A Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

To everyone who has viewed Poverty in America, we thank you for your time. Whether you've visited us once or many times since our inception, you have contributed to the continued existence of a resource for us all to use...hopefully for many years to come.

The staff here would like to wish everyone a safe, blessed holiday season. We will be taking some time off over the next few days, but look for more new content coming in the new year!

*On that note, our staff will not be answering emails during this time, nor will we be actively seeking new content. Rest assured once we are back "in the office", we will respond to any requests or concerns as soon as possible!*

AUTHORS WANTED

I am currently looking for interested parties to write for Poverty in America. Much of the content which was originally scheduled for inclusion here has been posted on other sites by its original authors. If you are interested in contributing, please contact me through the site.

-SouthGA

Poverty:2019

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/10/759512938/u-s-census-bureau-reports-poverty-rate-down-but-millions-still-poor

What I see as the most important tidbit to take home here:

"The Census Bureau also found that there was little change in income inequality last year. The top 20 percent of households received more than half of all income. "

Yep, poor people run the world.

Not!

-David

The Homeless Boulders

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/09/25/us/san-francisco-homeless-boulders-trnd/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F

I can completely empathize with needing to stop gang violence...but I can not understand how stopping people from pitching tents will help in the long term. The folks here have been driven out of areas little by little, with no real reason or rhyme besides they are "in the way".

We're better than this, America.

-David

The Rural Ghetto

"The Okeechobee Center is part of a little-known government initiative that houses more than 400,000 low-income families in about 13,000 privately owned properties across rural America, from Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta to California’s Central Valley. Built with federal loans, the properties are intended to address a shortage of quality, affordable housing in rural areas, with some specifically dedicated to agricultural workers."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/rats-roaches-mold-under-usda-s-watch-some-rural-public-n1057016

A very interesting read about some of the the most underserved in rural America. Yet again, private+public does not equal success.

There are no simple answers...but there is also no excuse for this squallor.

-David

UAW Strikes....

"GM says its average hourly employee earns about $90,000 per year, not including benefits. But the number of hourly workers at GM has declined sharply in recent decades, due to a combination of automation, lost market share and outsourcing."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/business/uaw-gm-strike-general-motors/index.html

I get it. You've got to make a stand. But when someone is making big money to do some very basic work....it gives everyone else a bad reputation.

-David

Never Forget...

9/11/01... everything we knew as a nation changed.

From all of us here at "PIA", a heartfelt thank you to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice...and for those who continue to put their lives on the line so we may be free.

-David

It's coming...

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/09/10/health/carlsbad-new-mexico-hospital-eprise/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F

It's going to get worse before it gets better...

-David w

A Major Change to the Poverty Index

https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/09/04/poverty-safety-net-benefits-000944

A good read. The poverty index, for lack of a better term, had been struggling for decades to keep up with the realities of life in America. Though some may disagree, I personally believe the changes President Obama put in place were a step in the right direction. President Trump has chosen to go another direction.... which may slowly but surely leave many without the help they so desperately need.

-David

Happy Labor Day

From all of us here at Poverty in America, we hope your Labor Day is a time of peaceful satisfaction in the work it takes to work toward the "American Dream".  We thank you for your patronage here: each page view leads us closer to letting the world know the truth behind what is poverty in America.

"No work is insignificant.  All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." - MLK, Jr.

Many blessings, to you and yours,

-SGAF

Warren and Crimes of The Poor

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/08/20/politics/elizabeth-warren-criminal-justice-plan/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F

Something that actually makes sense coming from a politician...who woulda thought? Mind you, there is still a long way to go...but doing away with cash bail is a good start!

-David

Anything is Better Than Nothing...

-David

Health Care's Cost to the Elderly Costs Lives

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/08/09/us/elderly-couple-murder-suicide-washington-trnd/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F

"It is very tragic that one of our senior citizens would find himself in such desperate circumstances where he felt murder and suicide were the only option," Sheriff Bill Elfo said in a statement. "Help is always available with a call to 911."

Yeah, 911 isn't always a feasible option... especially if you live in an area which lacks a quality hospital with quality physicians who actually give a crap.

This is happening way too often... healthcare needs to change, and soon. Medicare isn't enough for many of our elders...and the current pseudo private market fails miserably for those outside employer coverage.

-David

You Can't Make This Up...

Yeah, there aren't any poor white kids...

Good attempt at a save, by the way. Didn't really work there Joe, but at least you gave it a try...

