Book blog #3

I really enjoyed reading this book and it definitely opened my eyes on how blessed I really am. I have a lot of things that not a lot of other people have. I am able to provide for my family and children, and I am so thankful for that. In the book Joann Page talks about breaking the cycle of poverty. One thing that is mentioned is helping the children have a safe place to learn which was stated by Martha Sanchez (Ambrasky, 2013). This can be done in a variety of ways, but one of the most important ways is state funding for school programs and programs such as free tutoring or school lunches for these kids who might be under privileged.
There are a bunch of stories in this book where people explain poverty in their families and how it has affected their life. I sub teach and I see/hear it almost every time that I sub; and that it kids making fun of other kids who love in the trailer court here in town. I have heard several times making fun of those kids and telling them that they are to poor to live in a house, etc. It is really sad that kids at such young ages are getting made fun of just because they live in a trailer.
In the reading it also talked about the federal poverty line and how some families barely miss the qualifications to become eligible for welfare. My friend and her husband and went thru a time when their son got really sick and was in the hospital for 3 weeks and the husband ended up looking his job and they went to go get some help and they told him that he made $3 to much in order to get help. $3, that is it. It is so frustrating for the people who work and barely scrape by and they might need just a little help in a hard time in their life and they are told that they make $3 to much to get help for their family. And then the government wonders why so many people don't work. They don't work because for one daycare is to expensive and if they don't work they can get more state help.
The book also mentions the "do right" mission. There are people who think they have no power if they live in poverty. Unfortunately money talks and money rules the world. If you don't have money, you are not in that upper class of people and might not have the resources needed.

Reference: Ambrasky, S. 2013. The American Way to Poverty. How the other half still lives. Nation Books. New York, NY.