thank you very much my name is Sam and I’m a procrastinator I’m well-acquainted
I’m a procrastinator I’m well-acquainted
I’m a procrastinator I’m well-acquainted with the instant gratification monkey
with the instant gratification monkey
with the instant gratification monkey and when dr. Raja was presenting and
and when dr. Raja was presenting and
and when dr. Raja was presenting and showed the cookie I had an immediate
showed the cookie I had an immediate
showed the cookie I had an immediate very strong desire to go get a cookie
very strong desire to go get a cookie
very strong desire to go get a cookie right now and I had no desire whatsoever
right now and I had no desire whatsoever
right now and I had no desire whatsoever to get a carrot so my talk today is
to get a carrot so my talk today is
to get a carrot so my talk today is called poverty in the United States
called poverty in the United States
called poverty in the United States whose poor why and what we can do about
whose poor why and what we can do about
whose poor why and what we can do about it and there we go here in Buffalo New
it and there we go here in Buffalo New
it and there we go here in Buffalo New York a city is being reborn
York a city is being reborn
York a city is being reborn we’re rediscovering our downtown and our
we’re rediscovering our downtown and our
we’re rediscovering our downtown and our waterfront developers are rushing to
waterfront developers are rushing to
waterfront developers are rushing to build luxury apartments and yet over
build luxury apartments and yet over
build luxury apartments and yet over half the stilled Rijn in the city are
half the stilled Rijn in the city are
half the stilled Rijn in the city are living in poverty you can find similar
living in poverty you can find similar
living in poverty you can find similar stories in cities across the United
stories in cities across the United
stories in cities across the United States which is both the wealthiest
States which is both the wealthiest
States which is both the wealthiest nation in the world and also a place in
nation in the world and also a place in
nation in the world and also a place in which one out of every five children is
which one out of every five children is
which one out of every five children is living in poverty can you have a
living in poverty can you have a
living in poverty can you have a renaissance if it leaves so many people
renaissance if it leaves so many people
renaissance if it leaves so many people behind can a nation be great when it is
behind can a nation be great when it is
behind can a nation be great when it is so unequal today we’re going to talk
so unequal today we’re going to talk
so unequal today we’re going to talk about who’s poor why and what we can do
about who’s poor why and what we can do
about who’s poor why and what we can do about it so let’s start by asking who is
about it so let’s start by asking who is
about it so let’s start by asking who is living in poverty imagine that you are a
living in poverty imagine that you are a
living in poverty imagine that you are a photographer for Time magazine the
photographer for Time magazine the
photographer for Time magazine the editor calls you because she wants to do
editor calls you because she wants to do
editor calls you because she wants to do a cover story based on the latest census
a cover story based on the latest census
a cover story based on the latest census figures which show that over 40 million
figures which show that over 40 million
figures which show that over 40 million people are living in poverty in the
people are living in poverty in the
people are living in poverty in the United States finally in the most
United States finally in the most
United States finally in the most typical poor family that you can she
typical poor family that you can she
typical poor family that you can she says and will put them under cover so
says and will put them under cover so
says and will put them under cover so our job now is to find that typical
our job now is to find that typical
our job now is to find that typical family where should we go to look for
family where should we go to look for
family where should we go to look for them a city a suburb or a rural area if
them a city a suburb or a rural area if
them a city a suburb or a rural area if you entered a city or rural area you’re
you entered a city or rural area you’re
you entered a city or rural area you’re wrong there are more people in poverty
wrong there are more people in poverty
wrong there are more people in poverty that live in the suburbs should the
that live in the suburbs should the
that live in the suburbs should the typical impoverished family for our
typical impoverished family for our
typical impoverished family for our cover story be white black or Hispanic
cover story be white black or Hispanic
cover story be white black or Hispanic according to census figures the most
according to census figures the most
according to census figures the most typical race
typical race
typical race would be what should we be looking for a
would be what should we be looking for a
would be what should we be looking for a large family or a small one average
large family or a small one average
large family or a small one average family living in poverty has only one or
family living in poverty has only one or
family living in poverty has only one or two children how much education will
two children how much education will
two children how much education will that typical parent in poverty have
that typical parent in poverty have
that typical parent in poverty have should we be looking for a high school
should we be looking for a high school
should we be looking for a high school dropout or someone with a diploma turns
