Myths About the Poor
Myths:
1. People are poor because they are lazy.
Of poor people, 16 years and older 12% work full time year round, and another 25% work part time.
2. Most poor people are minorities.
Almost 43% of people living in poverty are white. In proportions however, African Americans and Latinos are much more likely to be poor than Asian Americans and whites.
3. Most poor people live in inner cities.
33% of the poor live in inner cities, but the rest live in urban areas, the suburbs, small towns, are rural communities. In 2008 ½ of the nation’s poor lived in suburbs.
4. Most of the poor are single mothers.
Of families living in poverty, 51% are single mothers and their children, but 40% of married-couple families and 9% of father-headed households are poor.
5. Most of the poor are older Americans.
About 10% of people 65 years and older are poor, but 35% of the poor are children younger than 18. Between 2000 and 2008 , the incomes of people ages 25 to 54 especially men decreased about 13% but increased by 8% for men ages 65 to 74.
6. The poor get special advantages.
The poor pay more money for goods and services than do wealthier people. Supermarket chains and discount stores rarely locate in low income communities, and because the poor have limited access to banks or other financial institutions, they, must often rely on “check cashing stores” that charge high rates for cashing checks or borrowing money.
This information comes from SOC what’s inside page 146.
7. The poor are subsidized by welfare.
Wrong, most people who are counted as “poor” don’t get any public assistance at all because they don’t qualify. Those who do mostly receive some kind of food assistance, but only if they are severely disabled or have children.. I personally believe that welfare does not subsidize the poor; it subsidizes the employers who refuse to pay an equitable wage.
8. The poor are poor because they are irresponsible with their money.
It is true that
1. People are poor because they are lazy.
Of poor people, 16 years and older 12% work full time year round, and another 25% work part time.
2. Most poor people are minorities.
Almost 43% of people living in poverty are white. In proportions however, African Americans and Latinos are much more likely to be poor than Asian Americans and whites.
3. Most poor people live in inner cities.
33% of the poor live in inner cities, but the rest live in urban areas, the suburbs, small towns, are rural communities. In 2008 ½ of the nation’s poor lived in suburbs.
4. Most of the poor are single mothers.
Of families living in poverty, 51% are single mothers and their children, but 40% of married-couple families and 9% of father-headed households are poor.
5. Most of the poor are older Americans.
About 10% of people 65 years and older are poor, but 35% of the poor are children younger than 18. Between 2000 and 2008 , the incomes of people ages 25 to 54 especially men decreased about 13% but increased by 8% for men ages 65 to 74.
6. The poor get special advantages.
The poor pay more money for goods and services than do wealthier people. Supermarket chains and discount stores rarely locate in low income communities, and because the poor have limited access to banks or other financial institutions, they, must often rely on “check cashing stores” that charge high rates for cashing checks or borrowing money.
This information comes from SOC what’s inside page 146.
7. The poor are subsidized by welfare.
Wrong, most people who are counted as “poor” don’t get any public assistance at all because they don’t qualify. Those who do mostly receive some kind of food assistance, but only if they are severely disabled or have children.. I personally believe that welfare does not subsidize the poor; it subsidizes the employers who refuse to pay an equitable wage.
8. The poor are poor because they are irresponsible with their money.
It is true that