A Poverty Stricken America

Poverty is a growing issue in America and welfare reform is constantly debated every election season. But do you know what poverty really is? What does it mean to be below the poverty line?

Do you know what the government counts as income when calculating poverty levels? Everything. They include "earnings, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, veterans' payments, survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, assistance from outside the household, and other miscellaneous sources."

According to the United States Census website, a four person family with one child under 18 is considered to be in poverty if their total income is under $19,803. A family of six with 2 children under 18- $26,573. For two people, say a father and his college age daughter, the income is set at $12,714.

My dad makes $14,000 a year working as an assistant manager of a gas station. He spends 9 or 10 hours a day at work, usually 6 days a week. He fixes peoples brakes, pumps their tires, and gives them their 4 cents change from a $60.00 gas bill for their Hummer. I work at Pizza Hut. I say, "carryout or delivery?" all day and get paid more than my dad does. But not by much. My family and I have been on food stamps four separate years and my parents have been using LIHEAP for at least 4 or 6 years. I have been without power, cable, and a phone.

I'm a freshman at West Chester University, which I'm paying about $7,000 a year to attend. Well thank goodness for me, the government is actually paying for it because my EFC (expected family contribution) is a big fat zero. Which is exactly right too, because although my dad would like to give me money so I can go to the movies for the first time in 6 months, he can't because he doesn't have any. This is called being in debt. Do you know what the main cause of debt is for college graduates? Student loans. My dad is 45. He still owes $3,000 in student loans. Just from this year, I have $6,000 in loans which I needed to pay for housing, food, and transportation. I take the SEPTA bus EVERYDAY for an hour each way.

I am from Centre County, Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2003 11% of kids age 5-17 in Centre County are part of families considered to be below the poverty line. The average income of all residents was $37,000. Right now, I am going to school in Chester County. In 2003, 6% of kids were in families below the line and the average income of all residents was $68,000.

What about the other states? Does poverty strike certain areas or states? Check this out:
Connecticut: Poverty children: 9%
State average income: $57,000
South Carolina: Poverty children: 19%
State average income: $38,000
New York: 20%
$44,000
Texas: 20%
$40,000

The question is, what does America do? Millions of people live paycheck to paycheck, with little hope for a college education, or the tools to escape it, while millions of other people face important decisions such as turkey or ham sandwiches for this week's pool party at the beach house. Yes life is not fair but why should some people prosper while others continue to fall, through no fault of their own. Welfare needs to be fixed so that those attempting to live as best they can have the government's assistance, while those who have kids just to receive more benefits can be weeded out.

Resources for You:

U.S. Census
Poverty
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html
Housing
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing.html
Health Insurance
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthins.html

Food Stamp Program
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/

Federal Student Aid
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/what010.htm

George Bush and Welfare Reform
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/welfarereform/