How come poverty exists in the richest nation on earth?

Answer 1

Poverty, In my opinion not only comes from lack of money but a lack of education. Not always but in some cases poverty is also a result of people getting hooked on drugs, losing there job and either living in the ghetto or just homeless. My church does outreaches to the homeless every month, and I've found Some homeless people did honestly lose there jobs, and then feel like they don't want to take the chance of losing another job and embarrassing themselves in front of family and friends, and simply don't want to face failure again. If its from lack of Education it's more than likely they dropped out or got caught up in drugs in school and or just didn't care about there grades or there future at the time. Also, by no way an I trying to rip minorities in this, but sometimes it can be the case that people have immigrated into The United States, and the country of there decent didn't have as many education standards putting them behind in the United States. Those are a few ways I believe poverty hits, there are a few other ways but those are the ones i wanted to refer to.

Answer 2

We are a supply & demand nation that is raised on the ideals of Capitalism & the idea that to gain money/status is the key to power. Not all people on the street are there because they could not make it in life. Some actually choose the street. Has hard as that may be to swallow, some choose to make their living by asking of others and not working.

As long as one person is going to make money, another is going to lose it. It is how each decides to handle that change that determines their position in life. Poverty is a monetary level that is decided by national averages, current unemployment rates, and ability of a family to provide for itself on a minimum wage job. Depending on your area & your overhead, someone living at a poverty income level can still lead a nice life.

I have been at the poverty line for the last 7 yrs since getting out of the military. I decided to join the starving student circus & the choices that I made while in that position have given me a chance to make much more than the poverty line.

The haves & havenots exists everywhere but the fact that we have financial extremes such as we due just tend to highlight the problems.

This is not to say that I would have us continue to give to other nations instead of finally providing for those at home first!!!!

Answer 3

Poverty is relative. By the standards of India, no one is poor in the US. The usual definition of abject poverty used in develping countries is $1 per day of income. I am sure that no one is that poor in the US. They would be dead since that is not enough to feed yourself.

In India, about 80% of the people live on less than $2 per day. Even the richest 10%, have an average income of less that $7,000.

The poverty line used in the US is an income of about $9,000 per year for an individual. By that definition, the richest 10% in India would be considered poor in the US.

I think what you really ought to be concerned about is the very unequal income distribution in the US rather than those living in poverty. They are two different things.

Answer 4

Capitalism is a two edged sword. It rewards those who produce the most and punish those who produce the least. Capitalism is the reason that we're the richest nation on earth. It also explains poverty.

Answer 5

People live in poverty in every nation on earth. Some are victims of circumstance, some are lazy, some are uneducated, etc. etc. etc. There has always been and will always be, the 'have' and the 'have-nots.' It's a matter of being just the way things are, and has nothing to do with what country you live in.

Answer 6

Oh, my gosh! It is hard to believe that you are unable to turn on the light and look around to see the reason why. We are far better off than any country in the world. And poverty, believe it or not is mostly by choice. If you want to be poor, do not educate yourself. Do not try to work at anything. Of course the exception to the rule is the mentally and truly physically challenged, and for the most part, if there is someone working on their behalf, there is aid. Of course the aid keeps them monetarily at the poverty level, but they are privy to health care and to getting their needs met. A lot of us came from a lower economic status. However, through diligent work we were able to rise above that.

Answer 7

Just the nature of a free market economy. I'm thankful that poverty in the USA isn't as bad as poverty in other countries... even communist countries.

Answer 8

too many illegal immigarnts lowering wages for the rest of us.Also too much so-called 'cultural diversity' meaning too many minorites in this country who don't always care for one amother as opposed to Korea or Japan or the scadianavion countries as well. The nations with the most equality are also the ones with the most ethnic homogenitry as well.

Answer 9

Because the rich control the people in poverty.

Answer 10

we are a capitalist country!