Poverty is a growing problem, not only in third world countries but in the U.S. as well. Although the U.S. is one of the richest counties in the world, wealth disparities continue to increase as many Americans feel their plight of poverty becomes endless. Many impoverished children grow up with a hopeless mentality and therefore do not apply themselves in school. Sports and music are the only avenues many of these children feel will rid them of their many hardships. Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, poverty has grabbed new attention in the U.S.

There is renewed interest in anti-poverty legislation, but will more mandates from the Government help the situation?

The success of anti-poverty social programs is often defined in many ways; however, it is always described in some type of economic form. Looking at this issue strictly through monetary accrual and other economic forms does not always show the most accurate picture. Assessing the human impact of policy change requires more than the assessment of economic outcomes; it requires knowing about the resources of beneficiaries of social services and their conditions of life from various perspectives.

We must begin striving to understand the socio-cultural aspects of people�s lives that create the whole person. This in turn evaluates the quality of life of an individual, which varies from person to person.

Until this occurs, we will continue to be left with the question that former Congressman from Minnesota, Paul Wellstone raised in Congress: �Has reducing welfare rolls led to a reduction in poverty?�

How does one begin to answer Congressman Wellstone�s question?

Generally, there are two approaches:
1. Strictly focus on the reduction of welfare rolls; or,
2. Focus on an individual�s quality of life as the previous paragraph mentioned.

It is much easier to use the first approach, but it is not nearly as accurate. Policymakers must begin to seriously answer these questions rather than pander voters by telling us what they think we want to hear. This American plight cannot be polarized any more, and future solutions must be free of financial special interests and political party influence.

When the U.S. Federal Government waged war on poverty in the 1960s, poverty was defined by income. Therefore, the obvious solution was to correct the income shortfall: POVERTY + MORE MONEY = RELIEF.

Today�s poverty obstacles are not that simple. Decades of research and experience with anti-poverty programs have made it clear that poverty involves more complex, interrelated and sometimes-intractable socioeconomic, family, and individual issues. Continuously allocating millions of dollars into long-term government funded programs is not the absolute solution.

In reality, this money put into additional long-term social programs have in many ways led to increased poverty as well as state and federal deficits. The key word here is long-term.

John F. Kennedy once stated in the early 1960s: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.�

The more long-term social programs are increased, the more chances generations of Americans will continue to be trapped in a continuous cycle of becoming more needy, dependent, and poor, which does not help the individual, their family, the American public, and certainly not the United States economy.

The old saying �If it ain�t broke don�t fix it� does not apply here. The system has been broken for decades now. It is about time we fix it.

Rogette N. Harris is a political analyst with a M.B.A. and M.P.A who believes solving the poverty crisis has to go beyond politics.

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Past articles by
Rogette Harris

Race causes tension (Nov 2001)

"Double Standards Strikingly Suppress Race Relations!" (May 2007)

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IMPRESSIONS

"Problems of Poverty Persistent Past Politics"

Rogette N. Harris Columnist

Race causes tension (Nov 2001)

"Double Standards Strikingly Suppress Race Relations!" (May 2007)

Rogette N. Harris
Columnist