Are you a poor American?
Poverty in America
I realize that many reading this are not in America, nor are they perhaps very familiar with United States society. For those of you that are in this non - U.S. perspective, you may have to adjust the details of this blog, to make it relevant to your local economy, or, just take it in and use it as an insight to the way things are in the United States. However, the target audience of this blog, is those who do live in the U.S., and even there, you may need to adjust for local economies. There will be some facts and figures here, as well as some anecdotal stories, hopefully through this all, you may find a point of two, that will make you think.
Now, since this is featured on a Christian chat site, it would not be appropriate for me to exclude the spiritual perspectives of the topic, I will probably save much of that for nearer the end. For now, I want us to understand the nature of poverty in the U.S., so I will begin with the stories and statistics.
In the 2005 U.S. Census, it was discovered that there are 37 million poor people in the U.S. That works out to about to about one in eight of us. Politicians sometimes use that statistic to make apeals on why there needs to be change (usually a vote for them is supposed to be the solution). It does seem incredible, that in a country of of abundance, that there should be so much poverty. I have a neighbor, who never has enough money. Their family has no savings, not much food in the kitchen, and every time there is a normal houshold maintenance issue, it becomes an emergency. In the last week, their water heater went out, it sprung a leak. They had to borrow money to get a replacement, which hopefully, they will be able to repay in a month or so. Of course, buying a water heater is only part of the problem, there also needs to be the transportaion of the water heater to their home. Then, there will be the installation. In the installation, there will be a few parts necessary. This neighbor is not handy with tools or other mechanical things, they are dependant on others for such things. Either they have to pay for installation, or they need to get someone else to do it. Well, they borrowed the money from a friend, and got a neighbor to buy the other small parts and do the install for them. When it rains, it poors. They have a leak in the plumbing at another part of their home, one, if left unchecked, will cause damage to the home, and create a large water bill. It all may make no difference, as the water company is about to turn out of their water for non payment of their bill. This is all in one week, and it is representative of this neighbor’s life as a whole, one financial emergency after another. My neighbor talks my ear off about their poverty.
I chose my neighbor as an example, because the neighbor is similar to many who tell me their woes on Worthychat. Let me be clear here - you are welcome to tell me about your problems, and I am willing to offer advice and prayer, I am not complaining. Bear with me here - I hope to make a few points which are helpful in life to get. Patience!
Okay, I just gave a story about a neighbor, who clearly would have fewer problems if only the family had more money. Let’s look and some more information about those 37 million poor people in the United States of America. The following information is provided by the Heritage Foundation, and comes from statistics from various government agencies.
Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.
So, the next time you hear a politician talking about the poor in the United States - ask yourself - do people with 3 bedroom homes, color TVs, cars, etc., really need that much help from from the government, it the form of taking more taxes from Americans not categorized as poor? That the governent takes from hardworking people to help people who are really well off, is an insult to people who are genuinely poor.
There are people in the world, especially outside the United States, who know actual poverty. People who have no roof over their head, people wo have no healthcare available, people who get so little nutrition, that you can count their bones.
Why does out government do this? The answer is quite simple. If you are a poor person in a third world country, there is not much that you can do for an American politician. If you are a “poor” person in America, one with only one color TV, the politician may be able to get your vote, if he promises you a second color TV - of course, they won’t put it that way. The same thing is true about the health care debate. The politicians are going to tell you that healthcare is broken in the United States. What they mean by that, is that heathcare insurance is expensive. They won’t bother to tell you though, that they are the same type of people, who caused the heathcare problems in the first place. Americans have choices on health care. One is to make enough money to pay for you own. Another is to make enough money to buy healthcare insurance, or work for a company that provided health care insurance. A third is to take advantage of health care provided in government programs, teaching organizations, charitible free clinics and other free or inexpensive heathcare alternatives. A forth is to depend on the charity of friends, family, churchmembers etc. A fifth is to travel to another country and get healthcare there. A sixth is to stop buying housing beyond your needs, cars, and entertainment an other non-necessities, and set money aside for heath relate ermergencies. Finally, you can choose to do without heathcare.
Now, I did not come here to discuss politics or discuss practical solutions to common problems. Suffice it to say that their are already programs in place, from both the government and charitible sources, that address real problems of poverty here, for the most part. Let’s begin to look at poverty, from the viewpoint of One more qualified to speak on the topic.
Luke 12:27-34
27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
NIV
Now, I imagine that these words are not foriegn to you. Maybe it has been a while since you read them, even longer since you actually pondered them. Join me in thinking about life in the time of Christ:
Roads were made of dirt or stones. There were no cars, no bicycles. Rich people rode on carts or carriages. The upper middle class, road on the back of an animal, the poor, walked. There was no refrigeration, no canning. Some things where dried out or preserved with salt etc. Think about how much your diet would be different back then. There were no book stores, let alone DVDs or color TV’s. No air conditioning. Your floor would likely have been dirt, stones, straw mats etc. Rodents and bugs in your home would have been the norm. No washing machines, no dishwashers, no microwave or gas ovens. Want to cook? Gather wood and start a fire. No toilets, no running water. As you go through your day tomorrow, everytime you touch something, ask yourself if it was available 2000 years ago. Now, realise also, that the conditions we are describing, are not the conditions of the poor, but the condtions of average people. Now, my neighbor, can in no way, be considered poor in that perspective. By the standards of Jesus time, my neighbor lives a standard of living which was not lived by even a king. Keep that in mind if you consider yourself poor. If you are reading this, you have access to a computer, perhaps you even own the computer. Perhaps you have internet service, and perhaps you have electricity. I am guessing that this is the case. The problems that my neighbor has, are self induced. The neighbor can learn the skills necessary to fix their own problems. The neighbor can sell their home, and move into a smaller one, in a less expensive neighborhood. The problem with my neighbor is, that the neighbor is living above their means. The solution, is to do a reality check, and live in a way they can actually afford, or earn more money. In most cases, this is possible in America.
Now, I haven’t dealved into spiritual aspects much here - don’t be concerned, consider this part one, my next blog will be related, and I will tie it altogether at that time. For now, spend some time noticing the things that bless your lives. Perhaps tomorrow, everytime you touch something, ask yourself if they it was available to the average person in Jesus time, or if it is available to people who are truly impoverised. As you do, remember to thank God for your American style poverty, and pray for those who are truly poor, perhaps, even thinking ov some way you might help them.
One secret to contentment, is just to realise that you are better off that you make yourself think, and stop focusing on what you don’t have. Seek first, the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.
Omegaman