-SGAF

Violence, Poverty, and a Week of Tragedy

"If America’s leaders would invest in proven pathways out of poverty, we could radically diminish violence in America.   If America spent as much money offering opportunities to every 16 to 26 year old as we spend locking them up for minor offenses that further cut them off from a positive future, we could end poverty in a generation or two.  When young people find a true pathway to opportunity and a caring community, they become excellent parents determined to give their children the world of opportunities they lacked in their own childhood." -Dorothy Stoneman, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/poverty-gun-violence_b_3528888 We at Poverty in America do not condone violence in any form as a method of solving problems...period. The shootings which have transpired this past week have yet again brought to the forefront the issues which continue to plague our nation. As our leaders continue to give "lip service" to violence...we want to see real change. As of yet, this change has not come...mainly because it is not profitable for those in charge. As the Democratic debates rage on, and the candidates continue to harp on a number of issues which have changed little in the course of the last 20 years...gun control measures continue to be at the forefront. Gun licensing, gun registration, bans or control of "high capacity magazines" and "assault weapons"...the same things which have been touted time and time again...but have never happened. In the areas in which they have happened, little change has been seen...need we mention Chicago again? There has never been a more important time in this country for us to take a stand on the true root cause of violence (gun related or otherwise): mental health and poverty. Those who feel they are abused by the "system", those who feel they are victimized with no way out, those who subscribe to the mindset that the world owes them something they aren't getting. These are the people who cause havoc. These are the people who will stop at nothing to get at what they believe is the "root cause"....whether it's a school, immigrants, LBGT, etc. You will never legislate out hate. You will never legislate out violence. This is especially true when the political establishment does nothing but "fan the flames". When it's "cool" to be hateful, as both parties are promoting right now...it is no wonder there is so much hate in the world. There are no simple answers...but I can promise you the answer definitely does not reside in the political world. -SGAF

First Democratic Presidential Primary Debate

June 26th. Today is the day.  In Miami the "field" finally takes center stage. I think I can speak for us all in saying that regardless of political affiliation, wealth, poverty, etc...this is going to be one interesting debate to watch. The number of candidates, the number of issues to be touched on...the liberal field definitely has their work cut out for them.

From a poverty standpoint, I don't expect to see much progress from this debate. I doubt any meaningful proposals or announcements will headline.  But I think we will see a much clearer picture of what is to come in 2020 and beyond.

Fingers crossed for something good!

SGAF

Another Day (Part 2) (David Logsdon, Guest Contributor)

Note: This is part 2 of a short series by Dave Logsdon. I have not received any further submissions in this series beyond this one as of now...so my assumption is that Dave is continuing to write them. Enjoy, and I will be certain to post additional portions as Dave sends them to me.

Another Day (Part 2)

By David Logsdon

It wasn't long until he found his stopping place. In a small, run down crossroads he saw a hand scrawn sign...

“Help Wanted”

He turned in and spoke with an older man. Weathered and worn, Frank could tell the man had lived a hard life. After explaining his situation to the gentleman, Frank agreed to work for cash at the man's produce stand. Suddenly, though, he realized he had no where to stay...and nothing but a few clothes packed in a suitcase.

“Boy, everything allllright?”

“Yes sir, just trying to figure out what to do about housing?”

“Housing? What the sam thunk is housing?”

“Somewhere to live...”

“Oh...well you don't worry bout that...just follow me...”

Frank followed the old man's station wagon down a dusty red clay road that would rattle even the best teeth straight out of your head. Suddenly, the wagon came to a hault at the dead end. Frank got out, as the old man pointed...

“There she is...you can have her for $100 a month.”

“She” was what appeared to be an old, overgrown sharecropper house.

“Might be a might bit rough, but she's got running water, electricity, and even a toilet. Nobodies lived in it since Mary Beth hung herself on the porch.”

Well that sounds lovely, Frank thought silently to himself. But beggars can't be choosers.

“I'll take it”

“Alright boy, see ya at 7 in the morning....bright and early, ya hear?”

“Yes sir, no problem. Will be there right on time.”

Frank watched the old man drive off into the sunset. Suddenly, he realized he didn't have a key....and then he realized he didn't need one...there was no lock on the door. Silently he entered...almost afraid as if someone was going to be inside...but he was alone. Besides an old couch, and a few other assorted pieces of furniture...he was all alone.

He munched on his cheese crackers while watching the small rabbit eared television that was in the house. Before he knew it...his alarm awakened him from his slumber on the couch...

Time for work.

David “Dave” Logsdon is an independent consultant from southwest Alabama. College educated, and currently looking to pursue a graduate degree after nearly a decade of work, he writes under a pseudonym to ensure his privacy. He does not maintain an online presence. He can be reached through the site on which this article is located for comments or questions.

