Caroline Weber's post - March 23, 2016

On page 138, Abramsky states “poverty on an epic scale is a reality in today’s America; and whether that poverty is cause by dysfunction, or the dysfunction is itself a product of the poverty, or, as is likely, the dysfunction and the poverty interact in ever more complex feedback loops, for the larger community to wash its hands of the problem represents an extraordinary failure of the moral imagination.” This quote was very impactful to me. The poor are stigmatized as causing their own poverty or being less than someone else. Instead, this quote puts the blame on the non-poor. The cause of poverty is much more complex. In the end, it should not matter. As moral citizens we should help the poor instead of blaming them or turning a blind eye. This behavior prevents the development of solutions for the population. Poverty is a huge problem and requires an extraordinary effort from all. Abramsky circles back to this idea on page 146. She states “it is easy to be an armchair critic…to urge them to stand on their feet... Get beyond the tired, clichéd, sound bites, however, and one enters a world of frequent humiliation, of desperate poverty, of shrunken horizons”. To suggest someone chooses to be poor is crazy. Why would someone choose to make their life harder? To feel stress from day to day purchases? To feel humiliated among peers?

On page 159-161, Abramsky discussed the impacts of natural disasters on poverty. This reminded me of the documentary, “The Line” that we discussed in the beginning of the semester. When a disaster strikes, the community relies on federal aid to stay afloat. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has experienced huge budget cuts that are starving the relief efforts. These communities are at greater risk for economic collapse. Abramsky explains “to have to rely on government assistance is, increasingly, an exercise in frustration and futility” (pg 161). The communities that face the greatest risk natural disasters are low socioeconomic areas. However, if wealthy communities were struck, would this effect the distribution of the budget towards the Federal Emergency Management Agency? Most likely, yes. With wealth, come power and privilege. With power and privilege comes the political power to make changes.

In the second half of the text, Abramsky begins to outline “a new War on Poverty” campaign. Abramsky does not minimize the depth of causes of poverty or glorify one almighty plan. However, she does believe that simple additions to current programs and modified distributions of taxes could improve the country’s current status. In summary, “a systematic push to first significantly reduce poverty, and then to prevent its rapid reoccurrence, will, of course, have to include many moving parts: local, state and federal government involvement” (pg 199).  She explains that we should change the types of debt we take as a country, immigration laws, new energy policies, and criminal justice regulation. She also supports further funding of Educational Opportunity Fund, public works trust funds, unemployment aid as well as updating eligibility for SNAP and Social Security. Abramsky has researched the details and picks up on details which create barriers for the poor. For example, she suggests SSI funding gas stands. Without fuel, it could be challenging to work and live. Oil companies already make windfall profits and would not be nearly as negatively impacted as it would positively impact the poor. I am happy to have entered the second part of the text. The last few narratives were heart-breaking. I am ready to feel hopeful.