dropout or someone with a diploma turns
dropout or someone with a diploma turns out that most people living in poverty
out that most people living in poverty
out that most people living in poverty have at least a college high school
have at least a college high school
have at least a college high school diploma and many have at least some
diploma and many have at least some
diploma and many have at least some college all right now we’ve got our Time
college all right now we’ve got our Time
college all right now we’ve got our Time magazine cover
magazine cover
magazine cover it’s a white mom with one or two kids
it’s a white mom with one or two kids
it’s a white mom with one or two kids living in the suburbs with a high school
living in the suburbs with a high school
living in the suburbs with a high school diploma hanging on her wall now imagine
diploma hanging on her wall now imagine
diploma hanging on her wall now imagine that we ask all Americans to close their
that we ask all Americans to close their
that we ask all Americans to close their eyes and picture a family living in
eyes and picture a family living in
eyes and picture a family living in poverty are they seeing the same picture
poverty are they seeing the same picture
poverty are they seeing the same picture that we are why do we have such
that we are why do we have such
that we are why do we have such erroneous views about poverty one reason
erroneous views about poverty one reason
erroneous views about poverty one reason is stereotyping but another reason is
is stereotyping but another reason is
is stereotyping but another reason is that when we think about poverty we tend
that when we think about poverty we tend
that when we think about poverty we tend to think about the places and groups
to think about the places and groups
to think about the places and groups where the poverty rate is highest in
where the poverty rate is highest in
where the poverty rate is highest in other words we confuse what is
other words we confuse what is
other words we confuse what is disproportionate with what is typical
disproportionate with what is typical
disproportionate with what is typical because it is true that poverty rates
because it is true that poverty rates
because it is true that poverty rates are higher among people in cities than
are higher among people in cities than
are higher among people in cities than people in the suburbs it’s just that
people in the suburbs it’s just that
people in the suburbs it’s just that today many more people live in the
today many more people live in the
today many more people live in the suburbs than in the cities so even
suburbs than in the cities so even
suburbs than in the cities so even though the poverty rate is lower in the
though the poverty rate is lower in the
though the poverty rate is lower in the suburbs the total number of impoverished
suburbs the total number of impoverished
suburbs the total number of impoverished people is high so let’s take a
people is high so let’s take a
people is high so let’s take a metropolitan area with a million people
metropolitan area with a million people
metropolitan area with a million people in it
in it
in it of whom 300,000 live in the city and
of whom 300,000 live in the city and
of whom 300,000 live in the city and 700,000 in the suburbs even if the
700,000 in the suburbs even if the
700,000 in the suburbs even if the poverty rate in the suburbs is only 10%
poverty rate in the suburbs is only 10%
poverty rate in the suburbs is only 10% while the rate in the city is 20% there
while the rate in the city is 20% there
while the rate in the city is 20% there will still be 70,000 poor people in the
will still be 70,000 poor people in the
will still be 70,000 poor people in the suburbs compared to 60,000 in the city
similarly it is true that the poverty
similarly it is true that the poverty rate among African Americans is
rate among African Americans is
rate among African Americans is two-and-a-half times higher than that of
two-and-a-half times higher than that of
two-and-a-half times higher than that of white 26% compared to 10% but there are
white 26% compared to 10% but there are
white 26% compared to 10% but there are 200 million whites in the United States
200 million whites in the United States
200 million whites in the United States and only about 41 million blacks so
and only about 41 million blacks so
and only about 41 million blacks so there are still almost twice as many
there are still almost twice as many
there are still almost twice as many whites living in poverty as blacks
whites living in poverty as blacks
whites living in poverty as blacks which helps to explain why our typical
which helps to explain why our typical
which helps to explain why our typical person living in poverty might look
person living in poverty might look
person living in poverty might look something like this
something like this
something like this when we think about poverty and how to
when we think about poverty and how to
when we think about poverty and how to reduce it we need to keep both things in
reduce it we need to keep both things in
reduce it we need to keep both things in mind what is typical along with what is
mind what is typical along with what is
mind what is typical along with what is disproportionate
disproportionate
disproportionate if you were designing a program to serve
if you were designing a program to serve
if you were designing a program to serve people in need it would be important to
people in need it would be important to
people in need it would be important to realize that most of your clients live
realize that most of your clients live
realize that most of your clients live in the suburbs at the same time you
