How would poverty in western society be explained?

Question

And how does poverty produce inequality in western society?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

spiritual poverty = e.g. consumerism (wants over needs)

educational poverty =  e.g. people get degrees and can't use them

or some children still can't read

financial poverty = unbalanced distribution of wealth

security poverty = some people can't afford a house or some people are having their hosue reposessed

emotional/mental poverty = some people can't cope with stress/pressures of progressive life.

Answer 2

I think, that you have to look at the USA as isolated incident with 40% living in poverty and 5% owning almost all the wealth. If you look at Northern European countries, there is no real poverty like we have in the USA.

Answer 3

mismanagement of funds...from top to bottom..

Answer 4

Poverty is relative. What are you comparing with is important to point out.

Answer 5

Thanks Shannon, you said it in a nutshell...

Answer 6

Hi,

        It can be explained in terms of relative poverty rather than absolute poverty.

Answer 7

People are no Longer Innovative or willing to take the Risk to become Enterprising on their own.  Small Businesses are run over by the Larger Corporations that prefer Cheap labor and outsource jobs that used to pay well.

It has always been those in power unwilling to share power and prefer to micromanage every aspect of an employees life. There really was a time when employers felt an obligation to keep their employees.  Now, there is no Loyalty to the employee or employer and people are not expected to advance or retire.  Enron and the Unions are a perfect example of it, as they Stole the Pensions of those employees and got a slap on the wrists.  There is No Trust.

Poverty is to some degree a frame of mind as people are encouraged to do as little as possible and Not to Excell or take pride in what they do.

Answer 8

I believe it is because of the Western mindset.  Basically, we believe that everyone is responsible for themselves, and no one should have to give a d**n about anyone else beside themselves.

I'm not saying anything is inherently wrong with that mindset, but at the same rate, those who need government assistance are not always as horrible as most of us believe.

Our capatilistic society believes we are responsible only to ourselves for our financial being.  That's fine and all, but that's an assumption based on that all of us are of equal abilities and intelligence.  We also base that on that all of us are of equal psychological wellness, and are all perfectly able to go out and take risks, to do what we want at all costs, and with no encumberances.

Any family with children can tell you that this is not always the case.  Any single mother whose ex is a deadbeat can testify.  Anyone who works two or three jobs to make ends meet, but can't get a better job because the employer thinks they're lower than scum can back this up.

On top of that, even though there are statistics to refute this, people still believe that anyone in need is a deadbeat that just doesn't want to work.

All these things added together make for a fertile pot of idiocy and prejudice.  Those who have believe everyone can have.  And we don't give a d**n who can't because we simply believe they're just "lazy."