I have been, increasingly, troubled with the way politics have taken precedent over the needs of this country’s people – predominantly the poor. I, first, became aware of how the less fortunate have been treated when I was in college taking a social policy course and doing my internship at the homeless shelter. It became very apparent, during my studies, that poverty is not reserved for a specific race, Spiritual belief, gender, age group or sexual identity. Poverty does not have any concern for these demographics. Equally true, the cause of poverty is not exclusive to a specific dynamic. Poverty can be seen within groups of people who are under-employed, it can manifest from a sudden onset of illness or disability, and it can become present when people do not have proper support from family, friends, or their government.
It should be no surprise that the number of impoverished people has grown, significantly, in this country since the gutting of social programs during the presidency of G.W. Bush, which was doubled down by the market crash at the end of his presidency.
Since that time there has been a conscious strategy by certain parties in Washington to prevent our current president from reinstating or expanding programs that former president Bush’s administration abolished in order to pay for wars in the Middle East. There is a lot of tangible evidence supporting my claims, but I would like to keep the focus directed towards what we can do to provide real help to the people in this country who have been passed over and left to suffer in silence.
Being a Spiritual advisor who holds a degree in social work I feel an obligation to take action by creating a solution that addresses the needs of so many. In order to accomplish this task I believe it is necessary for me to educate those of you reading this article about the realities people face when they are unable to earn a sustainable living or have medical needs that create overwhelming amounts of debt. Of course, these are just two causes that create a real need for external assistance. There are many more circumstances that cause our fellow Americans to live in situations that are appalling to anyone that is a witness to such atrocity.
There is no excuse for anyone to live in poverty within the wealthiest country in the world. There is no excuse for the politicians and citizens of this great nation to address and abhor living conditions around the world without, first, acknowledging and solving similar conditions within our own borders.
As a person who has studied psychology and human behavior I understand why we, as a nation, focus our attention on providing help to other countries. After all, it is human nature to focus our attention outside of ourselves so that we do not have to face the problems within ourselves. That is why so much media coverage is focused upon other nations. As long as we keep our country’s attention upon other nations we will not have to admit the hard truth that our nation is not perfect.
Do not get me wrong. Our country is unmatchable when it comes to infrastructure, incarceration and our military. But, with the enormous amount of wealth in the United States, shouldn’t we be unmatchable in the way we address our own citizens’ rights to housing, medical care, education, employment, nutrition and every other humanitarian aspect applicable for quality of life?
This nation was founded by people who wouldn’t stand for being treated unfairly. They made a commitment to every generation that followed that tyranny would never be tolerated. Our government was designed to eliminate “absolute power,” however, it left a lot of wiggle room that allowed tyranny to manifest outside of its government within the realms of “the private sector.” I’m not saying that anyone who is wealthy is a tyrant nor am I saying that wealthy people should be punished for being wealthy. I am saying that wealth can do harm as well as offer help in equal measure. Money is not the root of all evil. The root of all evil is greed.
It is common knowledge that this country is experiencing the largest gap of income inequality in its history. It is, also, well known that a thriving middle class is what kept our economy viable. Again, I don’t want to stray too far from the message I’m trying to communicate. I, merely, felt it necessary to remind my readers of “what once was” as compared to “what is now.”
So, what is now? Now is a time that has witnessed the first black president. Now is a time where, despite the progress made with civil rights, we have cities across the nation where riots are born from police brutality. Now, as much as the media desires to confine the brutality and rioting to a racial war, poverty is the real issue causing unnecessary deaths, rioting, and protests. It just so happened that the majority of the poor population who has been the victim of police brutality are, overwhelmingly, black. Equally true is the fact that these areas, where acts of police violence have taken place, are in predominantly black neighborhoods.
This doesn’t mean that all poor people are people of color. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t any poor white people. Race has nothing to do with poverty overall. Equally true is that it shouldn't increase a person's desire to help out this nation's poor by showing that person that there are white people who make up the poor populous. Race shouldn't matter nor should any other factor cause discrimination or scrutiny against anyone; rich or poor.
