Poverty--Not just one definition.

Defined in the Websters Dictionary, poverty is "the state of one who lacks usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions." This definition seems simple, but in reality it is much more complex. In order to understand the aspects of poverty it may be helpful to look at two extremes: one of the wealthiest nations, America, and the absolute poorest, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Even though America is a wealthy nation, poverty is still present. According to the US census about one in eight live below the poverty line-- which means an annual income of about $20,000 for a family of four. About thirteen percent of the United States population is living on this budget. Many of these people are out living on the streets begging for someone to help them.

Even though poverty is America is a very real issue, it seems to have a more extreme case in the Sub-Saharan Africa. One poor African gives the perfect definition for poverty in their culture...

"...Poverty is not going empty for a single day and getting something to eat the next day. Poverty is going empty with no hope for the future... Poverty is watching your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow just because they couldn't get something to eat... Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do... Poverty is when you hide your face and wish nobody could see you just because you feel less than a human being. Poverty is when you dream of bread and fish and you never see in the day light... Poverty never sleeps. Poverty works all day and night. Poverty never takes a holiday."-- One Poor African

This is something Americans do not and will not experience. The Sub-Saharan culture is completely different than the Americans. So when poverty is talked about there are two different aspects to this simple name. There are many different explanations for why this society is so poor. Many feel they have not become "westernized" enough. Their technology, courts and other aspects that are necessary to maintain a stable society have not been established. This problem leads to another possible reasoning for their extreme poverty; they are unable to compete with these more industrialized nations. No matter what happens there are always nations that are stronger and contain more international power than Sub-Saharan Africa has. The question is what can be done to solve this dilemma? Is there anything that is able to resolve this extreme poverty-- or is it a lost cause?

www.nacsw.org/Publications/Proceedings2006/RoeKSSAandextremepovertyE.pdf

www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm