Poverty and Identity

Published by

Lem Usita

on

May 26, 2012

What are you doing about poverty? I guess you need to think that it is your problem before you would do anything about it. We all need to do something about. We all need to at least have an opinion about it. If you don’t feel like you need to do something about it, that’s definitely an opinion about it.

Just out of curiosity, when you first think about poverty – do you think about outside of the US or did you think about the people that live in your county that live below the poverty line? 43.6 Million people in the US in 2009.

I have no idea what I can do about it. I have a few avenues where I give outside of this country, but it’s interesting to see what is going on in our country. I need to do some more thinking about this. It will definitely affect my identity.

3 responses to “Poverty and Identity”

evansgw

May 28, 2012

Volunteer at a soup kitchen or with Big Brother. Take time to hear what affects the lives of vulnerable people. Advocate on their behalf and vote for policies that help meet their needs.

The US has low upward mobility and one of the largest equality gaps. I understand the desire for laissez faire economics and small government, but social protection policies need to be in place.

Reply
1. Lem Usita
  
  May 28, 2012
  
  All great thoughts. Who does that work?
  
  I will do some of the meeting the needs of those around me, but I definitely do a better job at personal finances. I need to educate myself so that I can stay out of poverty.
  
  Reply
  1. evansgw
    
    May 31, 2012
    
    Soup Kitchen/Get to know the needs of the poor: http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_sdm.nsf?open
    
    Big Brother: http://www.sdbigs.org
    
    Advocate for Children: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6151677/k.7FB4/Be_an_Advocate_for_Children.htm
    
    http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/survival/
    
    I need to help protect myself and family too, but I am lucky in that I have an employer who pays decent healthcare and is contributing towards a pension for me. If I were to get sick my family would be ok. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to be responsible for my own care. It would be expensive and scary. Those types of protections help people stay afloat.

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