Poverty

Remmington Reinick

Mrs. Boresen

May 19, 2011

Expository Writing, Period 4

Poverty

            There are six billion people living on this planet, it so happens that over three billion people make less than $2.50 a day. Is this sheer occurrence, or is poverty a trend that can be broken? I strongly believe that it is very hard to break what you were born into, and live a normal poverty free lifestyle.

            Even though there are people who can break the poverty chain, those individuals are few and far in between. The causes of this poor predicament can include laziness, the government, people’s bad decisions, or even civilians inadequacy to change routine. Most people have questions as to why people can’t do something as simple as getting a job, or moving to a better location. What they don’t take into consideration is ,“the poorest people will also have less access to health, education and other services. Problems of hunger, malnutrition and disease afflict the poorest in society. The poorest are also typically marginalized from society and have little representation or voice in public and political debates, making it even harder to escape poverty,” (http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty). In other words it’s a hard cycle to break due to the fact that there are so many objects going against them. Especially in places such as Africa and Central Asia: where the lack of food causes malnutrition, violence, and death. Poverty is something to be reckoned with seriously, as it is a contributor to literally half the planet’s problems.

I believe that a poor infrastructure, government, and economic growth will only keep people in the same poor state they were the day before. According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, people are” seemingly trapped in poverty and prone to internal violence and political collapse,” (http://ww3.millenniumpromise.org/site/DocServer/SCIAM_August19_2007.pdf?docID=1181). Although most of this is due to lack of money and food, a proper education, and the ability to read and write have much to do with this as well. “Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names,” (http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty). I also find it sad that,” 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day),” (http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty). It was said that in 1970 countries around the world agreed to give .07% of their income annually to development aid. The sad thing is that countries don’t always reach their goal of .07%, the money could be embezzled away, or the funding doesn’t isn’t even given to the poorest of the recipients. Poverty is a depressing object for many of the world’s inhabitants, and it should not be taken lightly.

Whenever you eat a meal, sleep on your warm bed, or look at your lovely house you should be reminded of all the people without these necessities. Poverty is a cycle that can’t be broken, and if it is chances are likely that it took many years to overcome. Be conscious of how lucky you are to live in such a great country, and always be thankful for the simple things in life.

I have not found information anywhere that suggests the poverty cycle can be broken.