Memorial Day

For all those who made the ultimate sacrifice...thank you. May God bless your families... freedom is most definitely not free!

Another Day (David Logsdon, Guest Contributor)

A Foreword: In the next few weeks/months, Poverty in America is looking for reader stories, both fiction and non-fiction. What follows is the initial installment in a fiction series by our friend Dave Logsdon.

Another Day (A Short Series)

By David Logsdon

As the sun set on another hot day, Frank looked back at what he had done. The ground before him was clear of the jungle which had been there that morning. As he sat there, alone, he realized just how lucky he was. He could still be stuck with his ex-wife. He could still be stuck doing the same old thing. But he wasn't.

The marriage had turned sour not long after it started. Sometimes marriage changes everything for the better...in this case it didn't.

She got everything. The house. The car. The kids. Probably better that way anyways...the kids didn't want anything to do with him anyways. The real kicker was the child support he was ordered to pay...even though she made WAY more than he did. His lawyer had told him, though, that if he was unemployed there was nothing they could collect. So to really show her, he had just vanished...straight off the map.

He had worked the same warehouse job for 15 years...the day after his divorce he walked out with a box and nothing else.

“Send her whatever's left...she'll get it anyways...”

He hopped in the only possession left to his name...an old Ford truck his Dad had left him at his passing a year prior. With no real direction in mind, he just started driving.

David “Dave” Logsdon is an independent consultant from southwest Alabama. College educated, and currently looking to pursue a graduate degree after nearly a decade of work, he writes under a pseudonym to ensure his privacy. He does not maintain an online presence. He can be reached through the site on which this article is located for comments or questions.

Millennial Mayhem (David Logsdon, Guest Contributor)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

Millennial Mayhem...or Maybe Not

By David Logsdon

A quick note: I am greatly indebted to SGAF for allowing me to voice my opinion and views on this site. It has always been my stance that poverty in America is one of the greatest disservices to the growth and continued expansion of our nation. Lately, it seems that many believe that regardless of party we are on a troubled course. I would not hesitate to agree.

For many years, up in to the early 1900's in fact, those who where in poverty were assisted by private welfare organizations throughout the country. There were homes for unwed mothers, the elderly, the mentally ill...the list goes on. In no way am I condoning the actions of all of these organizations...many were true terrors to behold. But the reality of the matter is that most were able to serve the needs of their clients without placing an undo burden upon society. Many of these organizations operated under the assumption that the government had no business in handling the problem of poverty: and that in turn led to our modern debate...

Who is responsible for the poor: the people of America, or the government of America.

It is my personal belief it is a combination of both. It would be unrealistic to believe that private individuals would be able to handle the current mental and drug health related poverty in America. But it is not outside the scope of the average American to keep the “average poor” in a suitable living situation. Imagine the funds that could be saved by removing the “red tape” from our current welfare state and allowing those in need to receive help directly from the “haves”.

Of course, this would take a major moral change in America...it would take groups coming together to support those who need it...and luckily the “newest” generation seems to be taking note of such an idea. Though it is much too early to really tell, sites like GoFundMe have given hope to the concept of “people helping people” making it back to the forefront of society.

Though we have a long way to go, I am confident that unlike my generation, the “Millennials” and “'90's Babies” will make a change for the better in the world. Though many of their beliefs about government and democracy (or lack thereof) may seem “way off” to folks my age...I truly believe their hearts are in the right place...and that is a great start!

Dave Logsdon is an independent consultant from southwest Alabama. College educated, and currently looking to pursue a graduate degree after nearly a decade of work, he writes under a pseudonym to ensure his privacy. He does not maintain an online presence. He can be reached through the site on which this article is located for comments or questions.

Cinco De Mayo

Happy 5th of May to you all! Let us drink our worries under a bus somewhere...if only for a day!

Seriously though, everyone please be safe and responsible.  We'll see you back once you've sobered up. ;)

SGAF

Poetry of Poverty (Timmy, Guest Post)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

Poetry of Poverty

By Timmy

To lack of money,

To lack of food,

To lack the ability,

To buy the crude.

Nobody seems to care,

They all just pass by,

They could care less,

Or even wonder why.

Each day that passes,

It surely seems,

The pain in my body,

Busts at the seams.

My body is failing,

My heart is aflutter,

I don't know how much longer,

I can stand no butter.

My family is pained,

My back is worse,

I have no idea,

What comes next.

Please understand my trials,

And all these miles.

I don't want your money,

I don't want your time.

I just want a chance,

To get off my ass.

