Blog Post #1: Daja Hearn February 14, 2016

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

                 In my opinion I believe the main idea of the book gives insight to what poverty actually is. Not only does it do this, but it also demonstrates that there is no one particular type of family poverty effects. This also brings awareness to poverty. Poverty is something that is always gets pushed to the side and not enough awareness it brought to attention. Within this first part of the book it uses real life stories and also statistics from the U.S. Census to implement these facts.

2. What evidence does Abramsky use to support his ideas?

                One thing I have enjoyed thus far is the personal stories. As a young teen I used to love to read the books where it was coming from an actual person’s perspective. Abramsky does this by using these personal stories and with theses there is no sugar coating. By reading I feel I experience what these people with through in a way. Loss of a job, becoming ill, growing up in poverty, are all examples that are given in the book so far within personal stories.  Another way his evidence is supported is also by the U.S. Census.

3. On page 51, Abramsky wrote “There is, after all, a reason Swedes……tolerate far higher taxes than American do” What does Abramsky mean by this?

                Abramsky says this following the quote above “Swedes receive quality education, healthcare childcare, vacation time, and pensions courtesy of their government”. In other words he is says that the Swedes can see what their taxes are going for and how their money is spent. Also this means that they can appreciate what these high taxes are accomplishing within the healthcare field and in the schooling. Here Americans do not have that. We do not see where are taxes are going and the things that our taxes do go towards to not be beneficial to everyone.