This doesn’t mean that all poor people are people of color. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t any poor white people. Race has nothing to do with poverty overall. Equally true is that it shouldn't increase a person's desire to help out this nation's poor by showing that person that there are white people who make up the poor populous. Race shouldn't matter nor should any other factor cause discrimination or scrutiny against anyone; rich or poor.
The only link to poverty and race is what part of the country poverty is being measured. If we were to take into consideration the ethnicity of people living in poverty in the state of Utah, we would see both whites and Hispanics making up the majority of Utah’s poor. The reason being that Utah’s population is predominantly Caucasian and Hispanic.
Below is a table of statistical data for the number of people living in poverty by race for the following states (whose population is, primarily, white): Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and New Mexico (Nevada and New Mexico being the exceptions of all the states listed). Notice: the only state, of the nine listed, with any number for those who are both poor and black is Nevada. Even then, Nevada shows the ethnicity with the highest number of poor being Hispanics with the second highest number being Whites. In fact, seven of the nine states listed show Whites with the highest number in poverty. Finally, not one of the nine states listed shows Blacks as having the highest number of poor.
Location
|
White
|
Black
|
Hispanic
|
Other
|
Total
| ||
1. Montana
|
109,200
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
149,100
| ||
2. Utah
|
139,600
|
N/A
|
79,200
|
N/A
|
240,500
| ||
3. Idaho
|
142,600
|
N/A
|
52,700
|
N/A
|
205,400
| ||
4. Nevada
|
168,500
|
74,800
|
214,600
|
N/A
|
481,100
| ||
5. Colorado
|
253,000
|
N/A
|
244,700
|
N/A
|
565,500
| ||
6. Arizona
|
277,700
|
N/A
|
794,600
|
N/A
|
1,354,500
| ||
7. Alaska
|
38,900
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
80,100
| ||
8. Wyoming
|
58,500
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
69,600
| ||
9. New Mexico
|
76,100
|
N/A
|
263,600
|
N/A
|
455,800
|
**Source for data: Kaiser Family Foundation estimates based on the Census Bureau's March 2014 Current Population Survey (CPS: Annual Social and Economic Supplements).
Of course, the statistical data might be different if we were measuring poverty in the southern states. My point, with showing the above table, was to show that the stereotype of black people being synonymous with being poor and the greatest number of people using "entitlement programs" is false.
Poverty causes frustration on every level with regard to every aspect of human existence. Poverty prevents us from nourishing our bodies with healthy food and drink. Poverty prevents us from receiving quality health care and preventative medicine along with quality medical management and medicines that manage ongoing illnesses, diseases and disorders of the mind and body. Poverty prevents us from safe and healthy living conditions. Poverty prevents us from safe and reliable transportation and, in rural areas where public transportation does not exist, poverty prevents us from having any form of transportation whatsoever. Poverty prevents us from weather appropriate clothing. Poverty prevents us from oral hygiene and proper dental care. Poverty prevents us from acquiring safe and appropriate child care so that we can both seek employment and maintain employment.
By this time, most of you reading this are thinking to yourselves “Hold on one minute. I know there are programs for child care provided by the government.” Some of you may, even, be thinking “What about Medicaid and Food Stamps? Oh, and how about the housing programs for the poor?” My response to these questions is simple. Yes, these programs still exist. However, because of the massive cuts to all social programs for the poor during the presidency of Bush the second coupled with President Obama’s inability to obtain bi-partisan support for any programs he has tried to remedy, the people who are in need of the most assistance in order to become self-sufficient continue to be forgotten.
Although President Obama has been able to add more federal money to Medicaid and Food Stamps, and (even) get the "Affordable Healthcare Act" passed, people living in many states are going without the benefits of food stamps and Medicaid, simply, because the governors of those states either refused the federal money completely or refused the funds, originally, then accepted them later on only to “hold onto the funds” while putting their personal agendas ahead of the needs of their state’s impoverished. Again, I will use Utah as an example. Utah’s governor refused all federal money the state was entitled to receive for the expansion of Medicaid.