-------------

Timmy is currently in between jobs. His background is in computer science, but much of his training even with updating is considered obsolete. He, like many, is “too old to be relevant, too young to retire”. He is currently seeking a customer service position with a local grocery chain to make ends meet. As of now, he has been turned down for each opportunity for “too many qualifications”.

Sri Lanka and Terrorism

The staff at Poverty in America would like to send our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the acts of terror in Sri Lanka. There are absolutely no circumstances under which attacks like this are warranted or justified.

The true and righteous will always come through in the end. It is our hope that one day the world will come to realize there is much too much to fix to spend time harassing and killing over "petty" things.

-POA Staff

An Automated Future (CJ Styles, Guest Post)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

Automated Poverty

By CJ Styles

Let's just pretend for a minute that everyone in this nation was on equal footing. We all had an equal chance, equal resources, equal pay, equal...everything.

That seems to be what many folks want today. They want to be guaranteed some form of safety...some form of normalcy. I can't say that I disagree. The idea sounds nice. To be able to pursue the true passions you enjoy without worrying where your next meal or rent check is coming from.

But where, then, would be the reward for the work?

Sure, universal basic income may become necessary because of automation. We may one day reach the point where jobs are replaced to the extent where such a large portion of the population are “unemployable” that some funding has to be provided. But at what point will that affect innovation to the point where we can no longer grow as a nation?

Will we reach a point of stagnation, in which progress comes to a screeching hault?

Will our democracy and capitalism as we know it slowly dissolve as we become creatures of an automated system?

Will we slowly descend to a point in which human influence becomes unnecessary?

Now, admittedly, these ideas are far fetched. But they are all realistic questions which must be answered at some point in the future. There is no doubt as technology continues to improve, and does what it has done for years (shrink the need for human input) we will one day face the challenge of “where does the human race fit in”?

Maybe we ought to address this issue before it becomes like climate change: something that has to get “too far gone” before we come to a solution

CJ Styles is a contractor in the Midwest. He specializes in installing automation technology, specifically in small scale factory production. His hobbies include hunting and gardening.

Happy Easter

From the team at Poverty in America, we wish you all a happy and safe Good Friday/Easter weekend. Regardless of how you celebrate, or if you do, remember that there are many less fortunate than us who continue to struggle for even the most basic of necessities. Though we continue to advocate for change here in this great nation, change has to (and is) happen all around the globe so that one day true poverty will be a thing of the past.

SGAF

Notre Dame: A Tragedy

The thoughts, prayers, and well wishes of the staff here at Poverty in America are with all those affected by the fire at Notre Dame.

Here's to a safe, quick reconstruction effort!

Ramblings of Poverty (Mr. X, Guest Post)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

My Poverty Ramblings

By Mr. X

I have no idea why this is bothering me so much. Every time I look at the news, it seems like everyone is focused on some bull crap overseas or on some big city shooting. I understand there's a need to report that...but we've got people here in this country eating out of trash cans. We've got homeless veterans living on the street. We've got people declaring bankruptcy because they can't afford medical bills.

I don't care if you build the wall...but I don't want to pay for it. I don't think America wants to pay for it.

I don't care if you want universal healthcare...we all do...but it has to be AFFORDABLE for the average person, and it has to cover enough with a low enough deductible to be worth a damn.

I don't care if you are worried about global warming...we all know it's bad. But right now I'm more worried about putting food on my family's table and keeping the lights on. Keep your stupid crap up in Washington, D.C. and let the rest of us alone!

I want this nation to be better. But gosh darn it I need to live.

Please tell me someone is listening to me!

Listen, I understand we need to keep our environment clean...we need to clean up our government...we need to help folks overseas who are in need...we need to secure the border...but we've got to learn to prioritize. My dad always told me that you could only do one thing good at a time...and as I get older I think he was right!

I don't give a crap anymore...I want someone to explain to me where all the new jobs are...where the wealth is...how is life better. Bunch of people staring at cell phones for days on end does not cut it. We tune ourselves out with media overload while our infrastructure crumbles around us. Convenient distractions abound as we struggle working multiple jobs to still fall behind.

I'll never give up, but I want my kids to not have to struggle like I have the past 10 years.

Do something damn it....we're going broke out here!

Mr. X submitted this article along with the following biographical info: “I was born to a family of 9 in Oklahoma. I currently live in Arizona but am looking to relocate to find more work. My wife left me five years ago, and though we had no children together, I have yet to really recover from that. When I'm not working or looking for better employment than day labor, I enjoy writing short articles and enjoying the cheapest whiskey and smokes I can find.”

