Poverty

Absolute poverty exists in numerous countries around the world, many living on less than $2 a day. Many speculations can be made about why poverty still exists; especially when a majority of Americans living on government subsidies, have niceties like color TV. There is no moral reason why over 1 billion people are living in absolute poverty while others live in excess.

Absolute poverty is defined by the United Nations as, “A condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services.” This is an irreprehensible way for any human to survive. Poverty has many origins, and people differ on which is most imperative. Lack of a stable and democratic government minimizes the ability for citizens to criticize their current situation, resulting in depletion and reduced convenience to essential resources. Humans living in absolute poverty have little to no access to clean water sources, adequate food, or shelter. Disease and malnutrition spread as the lack of healthcare professionals rises due to the poor education system; unable to break the cycle they remain in absolute poverty.

Much of the world poorest humans reside on the continent of Africa. In many of the nations; years of civil war, disease, and lack of education ensnare more than 80% of the population into inescapable poverty. As citizens of a democratic nation we ask, “What can government officials in poverty stricken nations do to increase prosperity in their countries?”, and the answer is to surmount their own government failure. The term “government failure” does not suggest an evil or even incompetent go...

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... For far too long, America’s solution to poverty has been giving people a meal and home, rather than teaching them to build their home and educating them so that they can be self-reliant, productive members of our society. As we clearly see in the current economic crisis, poverty is not simply a situation you are born into or “choose”, but by doing things like dropping out of school. What will it take to rebuild such a strong American economy that we can actually end poverty? First and foremost is education: Education is vital for the young; it must include special educational programs and encouragement of technical schools so new inventions are made and new industries creating a higher workforce for the future. Government tax on imported goods will continue the industrial renaissance creating jobs. Ending poverty means jobs for everyone who can and wants to work.