Later on, Governor Herbert decided to accept the federal funds to expand Medicaid, but refused to issue the funds to the people who would qualify to receive the expanded Medicaid benefits by rejecting every proposal put before him by the state’s house and senate for the use of that money. He said, outright, that “until the state’s law-makers came up with a proposal that was as good or the same as the proposal he put before the state’s congress he would not sign any of the bills into law.” (**Note: The statement in quotation marks is not a verbatim quote by the governor – it is the summation of what Governor Herbert stated during a press conference in the spring of 2014.)
Later on, Governor Herbert decided to accept the federal funds to expand Medicaid, but refused to issue the funds to the people who would qualify to receive the expanded Medicaid benefits by rejecting every proposal put before him by the state’s house and senate for the use of that money. He said, outright, that “until the state’s law-makers came up with a proposal that was as good or the same as the proposal he put before the state’s congress he would not sign any of the bills into law.” (**Note: The statement in quotation marks is not a verbatim quote by the governor – it is the summation of what Governor Herbert stated during a press conference in the spring of 2014.)
Utah’s governor is, merely, one of several republican governors who refused federal funds to expand Medicaid. Currently, in order for an adult to qualify for Medicaid in the state of Utah, their total household income cannot be greater than $547 per month.
As for the "AHA," for people living on social security survivor benefits of SSDI benefits that don't qualify for the federal grant money to lower the monthly premium costs of (for example) the "bronze plan," it is a great expense. I know this from personal experience because I am a recipient of survivor, social security benefits. Since I haven't been able to obtain employment for over five years, I do not have to file taxes (based upon the social security income guidelines for filing taxes). That means I don't have to pay a penalty for not having insurance, but because I am not eligible for the tax credit/grant money to lower the cost of premiums I would have paid $250 per month for the bronze plan, which carries a $5000 deductible. The deductible has to be met before ANY benefits, such as copays for doctor visits or pharmaceutical copays (along with any other benefits), take effect.
It was, actually, cheaper for me to "self-pay" for my doctor's visits and medications than to pay the premiums on the bronze plan where my yearly medical expenses wouldn't exceed the $5000 deductible (unless I was diagnosed with cancer or some other long-term/expensive illness.
Now, in no way am I bashing the "AFA" because, for the majority of people, it serves better than if the act hadn't passed. However, I (also) am aware that the republican and tea parties had much to do with the problem areas of this act. The "AFA" that, actually, passed and was enacted into law was far from the plan the President Obama presented to congress. I believe that the conservatives deliberately created the problem areas within this act with the hope that enough people would be negatively affected by the problem areas so that the act could be repealed with the support of the public.
As for the "AHA," for people living on social security survivor benefits of SSDI benefits that don't qualify for the federal grant money to lower the monthly premium costs of (for example) the "bronze plan," it is a great expense. I know this from personal experience because I am a recipient of survivor, social security benefits. Since I haven't been able to obtain employment for over five years, I do not have to file taxes (based upon the social security income guidelines for filing taxes). That means I don't have to pay a penalty for not having insurance, but because I am not eligible for the tax credit/grant money to lower the cost of premiums I would have paid $250 per month for the bronze plan, which carries a $5000 deductible. The deductible has to be met before ANY benefits, such as copays for doctor visits or pharmaceutical copays (along with any other benefits), take effect.
It was, actually, cheaper for me to "self-pay" for my doctor's visits and medications than to pay the premiums on the bronze plan where my yearly medical expenses wouldn't exceed the $5000 deductible (unless I was diagnosed with cancer or some other long-term/expensive illness.
Now, in no way am I bashing the "AFA" because, for the majority of people, it serves better than if the act hadn't passed. However, I (also) am aware that the republican and tea parties had much to do with the problem areas of this act. The "AFA" that, actually, passed and was enacted into law was far from the plan the President Obama presented to congress. I believe that the conservatives deliberately created the problem areas within this act with the hope that enough people would be negatively affected by the problem areas so that the act could be repealed with the support of the public.
Another, major, stumbling block for people who live at or below poverty level is housing. There are two different programs for housing people in poverty. The first is “low-income housing,” which is based upon 30% of a person’s monthly income to be charged for rent. This program requires a person to pay an application fee of approximately $35 and is contingent upon a criminal background check. If the person applying for this program has committed any crime(s) – even if the crime(s) committed happened fifteen or more years prior to their application – the property manager can reject their application based upon the person having been convicted of a crime.