---

Note: I have done some minor editing to correct grammatical errors. The content of the article was not changed in this process. The views and opinions in this piece are entirely the authors; my editing did not contribute to the piece besides enhancing readability.

SGAF

Electoral College, Green New Deal, and the American Mess (David Logsdon, Guest Contributor)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

New Era Politics, the Green New Deal, and Electoral Mayhem

By David Logsdon

To say that poverty is a new concept in rural America is a fallacy. Osha Gray Davidson, in his 1996 work (initially released in 1990) Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto closes with a statement that has never rung truer today: “A lesson from field ecology has the last word here, for democracy is a living thing-destroy its habitat and it too will perish.” The habitat of rural America has continued to disintegrate since Davidson first completed his work. Though there are glimmers of hope throughout the nation, small pockets of rebound and regrowth, overall it seems the rural portions of this nation continue to be forgotten...pieces of the past that were and are only important in a historical context.

The issue has headed with two modern concepts which strike this author as completely “anti-rural” (for lack of a better descriptor): the abolition of the Electoral College and the Green New Deal. Both, on their own merits, spell disaster for rural America. Without going into a full fledged discussion of politics, the Electoral College's purpose is to ensure the republican foundations of this nation remain intact by maintaining balance between the “strongholds” of the large cities and the “outliers” of the rural areas. As major cities continue their stranglehold on the American population, now is the absolute worst time to discuss dissolution of such an important tenement. The founding fathers knew that representation would be needed for colonists who otherwise wouldn't have their voices heard...as so often had happened in the “old world”. Today, liberals and conservatives both seem to have some political stronghold to the idea of “democracy”...a concept which has nothing to do with the basis of this nation. To abolish the Electoral College is to remove one of the major “chinks” which is holding up the basis of our republic.

The Green New Deal, on the other hand, is the death toll of the American farm and rural family as we know it. Each and every provision of the “Green New Deal” (which in reality has nothing truly green within it) disproportionately and unfairly affects rural families at a much higher rate. Rural families, much more so than those in the suburban and urban areas, rely upon fossil fuels for transportation and income. To suddenly ban such use within a time frame in which green energy is not ready to take control of our needs is both foolish and disastrous. The only ones who will survive such an agreement will either be the corporate mega farms who have the financial backing to make such a quick transition on a large scale (if they don't fail first and cause the next Great Recession) and the rebels and outlaws who will likely “buck the system”...as they have done for millennia prior.

It is my firm belief that the vast majority of people in the USA are good...and that politicians can be when they take reasonable steps to advance policy and law which is to the benefit of the nation as a whole...and not just sections of it. There is no doubt that climate change, global warming, and overpopulation are and will continue to be concerns. True dangers, in reality. But quick “political fixes” will not solve the problem. They will only serve to hasten the downfall of a nation which is already treading on “thin ice” (global warming pun intended, even if inappropriate!). My hope is that lawmakers on both sides of the imaginary “aisle” will work together to create real world solutions to real world problems that will not plunge America into an irrecoverable tailspin.

I'm not holding my breath, though...

-------------

Dave Logsdon is an independent consultant from southwest Alabama. College educated, and currently looking to pursue a graduate degree after nearly a decade of work, he writes under a pseudonym to ensure his privacy. He does not maintain an online presence. He can be reached through the site on which this article is located for comments or questions.

New Postings Update

Due to current workloads, I have determined it is best to work towards more guest authorship on this site. I currently have a few articles sitting in "que" for the site, and will post them as time becomes available (I do read each post to ensure that it does not profess hate speech or cause animosity).

Please bear with me during this time.

Any guest posts are welcomed through email. Credit will be given, along with linkback status to your site (personal and/or professional) if desired.

SGAF

State of a Nation (Guest Post, Daniel Fredrick)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

If there has been one constant in the past few years, it has been the division in this nation. There are absolutely no qualms in my feeling that each and every day a new tenement is thrown into our divisive nature. The “powers at be” are completely oblivious to the plight of many in this nation. Both sides, conservative and liberal are equally to blame. It is with great certainty that I state if a major change in the divisive nature of the leaders of this nation is not made, and made soon, we will begin to accelerate the already weakened strength of this nation.

And nobody benefits from that...except the powers that be.

For those in poverty...the pipe dream of success narrows with each succeeding measure of “certainty” brought on by the government. Programs and projects of welfare are necessary to the success of a first world nation...but they must be moderated to the point they do not confine those who receive it to continue in “the cycle”. Instead, they should boost those who are able back into a workforce...which is both stable and able to provide some measure of security and peace.

Today, such a state does not exist for the majority of America.

Even the “middle class” is one major health problem or job loss away from the poverty lines.

