Are People Really Ignorant of Poverty In America?

Question

There is so much talk of poverty in 3rd world countries. If you look down the block, across the street from where you live there are children and elderly and homeless starving everyday here in the USA. How is this possible? Even working adults aren't getting to enough to eat or the right foods because the amount of pay verses the cost of living doesn't equal out. Alot of times this causes obesity because the cheapest foods, the fillers, are the ones that cause you to gain weight. How about teaching birth control to nations that are so poverty stricken as we teach them to plant and work the fields as we do. Then do something for our own nation. I wonder how many nights a week our government officials go without food while a child lays in the bed crying from hunger, but it's working parents don't 'qualify' for food stamps?

Evidently some of you didn't totally read all of the question. There is no agenda. I don't consider people with cell phones poor. If you've ever been to the coal mines where the families live in run down shacks, no cars, no heat or running water. They live on soup beans & corn meal when they can get that MAYBE one meal a day - thats poor. Homeless isn't always due to drugs and alcohol. Severe illness- no family- lose job- lose home- where are they going to stay / eat? You chose to close your eyes to it. Many here in USA sell tin cans to buy a meal. They eat out of garbage cans-What we spend $3-4 on one sandwich and throw 1/2 away. I've seen it with my own eyes in some affluent cities. They show only the worse scenerios there. Never show it here. Ever wonder why? Would it shame us!!

Answer 1

It's a limitation of humankind that we tend assume that the majority of reality can be estimated by our own perspectives and experiences. Unfortunately, this means that "average" Americans (who don't face the hardships that those living under the line of poverty in America face everyday) have the luxury of pretending that to be "American" by default means to be exactly like them.

I've noticed that this leads to two lines of thinking. First, there are people who assume that poverty in America is negligible, and that poverty is a problem only in developing countries that don't bask in the warm glow of a capitalistic democracy like ours.

Second, there are people who assume that all Americans surely have had all the same opportunities that they have had, and therefore anyone living in poverty in America most certainly has no one to blame but themselves. These sorts of people are blind to their own class privileges.

Both of these mindsets allow people to see poverty in America but ignore it as "those other people" or "negligible." So whether they are "ignorant of poverty" or just plain "ignorant" is up to you.

EDIT: There are different levels and different kinds of poverty, but the fact that one exists doesn't negate the existence of another. For someone to say that there are no poor people in America because the people you see happen to have cell phones and *may* be eligible for food stamps? That's ridiculous. Not only are they demeaning the hardships and experiences of an increasingly large percentage of Americans, but they're smugly patting themselves on the back at the same time.

On the other hand, there is a valid point to be made that poverty is a problem all over the world. But that fact doesn't in any way make the difficulties facing poor Americans any less difficult, and for anyone to imply that one matters while the other doesn't is horrifically short-sighted.

Answer 2

I think we are in denial!
People think of street people when you talk poverty.
Many of them are alcoholics or drug-addicts.
They're just the tip of the ice-berg, the visible minority.

A lot of working people are squeezed between rent,
& the cost of fuel/power, & food is the only adjustable.
So people are mal-nourished & under-nourished.
Both parents are working, kids go to school hungry.
People get laid-off, run up credit cards, get evicted.
It's very hard to get back on the round-about.

Answer 3

Sorry from my experience here in the U.S, a poor person has a cell phone and may be eligible for food stamps.

In third world countries, I saw people digging through cow dump to find scrimps.

Answer 4

yes they are

and about poverty here in the US too

I have seen it here and around the world and it sucks...i have partially lived it too

have a goo dday

Answer 5

I think we have to hit the big celebs who are going over seas to adopt. I think it is discusting that our U.S. of A. kids are being passed over.

Answer 6

I was hungry today, but then I ate something and now I feel better. I helped to solve hunger in America. People are so hungry, they are fat. You're funny. What's your angle?

Answer 7

amen!! not ignorant,just in denial. if people make pretend its not there,well then,its not there. its a shame...