in the suburbs at the same time you
in the suburbs at the same time you would also want to realize that the city
would also want to realize that the city
would also want to realize that the city was suffering from a much higher poverty
was suffering from a much higher poverty
was suffering from a much higher poverty rate than any individual suburb was now
rate than any individual suburb was now
rate than any individual suburb was now let’s ask why are people living in
let’s ask why are people living in
let’s ask why are people living in poverty when we asked a question of why
poverty when we asked a question of why
poverty when we asked a question of why it matters a great deal whether we’re
it matters a great deal whether we’re
it matters a great deal whether we’re talking about individuals groups or
talking about individuals groups or
talking about individuals groups or societies to understand why let’s do a
societies to understand why let’s do a
societies to understand why let’s do a quick thought experiment imagine that
quick thought experiment imagine that
quick thought experiment imagine that there are 100 of you in the classroom
there are 100 of you in the classroom
there are 100 of you in the classroom today and that none of you had breakfast
today and that none of you had breakfast
today and that none of you had breakfast or lunch you are very very hungry made
or lunch you are very very hungry made
or lunch you are very very hungry made only hungrier by dr. Rajas presentation
only hungrier by dr. Rajas presentation
only hungrier by dr. Rajas presentation but it so happens that I brought with me
but it so happens that I brought with me
but it so happens that I brought with me a bushel of 90 apples 100 of you 90
a bushel of 90 apples 100 of you 90
a bushel of 90 apples 100 of you 90 apples I empty the bushel on the floor
apples I empty the bushel on the floor
apples I empty the bushel on the floor and you and an explosion of hunger games
and you and an explosion of hunger games
and you and an explosion of hunger games like activity grabbed the apples
like activity grabbed the apples
like activity grabbed the apples sadly you ten in the back row did not
sadly you ten in the back row did not
sadly you ten in the back row did not get any apples you’re suffering from
get any apples you’re suffering from
get any apples you’re suffering from Apple poverty now examine each of you as
Apple poverty now examine each of you as
Apple poverty now examine each of you as individuals to learn why you did not get
individuals to learn why you did not get
individuals to learn why you did not get an apple just to make you feel what
an apple just to make you feel what
an apple just to make you feel what you’re missing
and try and figure out what I can do to
and try and figure out what I can do to help it turns out that one of you has a
help it turns out that one of you has a
help it turns out that one of you has a sprained ankle so for you I provide a
sprained ankle so for you I provide a
sprained ankle so for you I provide a nice bandage and physical therapy
nice bandage and physical therapy
nice bandage and physical therapy one of you suffers from narcolepsy you
one of you suffers from narcolepsy you
one of you suffers from narcolepsy you were actually asleep during my talk so
were actually asleep during my talk so
were actually asleep during my talk so for you I prescribe a powerful medicine
for you I prescribe a powerful medicine
for you I prescribe a powerful medicine well you over there you have some
well you over there you have some
well you over there you have some motivational issues you were just not
motivational issues you were just not
motivational issues you were just not feeling the Apple challenge for you I’m
feeling the Apple challenge for you I’m
feeling the Apple challenge for you I’m assigning a life coach now let’s agree
assigning a life coach now let’s agree
assigning a life coach now let’s agree that each one of these interventions is
that each one of these interventions is
that each one of these interventions is successful and the next time I empty out
successful and the next time I empty out
successful and the next time I empty out the 90 apples each of the ten folks in
the 90 apples each of the ten folks in
the 90 apples each of the ten folks in back muscles through the scrum and gets
back muscles through the scrum and gets
back muscles through the scrum and gets an apple have I solved our Apple poverty
an apple have I solved our Apple poverty
an apple have I solved our Apple poverty problem no ten people still did not get
problem no ten people still did not get
problem no ten people still did not get an apple so I go back to the drawing
an apple so I go back to the drawing
an apple so I go back to the drawing board and it occurs to me that maybe
board and it occurs to me that maybe
board and it occurs to me that maybe there was something about those ten
there was something about those ten
there was something about those ten people as a group that explained why
people as a group that explained why
people as a group that explained why they didn’t get apples yes the group of
they didn’t get apples yes the group of
they didn’t get apples yes the group of ten back there was seated farthest away
ten back there was seated farthest away
ten back there was seated farthest away from the apples there was a structural
from the apples there was a structural
from the apples there was a structural disadvantage that they had so next time
disadvantage that they had so next time
disadvantage that they had so next time I dumped out the ninety apples I put you
I dumped out the ninety apples I put you
I dumped out the ninety apples I put you all in a circle and I dropped the apples
