Poverty Policy In The Land Of Milk And Honey Essay

People might think that poverty is the last thing to be occurred in the United States of America –the land of milk and honey as they say, because America is known for having a Tiger Economy ever since. But it is a shame should the government of America admits that they too can experience poverty? Let them allow having an excuse that nothing is perfect. Everything is possible. However, we all know that we can attain the 0% rate of poverty in our country if everyone will work it out together. How the poverty is being measured in the United States of America? The United States Department of Health and Human Services says that there are two slightly different versions of the federal poverty measure. One is the poverty threshold which is used mainly in Census Bureau for statistical purposes, and the other one is the poverty guidelines which are basically for administrative purposes. (2007). But the US government do not really understand that the only thing this policy or measurement can do is the knowledge about figures and recoded data of how many could pass yearly in the poverty line in accordance to the standards that they have set. They never realize that the poverty measurement has nothing to do with poverty itself and how to totally demolish the poverty problem in the United States of America – the land of milk and honey! As a citizen, all I can say is that we have to go back to the main roots of the problem. What are those problems that lead us to poverty? Are we ready to face them? I guess we should. And it is not just facing them but to act on them for the betterment of any individual or household concern but also for the good of the common people, government and country. Poverty has not to be measured in starvation and emptiness only. There are many factors involve including illiteracy, illegitimacy, immorality, unemployment, dirty politics, bureaucracy, environment, lifestyle, vices, crime, over population, sickness, mortality or even having your own identity and citizenship. But as long as the scarcity and level of consumptions of every household are the major factors that we keep on measuring, we will never resolve the problem of poverty. Again, I suggest that we go back to the main roots of the problem. I affirm to David Brooks’ optimism outlook in his argument â€Å"†¦these rapid improvements (which refers to globalization) at the bottom of the income ladder are contributing to and correlating with declines in illiteracy, child labor rates and fertility rate. † (2004). But there are also some things that should be remembered. Tiger economy or third world country has the equal opportunity of experiencing poverty. However, addressing the issue of poverty lies not to the government alone. Every human beings living on Earth has to do their fair share of opinions and actions in fighting poverty. It could be done by helping others or the nation. But I guess the best poverty alleviation policy is improving first your own quality of life wherever you are; hence, every place you could have been has the chance to be a poverty-free land of milk and honey.