...of the United States Josh Wainwright Sociology 101: Principles of Sociology- Word Count: 2111 Abstract The purpose of this essay is to express how to address current issues in today’s society. The issues that I have to address are poverty, crime, education, health and a 5th problem of your choice. The 5th problem that I chose to address was jobs. I go about addressing these issues as if you were the President of the United States. This essay gives I a chance to express how you feel about these issues and what would you do to fix these problems. As President of the United States, it is my duty to address problems in this American society. The five main problem that I want to address are poverty, crime, education, health and jobs. These are important issues that I am working on fixing immediately. My plan is to dramatically decrease the poverty and crime rate. I am also going to improve education, health insurance and job opportunities. Poverty America’s poverty rate is too high. Let’s look back on 2013 poverty rate. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2013, there were 45.3 million people in poverty. For the third consecutive year, the number of people in poverty at the...
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...households were food insecure. More and more people are relying on food banks and pantries. (“11 facts about hunger in the USA”). It may be surprising to some people that such a problem is happening in the United States; the land of freedom and opportunity. There are many different programs in the USA that try to help decrease food insecurity, however, the most influential program in...
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...Poverty in the United States “Financial writer Tim Harford, author of the new book The Undercover Economist Strikes Back, says the poverty line for a single American in 2012 was $30.52 per day. But Harford, says it's also about how people view themselves and how they're viewed by other people.” In my opinion unless you have experienced living in poverty you can never truly understand it. Poverty is a much more complex than what people think it is. It is not only about whether you can afford the basic necessities to survive or support a particular standard of living. Poverty is a common topic always argued between the have and have not. I feel that those who have should not judge the people that does not. Referring back to what Tim Harford...
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...Poverty in the U.S. Abstract Poverty in the United States is rising at an alarming rate. One in every eight residents are homeless or living at the poverty level according to the Census Bureau. There are several programs or strategies that need to be developed by the Government to try and put an end or at least have a resolution in place to help our citizens. We are one of the richest countries, but there is more money being spent on wars, than there is to make sure people have a roof over their head. “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and all forms of human life.” (John F. Kennedy) We the United States of America need to make a commitment to ending poverty and creating strategies and guidelines in order to achieve this commitment. Putting an end to poverty will require responsibility and improved choices by individuals and more structured policies from the government. With the poverty rate remaining at a high rate of 15 percent for all Americans and 21.96 percent for children, there should be more policies being implemented and in place to help put an end to the suffering. Socrates states in his quote “It is not living that matter, but living rightly”. Living rightly would mean to look at the bigger picture and determine where cuts need to be made, and what the government can do to decrease the poverty level until it no longer exist. How can we be considered one of the richest countries...
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...Eradication of Poverty and Extreme Hunger Not everyone is born into a rich family. Those lucky enough to have been born into one have a responsibility to help those not so blessed. The United Nations' job is just that. They are an international agency whose aim is to eliminate poverty, illiteracy, and disease, stop environmental destruction, and encourage democratic rights and freedoms. Poverty and extreme hunger are something that are affecting most country in the world; no matter how big or small, rich or poor. This issue causes the most pain today, and is also the biggest threat to a person's future. Eradicating poverty and extreme hunger are the top priority of the United Nations in the 21st century because it will reduce the amount of malnutrition in people and improve their education. One of the reasons why poverty and extreme hunger must be eradicated is because without it there would be a dramatic drop in the number of malnourished people around the world. Poverty and hunger can affect young and old and is the biggest contributor to malnutrition. This can be seen in the Central American country of Guatemala. The Guatemala Poverty Assessment states that, "There is a strong correlation between poverty and malnutrition, as four fifths of malnourished children are poor" (Guatemala Poverty). In politics, a 66% super majority is rarely required when deciding on an issue because of the difficulty in achieving it. Therefore, when a supermajority is achieved, it can always...
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...Vulnerable Populations BSHS/320 The United States of America is the place known to many as the land of the free, home of the brave, and the place to start a better life. With any place that has good qualities, some have not so good qualities. The homeless population in the United States is at a staggering high, and many individuals are suffering because many lack employment/financial resources, housing resources, support from family and friends, and others negligence; such as natural disasters or fires. Homeless individuals may have no other choice than to live on the streets, trains, and alley ways to name a few places where homeless people seek shelter. The history of homelessness, social problems, demographics, common clinical issues, and intervention/future interventions will be explored to determinate how homelessness is caused and how it can diminish with time. Homelessness has been around for some time and is increasing with time. Homelessness was noticed soon after the Great Depression, which caused many people to lose his or hers home. “During the Great Depression in the 1930, many families were no longer able to afford their homes and It is thought that over two million people were homeless at this time and suffered severely from hunger and extreme poverty” (American History Of Homelessness, 2011). The Great Depression was an era of life where the stock market crashed and many where out of jobs and many lost their home. “The Great Depression began in October 1929...
