"The Rich & The Rest of Us": Perilous Poverty

"America's elite understands that today's poor are a potential powerhouse." (87). I decided to choose this passage because it seemed to me a little complex. When I first read it I thought, 'How can a population so poor, even presumed weak by most Americans, become powerful?' At the same time, it's a passage that I believe can be broken down so that anyone can understand it.

One issue that I decided to talk about is how poverty is depicted in politics. It's almost as if it's taboo. Here is an article that touches on the subject:

http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/tag/2012-election/

The just of the article is this: The economy is in crisis. With every election comes a "new hope"; a more unified nation. What's not on the forefront during election time is poverty. It's just not something that seen as a priority in politics, no matter the political party. I know a lot of people would argue that the Democratic Party is "for the people, by the people" or what have you, but in reality, what has EITHER party truly done for the impoverished citizens of America? Most have shunned and demeaned them. The people of America want solutions to poverty and the only way to do that is to make sure that the president is addressing these issues. According the the article, "Speaking up for the poor is not only vital, but it is a winning argument that resonates with a majority of Americans who want to find viable solutions". How much longer can the issue of poverty be ignored?

To sum everything up, the only way to keep the elite on top is by keeping the poor people poor and uneducated, especially when it comes to the root of their poverty.

Intro to the Oakland article response essay

        In the city of Oakland, violence is prevalent. While many believe that external factors are to blame for violence, some believe that internal factors are the culprit. One's environment can impact a person's behavior, but what about the issues that wage war within the mind of that person? In actuality, both factors coincide with one another, thus making them both the cause of violence. Although this notion sounds plausible, in order to solve an issue of this complexity, one must first be willing to understand the issue.