Is Poverty getting out of control?

Question

Shouldn't we be feeding the hungry mouths of our country before feeding the hungry mouths of others? Were those countries whom we are feeding not the ones who killed innocent lives here in America? All the time we see homeless people wandering the streets with no place to go. This is america! The land of the free and the home of the brave! We should be feeding AMERICA'S hungry mouths first. We should be sharing the wealth of our prospering country. What else might we do to decrease homelessness and poverty here in America?

Of course it is good to think globally but we are a generous country. Not many countries are willing to help other countries before their own.

And yes the homeless have those resources available, which is why someone should be out there, like a special group of people, taking them to shelters across the nation.

I already volunteer at the soup kitchen, and at the Salvation Army, I try to help as much as possible. I don't see how I am whining by just stating the fact that this is not right.

Can we really trust other countries? We may use their resources in return for ours, but by giving them what they want now doesn't guarantee a "good" future with that country.

Answer 1

Hi Ally! I am in the UK and I think that it is ridiculous that in the 21st century we still have poverty in the western world. In Glasgow for example, we still have people begging in the street, people that are homeless and of course there is the dire straits some of our elderly find themselves in.
Although Scotland has not been attacked in the way your country has, I still feel that, like you, we should look after our own people first and if there is extra then we can share that out - no problemo.
PC has gone mad over here and we find ourself in the crazy situation that we cannot deport someone who we suspect of being an undesirable back to their country of origin in case they are abused. So it would appear that we can get blown to hell as long as we do not upset or offend any radicals in the Muslim communities!

In answer to your final question - stop re-arming - spend the billions of $s on helping your own people. The cold war is over - the war on poverty is not!

Answer 2

I don't think actually that poverty is out of control - it is a problem, yes. But even in the bible it says that the poor will be with us always. I don't really want to say this, but we need poor people. We need all segments of society. We need people who will take jobs to do manual labor tasks like clean streets and restrooms. We need rich people who own businesses that employ people and develop the local economy. We need the middle class workers, they are the one's that support our infrastructure. Although we hear a lot about helping people in other nations, we do a lot here at home to help as well. It is just that poverty is not just an American problem, but a global one, and that is why it seems that we are not helping our own people. Doing things like building homes and shelters for the poor is wonderful, and programs like section 8 when not abused are good as well. But some of these things bring down property values, which will usually be opposed, and if/when every poor person was given a job, or lets say we eliminated poverty all together, then inflation would go through the roof, and there wouldn't be anyone around to stock shelves at the grocery store.

Answer 3

I agree that America should take care of our own first. The political strategy behind our aid to other countries doesn't really get a lot of press.Its similar to our stand with the Palestine. Bush wanted to halt aid to Hamas because of there position to wipe out Israel. Sounds reasonable doesn't it? Well If we do that then the world sees us as 100% Israel and trying to starve out the Palestinians. We would hate for them to go on a suicide mission on an empty stomach wouldn't we? Well anyway that's just the way I see the US's aid programs as more political than humanitarian. As for the hungry here there is no excuse for the elderly or the adolescent to go hungry in the land of bread and honey. But the adult hunger is for the most part because of mental illness or drug addiction. The government should try to tackle the problem from the root not the end result.

Answer 4

The major problem is... the Republicans and those who vote for them, which was a slim majority in the last election, always say the same tired excuses: "they are lazy and have access to every opportunity that everyone else does and they should all be millionaires and would be if they just worked a little bit."

These people have no idea about what poverty is or how to fix it... and when it boils down to it, they really don't care... if it's not effecting them, then it's not their problem.

Ironically, these are often the same people that go to church and read the Bible that preaches directly against the attitude that they have... but they clearly don't really care about what the Bible says either, unless it supports their opinion...

Answer 5

Well, one problem we have is our perception of our hungry and homeless vs those in starving countries. Our hungry and homeless have access to everything we have in the way of jobs, food, health care, etc. - or so we think. Most homeless people are mentally ill, addicted, or just in a really bad spot temporarily and will get back on their feet. Many of us get upset when we see Mothers on welfare, lining up at the foodbank and making themselves available for any hand out, while wearing their $40.00 a month fake nails, smoking, trashy but trendy clothes, etc. It makes it really difficult to want to give.

Answer 6

It's a goodwill gesture to think globally rather than just locally. It's also good politics. You never know when you are going to need the help of a country, so by being nice to them now, you get what you want in the future.

Answer 7

We always discuss this in our house--we don't mind the government sharing with other needy nations--but what about the homeless, hungry people right here? The political agenda doesn't seem to be moving in the right direction.

Answer 8

Poverty is a world wide thing. You should help both at the same time. Everyone deserves a better chance at life, whether it be an american or a african etc. But yes, poverty is getting out of control.

Answer 9

Getting? It's been out of control. Why don't you quit whining about it on the Internet and volunteer at your local soup kitchen or donate food to your local food bank?

Answer 10

Has it occurred to you that those homeless people have places to go to for food and shelter yet don't?

The government does ENOUGH for the damn homeless, it's their fault for not taking advantage of their resources.