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...because around 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned, and ready access to contraceptives does not pose any health risks. So, consulting your doctor for a prescription isn’t vital.” It would decrease unplanned pregnancies, also it allows people below the poverty level to obtain birth control without doctor office fees, and will decrease abortions among teens. Birth control over the counter will decrease unplanned pregnancies, it would be easy for them to buy. It helps when people have unplanned sex and they don’t have the material to be protect them. Half of the pregnancies in the United States...
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...Vulnerable Populations BSHS/320 The United States of America is the place known to many as the land of the free, home of the brave, and the place to start a better life. With any place that has good qualities, some have not so good qualities. The homeless population in the United States is at a staggering high, and many individuals are suffering because many lack employment/financial resources, housing resources, support from family and friends, and others negligence; such as natural disasters or fires. Homeless individuals may have no other choice than to live on the streets, trains, and alley ways to name a few places where homeless people seek shelter. The history of homelessness, social problems, demographics, common clinical issues, and intervention/future interventions will be explored to determinate how homelessness is caused and how it can diminish with time. Homelessness has been around for some time and is increasing with time. Homelessness was noticed soon after the Great Depression, which caused many people to lose his or hers home. “During the Great Depression in the 1930, many families were no longer able to afford their homes and It is thought that over two million people were homeless at this time and suffered severely from hunger and extreme poverty” (American History Of Homelessness, 2011). The Great Depression was an era of life where the stock market crashed and many where out of jobs and many lost their home. “The Great Depression began in October 1929...
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...hour to 7.25 dollars per hour in 2009. In President Obama’s recent State of the Union Address he states, “Working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher.” He hopes to raise the minimum wage by 2014 to 9 dollars per hour. Following the President’s support on minimum wage increase Sen. Tom Harkin (Democrat-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (Democrat-California) formalized a proposal known as S.460, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 to increase the minimum wage by 2015 to $10.10. This proposal includes increasing the minimum wage (in three incremental increases of $.95) and then indexing it to inflation (“as prices rise, so would the minimum wage” (Cooper, Hall 2013)). Also, the tipped minimum wage (the minimum wage paid to workers who earn a portion of their wages in tips) would be increased in $0.85 increments from its current value of $2.13 per hour, where it has languished since 1991, until it reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage (Cooper, Hall 2013). However, in the current tough economic times many people argue that an increased minimum wage will only hurt and that the minimum wage should be abolished altogether. We will further look into controversies on the federal minimum wage in the United States and offer some insight into what our current economy needs. Since July 29, 2009 the federal minimum wage in the United States has remained at $7.25 per hour for non-tipped workers and 2.13 per hour...
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...Anthony Giovenco Political Science Inequality Paper 12-18-14 The Effects of Wealth Inequality in the United States Wealth inequality in the United States has grown tremendously since 1970. The United States continuously reveals higher rates of inequality as a result of perpetual support for free market capitalism. The high rates of wealth inequality cause the growing financial crisis to persist, lower socio-economic mobility, increase national poverty, and have adverse effects on health and well being. There is no doubt that wealth inequality in America has been escalating quickly; the portion of total income earned by the top one percent has doubled since the beginning of the 1970’s. The wealthy are the main beneficiaries regarding income inequality. In the latest consensus of wealth distribution, the top one percent of Americans owned thirty five percent of the nations private wealth, and the top ten percent took home about fifty percent of all income in 2012. This figure is greater than the bottom 90 percent combined. The question commonly asked concerning this matter: How and why is this becoming so quickly unequal is to be examined. First, we must explain what is meant by the term “wealth.” Wealth is the collection of the assets people own. This includes homes, stocks, savings for pension, and bank accounts, minus all existing debts. The main issue regarding wealth inequality is income inequality. Income equality has grown increasingly in the past 30 years....