Given the fact that the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world coupled with the fact that all employers (no matter how menial the job) conduct criminal background checks as well – it stands to reason that many ex-convicts will, eventually, return to crime in order to pay the high cost of living in a hotel or motel and all the added expenses that go along with living night to night. It seems to me that it would be more humane to execute anyone found guilty of any criminal activity that will prevent them from employment and/or a place to live once they have paid their debt to society by serving out their sentences, completing probation or parole successfully as well as paying all restitution and fines in accordance with their sentencing.
The other alternative for permanent housing for the poor is “section eight housing.” This is a voucher program that – no matter what state, city or county a person lives in where their application would be applicable – the only thing the applicant can count on is a very long waiting list. In places like California where there are lengthy waiting lists for the “low-income housing” option mentioned earlier, the wait time for section eight housing can exceed the person’s life expectancy.
Even with all of this that I have written about, the obstacles do not end here nor do the different dynamics of the individuals in need of our immediate help. I know I have invited a small amount of politics into this discussion and, despite the validity of what was stated, I have no desire to make this very serious and very real issue that’s affecting more and more people and families each day my own, personal soap box to promote any political agenda. The reality is that poverty doesn’t discriminate (as I said earlier with regards to race, gender, sexual identity, etc.) in any way. Nor does poverty support any political party or agenda.
Despite everything I know having studied social work, completing an internship as well as volunteering at a homeless shelter, having to utilize food stamps and Medicaid while going through my divorce, and having friends whose families were on welfare while I was growing up – I am still, completely, baffled when it comes to the way poor people are judged and discriminated against by family members and professionals who take oaths to serve humanity and society in general.
I am, also, amazed when I hear politicians (like Senator Orin Hatch-R from Utah) making offensive generalizations about people who are poor and in need of assistance by making claims that the people in need of unemployment funds, food stamps and other government programs for the poor and needy are drug addicts or just lazy with no desire to work. Another, equally, offensive statement made by Mitt Romney during his presidential campaign was when he made the statement that forty-seven percent of Americans are slackers and takers who make no contribution to the country.
It is ignorance such as that which perpetuates the lies and misconceptions that the general public adopt then judge people whose only flaw is being poor and needing to be shown some compassion from fellow human beings. The comments about poor people not wanting to work or being lazy, expecting a hand-out from the world, etc. only shows how, truly, disconnected those who have never had to worry about how they’re going to feed their children or themselves, if they or their child will be able to fight off their most, recent illness or if the illness will take their lives this time, where they’re going to sleep or if they’ll be able to sleep safely.
Truly, the list goes on and on with the worries these people process every minute of every day. So, for a person who has never had to worry about anything more serious than where they will vacation this year to make allegations that “those people” (the poor) have made bad decisions deserving the miserable life they live – or – “those people” are, just, lazy and looking for a handout as if poor people wake up one day and say, “I’m sick of having a nice, warm bed to sleep in, food to eat whenever I’m hungry, hot showers and clean clothes, my new car and my job that pays me a great salary. I think I will quit my job, abandon my home, toss out all my clothes and go live on the street because being poor looks like it is a blast.”
As I wrap up this article, I will ask everyone who reads this to find the “PayPal donate button” on this blog and click it. Then make a contribution to help impoverished people who are unable to receive what little help the government offers for whatever reason. Whether they make a dollar or two more per month than the cut-off amount for Medicaid and/or food stamps, whether they made mistakes – and paid for those mistakes according to the legal system – but are still being held accountable years after they’ve changed their behavior and life completely, whether they are unable to get a decent paying job because they didn’t finish school, or any one of the multitude of other reasons they can’t survive without our help. You can make a donation of any dollar amount – no amount is too small or too large and all donations are accepted with our sincerest thanks. Please help those who have lost all hope and who have, literally, no one else nor nowhere else to turn in their time of need.
God Bless You All Who Demonstrate Your Concern for Others with Your Actions.
**Originally posted in May-2015**
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