National Disgrace

National Disgrace

Poverty is defined as the state of living without the essential resources needed to prevent a family from falling beneath the poverty level. Poverty level is the minimum income needed by a family to sustain an adequate diet based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Minimum Nutritional Standards (Valerie, 225). Often associated with need, hardship and lack of resources across a wide range of difficult circumstances, poverty has become a growing issue in our society demanding the attention of every American citizen. Poverty has affected the lives of many American homes, families, and individuals; creating a stigma that prevents these individuals from escaping the incessant poverty cycle (Valerie , 227). When individuals think of poverty, they acknowledge it occurring only throughout third world countries. Most individuals fail to realize that statistics proved nearly 36 million Americans lived in poverty in 2003. These numbers continue to rise steadily each year, leaving families afraid that they will not have enough money to put food on the table (Blanco 1). While wealthy Americans have received greater pays, poverty rates have continued to rise to an extremely high level. Many of working class individuals do not consider themselves living in poverty, therefore failing to see its devastating effects. This national disgrace, affecting millions of people across the country, has done nothing more than to hurt America’s image that she is the land of opportunity for a better life. Americans must recognize the growing poverty problem in order to preserve the American reputation and save those individuals entangled in the welfare web.

To better understand the poverty problem afflicting many Americans, one must understand the term “poverty”. The term poverty is used to describe the deprivation of material needs, essentials goods, and necessary services. Such necessities include clothing, housing, nutrition, healthcare, and job security. As these items are mentioned, one must keep in mind that those in poverty might have a few of the necessities, but in terms of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Standards, those in poverty do not have enough resources to place them within the designated standard of living. Another use of the term poverty stands as a description for economic circumstances amongst different social classes, families, and individuals. (Wikipedia) In economic circumstances, two types of poverty are considered: the