Something needs to change....and now.

-Daniel Fredrick

Daniel Fredrick is an independent columnist. He has written extensively for numerous conservative publications under various pseudonyms, but has recently turned in his self described “Trump card” for independent status. He currently resides in Texas, not far from Houston, with his wife and two children. When not writing, he enjoys a cold draft brew and the New York Yankees.

Made $20 Yesterday...

So a little background...I've been self employed for close to 8 years. In December, I took ill and have not been able to do much since. About a month ago, I signed on to do some temporary contract work...online...and was able to clear my first $20 yesterday. To many folks, that may not seem like much...and it isn't... but for someone in a bad spot trying to get by...it's a glimmer of hope that there is a future out there.

Fingers crossed!

SGAF

Poverty and Periods

https://miamistudent.net/mu-student-hopes-to-help-provide-hygiene-products/

'“While we try our best to accommodate all of our patrons, the products in question tend to be quite expensive and [are] not a top priority,” said Bobby Musgrove III, the public relations representative for the Haven House Emergency Shelter located in Middletown, Ohio.'

Again, poverty doesn't care about gender, religion, or anything else. Poverty affects everyone and everything in it's path.  To many in what should be a "first world" country, even the basics of living are hard to come by. Remember this the next time you take something as simple as a tampon for granted!

SGAF

Posting Schedule Update

Just an FYI:

I am currently working on a new setup for this site, and hence the posting schedule will vary based on what all is transpiring each week. My goal, as of now, is to post at least 3 times each week.

Please be patient as I work to expand and improve this site!

SGAF

Paradise in Paradox

http://www.paradisepost.com/paradise-and-the-myth-of-rural-america

"But like most everywhere there are people, it wasn’t all lollipops and rainbows. Pretending that it was won’t make it easier for any of us to deal with our quite real losses, nor to make the replacement Paradise any more likely to be “all its name implies.”"

A good read of what poverty was in at least a portion of America during the 70's and 80's...and where at least some of it still is today.

SGAF

A Little Bigger Piece of the Pie...

Source:https://image.cagle.com/98208/1155/98208.png

An Important Announcement...

When I first created this site, my intention (at least in my mind) was clear: shine a light on the impoverished in America who often don't get the limelight, those in the rural outlier areas. Today, though, I've decided to broaden that scope to include poverty across the nation along with my own personal opinions. I am currently working with other content creators on gaining a “co administrator” and increasing access for guest authors.

During this transition period, you may notice changes in the website as we reorganize and regroup. Rest assured all current content will remain and will continue to be updated as is seen fit. I have just found this opportunity so amazing that I believe much more will come from this site with the additional perspectives which will be added by increased format genre.

Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions.

SGAF

Early Friday Ramblings (April 5, 2019)

Poverty is the greatest equalizer. No matter your race, gender, sexual orientation...poor is poor. Now, these factors may make you more or less likely to be poor...but if you're poor....by golly you're poor.

You learn to be creative. You learn to make do with what you have...as the old saying goes "make do or do without". I personally believe it makes most folks more understanding and reasonable when it comes to others situations and troubles. The old saying "walk a mile in my shoes" comes to mind.

Now, poverty doesn't treat everyone the same. Some folks it destroys...some folks it makes stronger. Being poor isn't all bad...that's the thing to keep in mind, at least in my humble opinion.

Be kind.

Love others.

Never give up.

Be glad for what you have, no matter how little.

Never take life for granted.

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Just some Friday night ramblings.

SGAF

Where Does Rural America Go...

https://therivernewsroom.com/2019/04/04/no-cure-for-rural/

"There may not be a single answer to reversing rural America’s decline, but it’s a challenge that should cause politicians, economists, and thought leaders to act in partnership with communities to build a distributed economy, which is healthier for the whole country. Instead of the current system, which concentrates resources in too few places and leaves talent on the sidelines, we should learn from small towns engaging in regional economic development strategies that will ensure the promise of the modern era is shared more evenly across the country."

Suzanne Anarde and Matt Dunne

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The mainstream news is still refusing to report it...but rural America is in crisis. Changes have to be made!

SGAF

Trump's Proposed Budget and Agriculture

https://prospect.org/article/rural-america-farmers-reap-what-president-sows

The President of the United States of America is treading on very thin ice right now. After a disastorous winter, and still reeling from the impacts of both trade tariffs and hurricanes...now is not the time to cut the budget of agricultural programs.

SGAF

The "Poorest" City in the US

BBC News, February 2019

This isn't a racial thing, this isn't a political thing...this is real life and real people. Just imagine what lies ahead for this community, and the many other even smaller ones who are in "the same boat".

