Abramsky- The American Way Of Poverty book blog by Megan Wence

The focal point of this book is to point out how big of an issue poverty is all around us, and how it affects each and every one of us at some point in our lives. This may be something that we are going through in our personal lives, it could be affecting someone that we know, could be someone that we work with in our careers, or someone who happens to cross our paths at some point in our lives. I thought it was an interesting statement when Abramsky stated that poverty stock piled in the twenty first century which eventually led towards even worse economic hardships for families. It's a scary statistic that families who have a "temporary hiccup" often times have a hard time recovering from that. Families seem to get used to not having very much, and have a hard time trying to break that cycle if that is all that they know. It's also a harsh and startling statistic to read from the 2010 census bureau that 15.1 percent of Americans were living below the poverty line, and that 34.2% of single mothers and their children were living in poverty. I can openly and honestly say that I was a part of this statistic being a single mother raising my son. I relied on welfare and community assistance for help and survival needs. I can now proudly say that I have broken that cycle, but it wasn't an easy thing to do. 

Questions:

1. What is the central premise or idea of this book so far?

          This book is serving to show us and teach us how severe poverty is. Abramsky traveled all over the world to interview the poor. He lets us know that there are poor people without a high school or college education, and then there are poor people who have college degrees who can't find work. He states that people have all different backgrounds, but poverty can strike us all at any time. The author seems to think that our country is failing us and not doing enough to help with everyone from congress to the United States congress. If they aren't willing to help, we are fighting a lost cause. We want to believe what people of power in politics are saying and fighting for, but then when they get in a position to make changes, they let us down. 

4. Abramsky states There is, after all a reason why Swedes tolerate far higher taxes than Americans do. What does he mean by this?

          I think it means that since they are getting taken care of really well by their government, that they don't mind paying the higher taxes. Just like he stated with a good education, better health care, child care, vacation time and pensions. They feel as if they are getting quality services for the taxes that they are paying. In the Unites States we don't feel as if we are being taken care of in the same way. If a family is on the medical card, they don't get the same quality of care for example. In my opinion it goes with the saying " you get what you pay for" If you are willing to pay a higher price for something, it's going to be a better quality service or product. 

7. What does Abramsky mean by "walling off the poor"?

         My understanding of this statement is that he feels that not enough people have taken the time or effort to put into understanding poverty, and how we can fix this huge issue. No one wants to offer any solutions, or show compassion to those in need, and that is the problem. That's why I think he said walling off the poor, so rather than dealing with the actual issue, it can be swept under the rug as if it doesn't exist at all. If this current way of thinking doesn't change, it's only going to become an even bigger issue that we will all have to face at some point in our lives.