Poverty and Social Class

Poverty

For the majority of people in the United States, disease, poverty and premature death are so remote they are not even a concern. America has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $37,600. Health and longevity are based on factors such as genetics and lifestyle. These are also largely taken for granted by most Americans. However, despite the "American Dream," the country is stratified with an increasing distance occurring between the upper and lower classes. In fact, by one measurement of inequality, the Gini coefficient (that is not accepted by all in the field), the U.S. has the highest inequality of any wealthy country. As Stephen Bezruchka notes, social class has a profound effect in the U.S., even for those in the middle class. What cannot be refuted is the difference between the standards in America and many other countries in the world. However, says Jeffrey Sachs, this distinction between those who have and those who have not could be eliminated with the right steps.

According to Bezruchka, the facts show that the U.S. today has more poverty than all other rich countries. In fact, he states, we are becoming increasingly "unhealthy" because of this disparity. The richest and most powerful country in world history has the greatest number of homeless children, over a million. No one knows for sure the total number of homeless. In addition to this, are the scores of people who are just a fraction away from homelessness. In the state of Washington, a worker earning the minimum wage of $7.01 per hour must work 86 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom unit.

Bezruchka notes that despite the fact that many people own goods, TVs, VCRs, automobiles, these are only "things." The mindset remains with such individuals that they are poor. They do not have the resources as others in society. They see the differences between themselves and those who have and will always have more.

In the U.S., explains Bezruchka, there is still a class warfare taking place, with the rich attacking everyone else. Although this war has been going on for 10,000 years, it is worse these last few years. "The weapons of class warfare are symbolic missiles, shot through our media -- TV, movies, magazines, and the Internet," advertising Nike shoes and promoting celebrities who have it all.

In other words, the class warfare is comparing oneself with others and recognizing that one is less well off than they are. The rich do not necessarily have more stuff, but they could if they wanted it. The money, the power, and the ability to buy is always there. Recognizing this difference leads to psychological stress in those who have less. Stress leads to physical and mental illnesses. In short, Bezruchka states, "Societies that have a big gap between those on the top and those on the bottom will be less healthy than societies where there is a smaller gap." In fact there are 25 other countries healthier than the U.S., given this definition. How has this discrepancy taken place? The wealthy are getting more and more of the pie. Only the rich and super rich are seeing gains in income.

Racism is another factor that has caused a pervasive illness in the U.S. Although minorities have always been demeaned, it is more subtle now. According to Bezruchka, an African-American male living in Harlem lives less long than one in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries. Americans have been made to believe that the American Dream of rags to riches can be obtained through hard work. However, "The American Dream, ladies and gentlemen, is a nightmare."

What can be done to alleviate this situation? He supports organizing the poor and working class to redistribute the income, so that the wealth does not stay in the upper ranks. It is essential to begin to speak up and vote for those who promote an equal means of distribution. Doctors are not the ones who will make Americans healthier. American citizens, themselves, must begin to treat the inequity illness that exists.

Bezruchka notes that this disparity between the haves and have nots occurs within in the U.S., but also between the U.S. And many other countries. Millions of people are dying of poverty, hunger and diseases such as AIDS throughout the world.

This problem can also be rectified, says Jeffrey Sachs. Poverty can be ended.

Since September 1, 2001, the U.S. has declared a war on terrorism and spent billions of dollars. Yet, says Sachs, it is not trying to defeat the reason for such global instability -- extreme poverty -- which could be eliminated by adopting what he calls "clinical economics." The task of ending extreme poverty is a collective one. It will require a global network of cooperation among people who have never met and who do not necessarily trust one another.

Sachs looks at areas of Africa and shows how the problem of poverty and hunger can be rectified. The world should speak of the Big Five development interventions that would spell the difference between life and death for the savannah.