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Poverty and Destitution

Good Essays

Defining Poverty
Poverty has been defined in many different ways. Some attempt to reduce it to numbers, while others believe that a more vague definition must be used. In the end, a combination of both methods is best. DiNitto and Cummins (2007), in their book “Social Welfare, Politics and Public Policy,” present six definitions and explanations of poverty. Social reformers Webb and Webb (1911) present another angle on poverty. Essentially, all definitions are correct, the debate is of which to use when creating policy.

“Less than” Poverty
DiNitto and Cummings (2007) first present poverty as depravation. They explain that poverty as depravation is an insufficiency in an “item required to maintain a decent standard of living” …show more content…

However, there is another definition not mentioned in our text. Berleman (1970) in his article “Poverty- Some Dilemmas in Definition” quoted early twentieth century social reformers Webb and Webb as they describe poverty. Webb and Webb explain that destitution is “the condition of being without one or more of the necessities of life, in such a way that health and strength is so impaired as to eventually imperil life itself.” This definition provides the most concrete of standards as well as provides a harsh view of what poverty really is.

Preventing Destitution
The agenda to end poverty is nothing new in American politics. However, with the recent changes in the US economy the war on poverty is raging and politicians are making daring statements and promises. In the 2008 Compass Forum Barack Obama boldly vowed to halve poverty within 10 years. Later, Republican John McCain declared if he were voted president that the “eradication of poverty will be top priority of the McCain administration.” The interesting thing about these comments is the plan each politician created to support them.
Both John McCain and Barack Obama followed in the footsteps of politician John Edwards, supporting the plan that he had once proposed. The plan included a list of actions that needed to be taken to alleviate poverty in the US. However, a the top of the list were only temporary solutions including increasing minimum wage

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