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...The United State Government involvement in the U.S. economy seldom produces a positive economic outcome. The Government’s decisions as to where they direct their spending can cause varied results not only within the economic realm, but towards other areas of American life as well. President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty movement is an example of how government spending can have a chain-reaction effect on the way Americans live their daily lives. Government involvement in the oil economy in the mid to late 1900’s greatly altered the invisible hand of the oil market, and as a result, has had incredible consequences to future natural gas rates. Recent funding toward environmentalist movements and the tariff on Chinese Solar-Panels have led...
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...Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Introduction Is the rising rate of childhood obesity within the United States affected by the food stamp program? This is the question that formulated the basis of my research. Looking at the rising statistics of obesity rates within America’s youth and researching why the weight of the United States community is significantly passing those of its surrounding countries. In researching this topic I hope to determine if the food stamp program is in any way responsible for this increasing health issue. As the years progress the health of today’s youth is rapidly decreasing. Although the lacks of exercise and poor food influences serve as a high influence on this issue, researching this topic has shown that the food stamp program has helped contribute to the issue at hand. Presenting Argument and Supportive Research To be classified as an overweight child, the body mass index is in the 85th percentile and the ratio of weight to height is unhealthy (Baun, 2011 p. 623). This number has increased drastically among America’s youth over the past decade. As obesity increases among youth, there is a decrease in physical activity as well as healthy eating habits. Healthy eating choices are the focus of my research, as I concentrate on the eating habits of children participating in America’s Food stamp Program. The heaviest children...
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...dinner ready on the table, a bed with fresh linens awaited your tired and heavy eyes, and for the rest of the evening and into the night you slept on a pillow of dreams. This is in essence the American dream is it not? To have the basic needs that to some may come as a surprise, many Americans do not have. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “In January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States” (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2015). Many people would be in agreement that the above noted agenda is fairly normal; shelter, food, clothing, education, and family are all blessings and amenities that we take for granted but nonetheless are things that every individual deserves to have. Unfortunately, these are things that many people must suffer without. Scholarly research that spans over the course of two decades has continually and firmly established the emergence and persistence of indigent and homeless individuals in the United States. Our growing understanding of homelessness comes from literature that emphasizes characteristics of the homeless and the factors that can be held responsible. Unfortunately, this research indicates that homelessness is a product of the individual or his or her characteristics and not due to structural or community circumstances. If the literature where to...
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...Cause and Effect of Poverty Barbara Virgo Strayer University Abstract Over the past twenty five years it seem as if poverty has become an Institution in the United States of America, with so much structural changes, economic structuring such as the shifting of manufacturing employment, the high rate of mental illness, the increasing high school drop out rate, the skyrocketing rates of incarceration, with single parenting on the rise and most alarmingly is the amounts of children living in poverty. The risk of not working or working low paying jobs is essential for poverty overload that can lead to the breakdown of family system and the lack of willpower to even address this issue. In the United States years of poverty will “contributes to financial hardships, inadequate housing, substandard schools, and deteriorating neighborhood”. (Dashiff, 2009, p. 23-32). Poverty is voiceless yet powerful enough to cause enormous burden on those that are trapped without any means of escaping its fury. The Unites States Census Bureau revealed that poverty is estimated to affect over thirty five million people, including thirteen million of which are children. Poverty is becoming an epidemic problem in the United States of America; it is unfortunate that even though the United States is a very rich developed country it is associated with so many people living in poverty, deplorable, destitute conditions (there is so much blame to go around.) Poverty is when the basic human...
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...Poverty "Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit." -Eli Khamarov Should this quote be taken seriously? Should the upper classes in the United States blame those born into poverty for their own misfortune? In this cause and affect essay, I will take you through the process of what we define as "poor" and how we are dealing with it. There is no known pinpoint to what actually causes poverty, for it can be a number of things. You could be born into it, thus making it hard for you to get a job, without a job you wouldn't be able to pay for schooling, without a high school degree you wouldn't be able to invest in a career, without a career you wouldn't be able to support your family, and by not being able to support your family you are making it harder for them to break out of poverty. It is a never-ending cycle that is doomed to repeat itself. The definition of poverty in the dictionary states poverty as "the state of being poor; lack of the means of providing material needs and comforts." (H.E.D.) People who are considered "poor" or "in poverty", are people who can not provide sufficient food, clothing or shelter for their families. Although there are far worse cases of poverty around the world, in the United States people who are either single parents or parents who work for minimum wage are considered poor. Even people do have food, clothing, shelter, and make more then minimum wage but can't afford luxury are people who are considered poor. Poverty is a...
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