I find it deeply ironic that USA, the world largest economy, has so many homeless, begging poor on the streets of cities. I have seen it in St Louis, Kansas City, San Francisco and maybe in LA soon. They sleep on the streets, begging for spare change from passerbys, or simply stare blankly into space.
Alot of media coverage and aid has been given to poor people in Africa, India, Middle East and China. However, who helps the American poor? In a capitalistic society like US which values individual struggle, the poor are expected to pick themselves up on their own. The American government won’t lend a helping hand because (as we witnessed from the health care debate) they will be accused of being socialist, and that means political suicide.
Do other countries, especially the traditional big donors of aid, (Japan, Britain, China) see a need to help the poor in US like how they helped people in Africa etc? I believe not because they probably see no reason to help the richest country in the world, apart from some friendly, symbolic gestures like sending rescue teams during Hurricane Katrina. Furthermore, there are countries which are in deeper need of aid as a whole compared to the US.
If the US and foreign governments do not help poor Americans, who else could lend them a special hand when poor Americans are stuck in the cycle of poverty? That leaves the civil society, US media and also religious groups. However, some of the largest and richest churches in America, ironically, might not be so effective in helping the poor if their pastors keep demanding money from the congregation to build huge megachurch complexes, luxury cars and clothes for themselves.
Of course, you can argue that the more money you have, the more you can donate. It will be up to the media to keep a watch on whether these groups spend enough on helping the poor regardless of faith, in order to qualify for tax-exemption. In addition, civil society NGOs and the less money-minded religious groups have to play their part to help the poor too. Having less money doesn’t mean you cannot do an equally effective job.
There is also a danger of relying too much on religious groups to help the poor because it is too often mixed with proselytisation. Poor Americans of a particular faith may fare differently because the religious group they are affliated to might not be financially as strong. For example, Iraqi refugees in US might not get the same amount of help compared to Burmese and African refugees affliated to richer churches?
Whether these issues are true or not, I feel that being a poor person in America must be quite frustrating because your situation is often overlooked by foreign observers, who too often see America’s wealth but not the poverty within.
Hey Yue, i like your insightful observations. Youre have the makings of a great journalist!
I think if it’s one thing that America is amazing at, it is at marketing themselves. In fact, they have painted this whole “land of the free” image so well that you will usually overlook the not so glamorous side of things.
Personally, whatever you have written here, is pretty much applicable to Singapore too. I believe that is a problem in most capitalist nations in general. America is just better at marketing themselves in media so you don’t usually see these issues.