Session 7

·         Why you believe people are poor in the United States and globally.

       According to statistics shown in this session, lower wage blue collar workers remain poor due to a freeze on minimum wage since July of 2009. This chapter shines light on how people working for $7.25 or less per hour do not even make enough to self sustain themselves.

 ·         What you think is being done about poverty

            The minimum wage increase has only taken place in some states. The Federal minimum wage is stuck at $7.25/hour while Georgia's minimum wage is at $5.15/hour. I learned that a group called 9 to 5 is trying to raise awareness about the living wage, which would increase the poor families income by a while 130%. This would set a standard wage for certain jobs and would include healthcare as well. About 120 cities so far have taken on the living wage and have already benefited without any major setbacks. There are definitely people and groups out there trying to abolish poverty from different angles, but they just do not have the power to create a huge impact yet.

·         How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally.

         Apparently the federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009 and the GA minimum wage was $5.15 till the federal took over. This just shows that the cost of living is getting higher, but the income stays the same. This shows that the government is not putting poverty as one of their top priorities yet.

 ·         What you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest).

            After reading this chapter, I really do support the living wage. This would help poor families self sustain and also have access to health insurance without socializing the entire health care system. This would also make companies who get tax dollars from the government, be more ethical and keep them in check. I also agree with the organization 9 to 5 to raise awareness about the many pros towards the living wage. This would definitely create a better standard of living and boost the economy as well. 
                However, one thing I do not agree about with the 9 to 5 project is that raising the servers and waiters wage from $2.13 all the way to the federal minimum wage level. I personally used to work as a server and was paid the same amount 3 years ago, but the amount of tips I received, it made the wages almost close to $10/hour. Obviously this would vary from locations and jobs, but this was just a diner with no bar. Also when they mention that they have to share their tips with other people, its only with the busboy's and that too on credit card transactions. The cash tip is 100% theirs to keep. The information provided in the video is the bare minimum with no strong premises to back it up. 
               Another point I keep picking up from these chapters is that education is definitely the key towards a better income. Majority of the people on the poverty level have not secondary education. Another thing I believe should be done is educate people on financial planning. Majority of the population mentioned to be poor in these chapters are single moms. The younger generation need to be educated to be financially stable before having kids and not the other way around as that does not work out well.