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Rhetorical Analysis Of Poverty

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I’m here today to make the case that poverty is not a character flaw. That seems like an easy pill to swallow, we’re all familiar with the cycle of poverty, putting the main focus on the person; they say that poverty is generational, it’s behavioural, etc. But that isn’t true, poverty is a system controlled by the government. Poverty is created. I’m going to be discussing Paul Kivel’s buffer zone theory. Paul Kivel is an educator, writer, and activist who describes the buffer zone as “a role that some people perform through their work that helps the system run smoothly and without change”. I can tell you from first hand account that social services, and government assistance are a means to control people and prevent unrest.

There are 3 functions …show more content…
There’s a chance for everyone right? If we only work hard enough. If we have hope and act accordingly why can’t we move up an economic class? We believe this rhetoric because it gives us something to lose. Without something to lose, you would sit down next to that beggar on the corner and scream your head off as well because we’re climbing an endless uphill battle at the top there’s a comfortable life, and at the bottom there’s reality. When I worked at the community centre I had my own badge, my own little office, and a set of keys. I had power. Service users would come in all day and tell me why they deserved food again when their records stated they had already picked up food this month, they would bring their screaming babies and a bag full of all their possessions to ask me for food and 2 tokens to get to a shelter, and I had the power to decide who could have it and who couldn't. To be honest It depended on what mood I was in that day, if I had seen you already this week, or if I just didn’t like your tone. I was 18, poor, working here 9 hours a day for $0 but I got to act as some moral gatekeeper. That is the experience of having to use social services, you have to beg and sell yourself to someone just as hungry as you. Sometimes you get what you want and most times you do not, this is how we keep hope alive. “Keeping hope alive” is the second function of the Buffer zone. …show more content…
The government employs thousands of people in controlling professions. People living in poverty are able to help themselves they are perfectly capable to make decisions and provide for themselves-with the opportunity to do so. There is a place for social services but to give some power and control back to the people, we need to give them tools and resources, not scrutiny. I want to end my time with you on a positive note, recently the ontario government employed a basic income pilot project. The project will run for 3 years and they’re going to-hang onto your seats-give poor people thousands of dollars with no questions asked. Yes, for 3 years residents in Hamilton,Thunder bay, and Lindsay will be given a basic income no questions asked the only criteria is be 18-64 years of age and make under $34,000 a year (as a single person). The pilot project has been running for almost a year and no one has died or gone bankrupt as a result, amazing. Participants will receive up to $1400 a month and an additional $500 for those with disabilities that money is not a lot but it’s value is priceless, the money is autonomy, it symbolizes control over your own

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