverty class get out of poverty. Helping the poor reduces crime, reduces the use of drugs, helps many in communities where the majority of the population are people of color, improves economic conditions, eliminates the need for more prisons, puts a focus on improving education, helps build and start community service projects and puts valuable people in the workforce that otherwise wouldn't be there. This increase of educated workers improves the workforce, reduces the unemployment rate, reduces the need to extend government assistance and generally improves the lives of Americans everywhere. 

Saving one life is no longer enough, we need to save whole families, communities, and cultures. If America wants to be that shining beacon on the hill we must do more to improve the lives of our own downtrodden. I spent 10 years of my life in military service, while I am extremely proud of my service, I could not help but notice we were sent to help the poor in other countries but not in our own. We should develop a mantra of America First.  

No other country wants to follow our example if we can't even help the poor in our own country. Our focus on many issues would drastically narrow if we were to focus on poverty in America. Women's issues, issues with the African American and Hispanic communities, health issues, crime, drugs, and education would all improve and the fact is the government and everyone else in America knows that helping the poor is beneficial to improving this great country.  

I propose and will constantly petition the government federal, state and local, in an effort to combat poverty in this country. Poverty hits home for me and I feel this is a worthy cause and not just a fleeting issue, it's a way of life for many and that just should not be the case in America. Hopefully, I can touch a few hearts and start a movement if your community is failing, crime is rising, opportunities are slim to none and the light of hope is slowly dying, join me and raising a fuss about poverty in America. 

Gongloff, M. (2014, September 16). 45 Million Americans Still Stuck Below Poverty Line: Census. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/16/poverty-household-income_n_5828974.html 

Tony L. Jefferson, Jr. 2013