Brady Kesterholt

SLA 400-01
08/20/2020

What is Poverty and How Does it Affect You?

Poverty is a worldwide issue that affects millions of people; however, this word is also

overused for terms other than financial situations. Poverty can be physical, mental, spiritually.

Poverty in my perspective is a state of being in which a person has no possession not only of

income but also skills that can help them in being able to learn how to provide for themselves or

a family. Catholic social teaching points out that options for the poor and vulnerable ("Seven

Themes of Catholic Social Teaching | USCCB", 2020). This means that as a society the needs of

these people need to come first to show love and have a compassionate and moral culture. In

America, 46.7 million Americans are under the poverty level (Jay Shambaugh, 2020). 14.2% of

the American population is considered poor, but to fall into this category would be a single

individual making less than or equal to 12,760 dollars a year or a family of four making less than

26,200 dollars a year as their gross incomes (Jay Shambaugh, 2020). With most of these

numbers, many retired Americans age 65 or older fall into this category because their only

income is social security. A Lot of Americans who are retired live paycheck to paycheck on

social security because they either wasted their savings money too fast or they did not have an

employment opportunity to have money put away for them. For example, a 401k, Roth saving

account or a 301b account where their employer matches a percentage of the money the

employee puts towards retirement.

Poverty is relative because a vast margin of the American population is poor that leads to

less economic growth because fewer jobs are available, more money from the government is

handed out to help these needs of our fellow citizens, which sadly leads to more debt
accumulation and a non-balanced budget. These are just a few examples of why poverty can

impact a great country like America. Imagine the impact on third world countries in Africa,

India, and China and how much their population suffers from poverty.

There can be many circumstances that lead to poverty in America. Three main reasons are lack

of jobs and economic opportunities, lack of education, and inequality along with marginalization

("What are the causes of poverty? Here are 11 of the top reasons", 2020). Lack of job

opportunities leads to man5y American's finding minimum wage jobs or seasonal jobs that pay at

a very low rate. These jobs are not meant to sustain a family but rather prepare teenagers and

young adults for the workforce that is earning an education to enhance their capital to be able to

support a family. Lack of education limits the opportunity for American's to be able to apply and

obtain higher-level jobs. Our school system lacks opportunities for the students to pick a career

choice and take classes that they will be engaged in and thrive in. Inequality is a problem that

roots in some corporations and cities. This does not allow fair play to females who are equally as

educated as men, or a person of a different race or ethnicity earns a job. Lacking the right

company culture can lead to job openings but not filling the need because of an unequal

application process. These circumstances raise the unemployment rate and the poverty rate in

America. Immigration also impacts poverty in the United States, 17.3 percent of all immigrants

live in poverty compared to the 14.3 percent of U.S. born citizens ("The Facts on Immigration

Today: 2017 Edition - Center for American Progress", 2020). This data shows that if you

immigrate you are more likely to be poor than an inborn citizen. With this data my view of the

U.S immigration policy is that there is reform to be made to shorten the process to become a

citizen, however, there are steps that need to be taken to become a citizen and allow our culture

and their culture to melt and become one. Shortening the process would cost less money for our
government and the immigrants, this extra money could be used to help the poor all over the

country.

With the presidential election coming up and looking at Joe Biden's stance on

immigration was a lot of undoing what current president Donald Trump put in place. Joe Biden

would allow children and their families over the border together instead of separating them along

with reenacting the dream bill placed in by former President Obama ("Donald Trump

presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia", 2020). He would also declare the national emergency

at the border finished ("Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia", 2020).

President Trump would continue to build a wall on our southern border, He enabled the Deferred

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and he is also working towards immigration

reform called for a transition to a merit-based immigration plan ("Donald Trump presidential

campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia", 2020). This plan allows for merit-based citizenship for those

illegal immigrants that follow the laws in our country.

By looking at both candidates' plans for immigration and how that can affect poverty, the

question of who is responsible to help those in need is the Christian church and all Americans. It

should be the responsibility and the loving actions of Christians that help those who are in need.

Possible solutions to alleviate poverty would be less job discrimination, churches offering free

meals, and financial lessons along with a resource to enhance a person's education. The church is

so vast, and we can all play a part in finding a way to help those in need whether they are a

stranger or a friend. The presidential candidates' stances on welfare and public assistance are far

off from each other. President Trump is focused on jobs and the economy, he has already

generated 6 million new jobs ("Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia",

2020). The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point in 50 years. Wages have grown at
more than 3% for 10 months in a row ("Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020 -

Ballotpedia", 2020). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth

has soared under President Trump, top 3% in 4 quarters under his administration ("Donald

Trump presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia", 2020). He shows that increasing jobs and

wages should help those in poverty get above the poverty level. Joe Biden's stance is Increase

minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour and benefits, increase spending to all welfare programs,

and fix the infrastructure in America which can lead to more job opportunities ("Donald Trump

presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia", 2020).

I have been blessed to grow up in a household with two hard-working parents that work

in the healthcare field and own a small business. Poverty has never affected me personally;

however, I have been on a service trip and mission trip in Pittsburgh that has shown me how

blessed I am and how I can make a difference to those who are in a tough place in life. While

cleaning the streets I was able to talk to a homeless man about Christ and eventually bought him

some lunch and was able to make an impact on that man's day. All problems can be solved if we

all love each other and lend a helping hand and it is hard to build a house with only one person

moving the bricks, but if we all carry one brick the house is complete. It takes all people on this

planet to change the culture and attitude to helping those in need.

 Work Cited

Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020 - Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. (2020). Retrieved 13

August 2020, from https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2020.

Jay Shambaugh, a. (2020). Who is poor in the United States? A Hamilton Project annual report.
Brookings. Retrieved 13 August 2020, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/who-is-
poor-in-the-united-states-a-hamilton-project-annual-report/#:~:text=The%20official
%20poverty%20measure%20is,29.3%20million%20to%2046.7%20million.

Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching | USCCB. Usccb.org. (2020). Retrieved 13 August
2020, from https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-
teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching.

The Facts on Immigration Today: 2017 Edition - Center for American Progress. Center for
American Progress. (2020). Retrieved 13 August 2020, from
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2017/04/20/430736/facts-
immigration-today-2017-edition/#:~:text=Fewer%20than%201%20in%205,for%20the
%20U.S.%2Dborn%20population.

What are the causes of poverty? Here are 11 of the top reasons. Concern Worldwide. (2020).
Retrieved 13 August 2020, from https://www.concernusa.org/story/causes-of-poverty/.