SGAF

Macroeconomics and the Fallacy of Freedom (David Logsdon, Guest Contributor)

Guest Post: The article which follows was submitted by an independent contributor. Though it is published here, this site does not specifically endorse anything within the article, nor do we hold any credit for the work within.

Macroeconomics and the Fallacy of Freedom

By David Logsdon

The macroeconomic principles which confine our nation are both plentiful and confounding. Supply and demand, closed loop vs. open loop...it's enough to make even the smartest of economists scratch their heads from time to time. The question before our nation now, though, is one which will determine our economic, personal, and political future for years to come...is capitalism successful?

Today, we won't focus on all the principles involved. Instead we will focus on one...in my personal opinion the biggest flaw of capitalism...the assumption of continual growth. Capitalism relies upon continual growth to exist. Their must be continued growth to ensure a capitalistic economy has a constant flow of money and resources. Since no government agency is controlling the sector, supply and demand instead control what transpires...ensuring the age old adage of “the strongest survive”.

The issue lies in the fact that we on the planet Earth do not live in an open loop system...one where resources “appear” as needed with no limit. Unlimited inputs=unlimited abilities and outputs. Anyone with even a basic understanding of biology has to admit the exact opposite is true...we live in a world with very limited resources, resources which continue to dwindle as the world population explodes. It stands to reason, then, that capitalism is an ill fated black sheep in the modern economic world...and you are partially correct if you think so. Capitalism is destined to fail if taken in its pure theoretical form.

Of course, we have not had a true capitalistic economic system in many, many years, if ever (that point has been argued, and will likely be argued, until the Earth ceases to exist). Instead, the government has continued to step in as necessary to maintain a balance and control...in theory ensuring no one company takes advantage of another and that the playing field is “level”. In theory, this should work. In practice, it rarely does. Regulations and bureaucracy have hampered growth in some sectors while allowing others to grow far beyond what should be deemed “safe and normal”.

But even that digresses from the point of today's writing. It is unrealistic and ill fated to assume that everyone has the ability to “grow”...to better themselves. To succeed...to be “all they can be”. In a system with limited resources, which is the system in which we live, there will always be “haves” and there will always be “have nots”. That is the basic reasoning and premise behind social welfare and “safety net” systems: to ensure that even those in the “have nots” are still able to eek out a life which is not in abject poverty.

It is human nature to want better...to want to succeed and move forward in life. To have the American dream. But what exactly is that dream? And what hope do we have of reaching that dream if economic resources continue to dwindle? There are no easy answers. One thing is for sure though: the language which is currently used against the abject poor is both hateful and unreasonable. To assume that everyone can be “middle class or better” is a fallacy brought about by the “haves” to ensure they don't have to “give up” more than what they believe is their “fair share”. They don't want to admit “good luck” and “good circumstance” combined with their hard work to ensure success. It's too hard to admit that hard work alone does not guarantee a good existence...and it opens up too many avenues from which their wealth can be taken away.

Our nation was founded to escape both religious and monetary persecution... a place to escape the upper class and ensure the basic freedoms which we are given at birth by our creator. Though we have stumbled many times over the years, I don't personally believe we have ever been farther from the truth and meaning of freedom. “With great freedom comes great responsibility” seems to hold no reverence today. It is my firm hope that the modern day “wage slavery” promoted by the “1%” will one day be exposed...long before it's too late. America is still the land of freedom and opportunity...but for it to remain that way will require years of work to ensure that all have at least some basic semblance of true freedom.

It's easy to let the elitists of the world ruin years of hard work...please don't buy into the bigotry and propaganda. America can be great again...but not unless all who call this place home have a reasonably successful existence.

Dave Logsdon is an independent consultant from southwest Alabama. College educated, and currently looking to pursue a graduate degree after nearly a decade of work, he writes under a pseudonym to ensure his privacy. He does not maintain an online presence.

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I hope you enjoyed our guest article. Any comments which you have I will pass along to Dave since he does not actively promote an online presence.

SGAF

The Numbers of Poverty

Photo Credit: Wikimedia/NARA, Jack Corn (1974)

$16,815. Sounds like a big number, doesn't it? Not when you consider that number is the “poverty threshold” used by the U.S. Census, and by the government in general, to determine the poverty rate. That number is for a two person household. Two people are considered “in poverty” if they combine to make under $16,815 a year.

This number is the set in stone relic of an age gone by. Today, with changes in population density, and the population in general, having one set federal number seems almost mind boggling. It is no wonder that families today often struggle to get by...living paycheck to paycheck...praying each day to survive to the next. Medical bills, incarceration, job loss...all things which can suddenly thrust even the strongest of people into the deep turmoil of despair.

