Article Writing Homework Help

Each reply must be at least 250 words, and each reply must cite at least 1 source in current APA format. Acceptable sources include the textbook and scholarly articles. Please add scripture where appropriate. 

Reply # 1

Glenn Snyder DB 2 poverty

COLLAPSE

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Biological poverty is a term I had not been exposed to before. This is the lack of physical needs such as food and shelter. This form of poverty is the most imminently dangerous. (Henslin, 2017, p. 184)

Relative poverty simply the contrasting levels of income that can be experienced by those who interact on some level.(Henslin, 2017, p. 184) This can include people experiencing biological poverty, but it can also be the difference between two co-workers when one can afford a brand new car and the other struggles with an older vehicle that needs frequent repair.

Official poverty sounds like an immutable defined term. It refers to the line at which the government identifies poverty as a real thing. (Henslin, 2017, p. 184) Depending on the political ideology of the government this line can change drastically. An example of official poverty is a single mom who puts her children in day-care so she can work but is unable to earn enough to make it above the line that the government has set. She receives financial assistance through food stamps and a credit to help the cost of her childcare cost.

The poverty line as an institution of the government is a glaring problem. I can see the benefit of defining a line which people might feel motivated to move up from. I can also see the benefit of identifying who should be receiving financial assistance through social programs. I don’t think there is a problem with having a poverty line, but I can see the danger in that line being so arbitrary.  

I don’t like that our government in this country is asked to do so much more than govern. I wish that the church and neighbors could be the social help that everyone needs to get by and be ok. I do however see how the church cannot do enough, and neighbors cannot anymore be enough for the social problems in America. I worry that because morality in our country is so subjective and baseless that we won’t be able toagree on a way to help those in poverty.  “For it is only through gaining a greater understanding and awareness of the philosophical and religious roots and influences of US social welfare policy that the level of political and social discourse among social workers and policy experts will be elevated, creating a more conducive environment for the critical analysis and direct confrontation of damaging ideological perspectives of the causes of poverty and effective poor care.” (Martin, 2010, p. 62) I don’t believe we can legislate morality into people’s hearts but I do believe that a Christ redeemed Holy Spirit lead morality would be for the best. Christ reminds us many times that we are to live as though the reward from our Father in heaven is the only one we want. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14, NIV) As I grow older I also realize the real failure of treating everything with a federal solution instead of a local government solution. With so much variance based on geography and population, it is not a surprise that federal assistance programs are so inefficient. 

References

Henslin, J. M. (2017). Social Problems: A Down-to-Earth Approach (12th ed.). 

Retrieved from https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780134521466/

Martin, M. E. (2010). Philosophical and religious influences on social welfare policy in the United States: The ongoing effect of Reformed theology and social Darwinism on attitudes toward the poor and social welfare policy and practice. Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 51-64. doi:10.1177/1468017310380088

Reply # 2

Tasha Lockett 

Mahatma Gandhi said that “Poverty is the worst form of violence”.  Daily Americans ignore the hungry and deprived only interested in how mush more they can gain for themselves. Chapter seven covers different types of poverty, biological, relative and official poverty. 

Biological poverty is defined as the material deprivationso severe that it affects ones health (Henslin, 2018). Many Americans like myself can not afford medical insurance and when a medical need arises it is emergent. Because of the lack of resources to provide preventative care, by the time medical attention is sought the problem is severe. For example, what may have started out as a common cold, left untreated can develop into pneumonia. Relative poverty is defined as deprivation measured by the standards of society and culture (Henslin, 2018).  Relative is more of a social issue then physical. A person may feel poor because they don’t have the latest car or designer clothes. Understanding needs and wants can help sort out priorities and factors of really being in need or not. I have seen middle class people suffer from this type of poverty. Trying to keep up with the “Jones” will only lead you to become officially poor when attempting to live above your means. Official poverty is defined as the level of income that the government recognizes as constituting poverty (Henslin, 2018). The government has set standards as to determine according to the house hold who is “poor” and “not poor”. For example, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services a family of 5 in 48 states and the district of Columbia can not make more then 30,170. Anything above they will be considered above the poverty line. This line is used to determine if the family qualifies for any resources to aide them such as, food, medical or supplemental income. This poverty line is the official measure of poverty based on three times a low-cost food budget. Though there are some exceptions  (Hawaii and Alaska), states like New York and Alabama have a higher cost of living and no adjustments are made for those who live in those states (Henslin, 2018). Nelson Mandela said it best that, “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice”. There are so many people who can help others that are in dire need but just walk away with their own misguides preconceived notions about the poor. I have experienced being homeless and lived out of my car. I have seen the upside and down side of being without. Being homeless showed me how people pretend that they want to help and never really mean it. It also showed that perfect strangers will bless you with no questions asked. All that they ask in return is when you are able, pay it forward. I thank God for those who care enough to give.                

Reference

Henslin, J. M. 2018, Social Problems. [Liberty University Online Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780134521466/,

U S Department of Health and Human Services

https://aspe.hhs.gov/2019-poverty-guidelines 

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