Something has to be done. No family, regardless of ability or inability, should be living in abject poverty in the free world. Period. End of story. There is a difference between living “high off the government hog”, and living within your means. Completely understood. There will be those who say “well why don't they get up off their sorry butts and do something about it?”. Completely concur...for those who can. But for those who lack the ability, who lack the capability of working “the ladder”, what are they to do?

A guest post is scheduled in the upcoming week or so about the macroeconomics of poverty in America, specifically rural America. I have read a portion, and believe you will find it intriguing.

SGAF

WSJ-Povery In Rural America

"We've got money...it just ain't enough money."

Truer words have never been spoken. A few years old, but a good quick overview of just one community's story...out of many others.

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Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I am in the process right now of setting up a meeting with some other authors who are interested in having their voices heard. I hope to have some guest content up within a few months.

SGAF

High Speed in the Low Speed Lane

"A modern business enterprise simply cannot function today without fast, reliable broadband internet service. Cities have it. Rural America by and large does not, at least not without significant expense. If the countryside can be wired as effectively as the city is, then arbitrage in land values and labor costs will quickly improve things for us folks out here in the sticks."

-Stephen Smith

From the NYT opinion article "Solving the Problems of Rural America"

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/30/opinion/letters/rural-america.html

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I think Stephen hit this one on the head (by the way, there are a lot of good opinions in this piece which show the "true colors" of rural poverty). High speed internet access is one great hope for rural America. Access to this opens the world to both online learning and online work to those who live out "in the sticks". As virtual and at distance jobs continue to permeate society, there is a glimmer of hope for rural areas who seize the opportunity to give their communities access to this precious resource.

SGAF

Rural Food Poverty

Imagine having to drive 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store that has fresh vegetables. To some in the third world, this may sound like a luxury...access to fresh vegetables and fruits there is often non existent. But in the first world, many take such a luxury for granted. In the rural areas which dot America's countryside, however, it is all too common of an occurrence. "Food Deserts", as I once heard a government report refer to them, are areas where fresh groceries are a drive away. I live in such an area. Though it may not be a struggle for those who work and commute to the city anyways, for the elderly, disabled, and young who aren't able to make the trek often, sustenance is often based upon cans and packets. Time and time again, we have seen the effects a poor diet can cause...so why then is more not being done?

Cost, as always. Providing locations close to the rural's most vulnerable populations just isn't a good return on investment for most businesses. So once again the poorest of the poor fall through the cracks. So what, then, are the rural poor supposed to do?

SGAF

Rural Homelessness and "The Uncountable"

https://www.thenation.com/article/rural-homelessness-housing/

Not a huge fan of the news outlet this is from...but it definitely hits the proverbial nail on the head with this article.

Homeless folks have always leaned on each other in rural communities. Heck, folks in general depend on each other here regardless of homelessness. But as family and community structure continues to dissolve, the issue of homelessness is likely to only worsen in the rural sections of our great nation.

There are no simple answers...but something must be done outside of the major cities to help those who truly need help.

SGAF

A Real Pain in the Ass...

My wife has a family history of colon cancer. So, in 2016 her doctor recommended to us both that a colonoscopy would be a reasonable safeguard. At the completion of the procedure, he informed me that a small precancerous lesion had been found and removed...and that he believed a follow up procedure would be warranted in 3 years to ensure her well being.

We scheduled the procedure over a month ago. Today, I called and received word that her colonoscopy would cost us nearly five grand out of pocket.

$5000

Why?

Insurance doesn't seem to think it's necessary. What? A person with family history doesn't need another colonoscopy for 5-10 years even if precancerous activity was found in the last procedure?

My patience is wearing thin...

SGAF

Healthcare=Jobs=A Never Ending Struggle

https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/has-employment-become-the-goal-of-the-us-healthcare-system

A good read on the paradox of the US health system. In essence, the healthcare system provides so many jobs, and so much revenue, that it has become the new "banking industry"...too big to fail.

But what happens when the costs become so large the masses can't afford them? What happens when the "market" crashes, as it is bound to do?

Food for thought, which will be looked at later in much more depth.

All the best,

SGAF

A Not So Happy Welcome...

I have created this site with the intention of chronicling both my story and the story of others (mainly in the US) who are facing a new "first world poverty". Though it in no way shape or form mimics the true poverty of the third world, it does present an ongoing concern and conversation which we must have with ourselves. Through this lense I hope to share experiences, resources, and research on a topic which affects us all.

All the best,

SGAF