all in a circle and I dropped the apples
all in a circle and I dropped the apples they the exact center so you all have a
they the exact center so you all have a
they the exact center so you all have a precisely equal chance but do we still
precisely equal chance but do we still
precisely equal chance but do we still have a problem that’s right we still
have a problem that’s right we still
have a problem that’s right we still have only 90 apples for a hundred people
have only 90 apples for a hundred people
have only 90 apples for a hundred people so ten people will still go hungry our
so ten people will still go hungry our
so ten people will still go hungry our first two approaches turned out to have
first two approaches turned out to have
first two approaches turned out to have more to do with which people got the
more to do with which people got the
more to do with which people got the apples than with how many people got the
apples than with how many people got the
apples than with how many people got the apples beyond any individual factors
apples beyond any individual factors
apples beyond any individual factors keeping people from getting the apples
keeping people from getting the apples
keeping people from getting the apples beyond the group inequalities we need to
beyond the group inequalities we need to
beyond the group inequalities we need to solve a systemic problem a macro problem
solve a systemic problem a macro problem
solve a systemic problem a macro problem more people than apples one solution has
more people than apples one solution has
more people than apples one solution has to do with distribution I can cut all
to do with distribution I can cut all
to do with distribution I can cut all the apples into sections and give
the apples into sections and give
the apples into sections and give everybody nine-tenths of an apple or I
everybody nine-tenths of an apple or I
everybody nine-tenths of an apple or I could make applesauce and ladle it out
could make applesauce and ladle it out
could make applesauce and ladle it out in equal bowls that way no one will get
in equal bowls that way no one will get
in equal bowls that way no one will get a whole Apple but no one will go hungry
a whole Apple but no one will go hungry
a whole Apple but no one will go hungry either
either
either another type of solution is about
another type of solution is about
another type of solution is about growing the pie in this case the apple
growing the pie in this case the apple
growing the pie in this case the apple pie I could find a way to bring 100
pie I could find a way to bring 100
pie I could find a way to bring 100 apples instead of 90 now let’s pause
apples instead of 90 now let’s pause
apples instead of 90 now let’s pause here
here
here for a moment and translate our Apple
for a moment and translate our Apple
for a moment and translate our Apple game back into the world of public
game back into the world of public
game back into the world of public policy let’s use it to frame our answers
policy let’s use it to frame our answers
policy let’s use it to frame our answers to the question why are people living in
to the question why are people living in
to the question why are people living in poverty one way to answer that question
poverty one way to answer that question
poverty one way to answer that question is to look at individuals as we did when
is to look at individuals as we did when
is to look at individuals as we did when we asked about the ten people in the
we asked about the ten people in the
we asked about the ten people in the back row this lens can be helpful for
back row this lens can be helpful for
back row this lens can be helpful for example when we are asking why did two
example when we are asking why did two
example when we are asking why did two brothers who grew up in exactly the same
brothers who grew up in exactly the same
brothers who grew up in exactly the same circumstances but one ended up in
circumstances but one ended up in
circumstances but one ended up in poverty and one did not maybe one worked
poverty and one did not maybe one worked
poverty and one did not maybe one worked harder maybe wanted more talent maybe
harder maybe wanted more talent maybe
harder maybe wanted more talent maybe one just had better luck they differed
one just had better luck they differed
one just had better luck they differed as individuals this individual lense is
as individuals this individual lense is
as individuals this individual lense is also helpful if we’re trying to help a
also helpful if we’re trying to help a
also helpful if we’re trying to help a person get out of poverty or avoid it in
person get out of poverty or avoid it in
person get out of poverty or avoid it in the first place what advice would you
the first place what advice would you
the first place what advice would you give your teenage child about how to
give your teenage child about how to
give your teenage child about how to avoid poverty stay in school and get as
avoid poverty stay in school and get as
avoid poverty stay in school and get as much education as you can that radically
much education as you can that radically
much education as you can that radically reduces your chances of living in
reduces your chances of living in
reduces your chances of living in poverty stay out of trouble with the law
poverty stay out of trouble with the law
poverty stay out of trouble with the law don’t take out too much debt this is all
don’t take out too much debt this is all
don’t take out too much debt this is all very good advice but it doesn’t address
very good advice but it doesn’t address
very good advice but it doesn’t address the problem of some groups having unfair
the problem of some groups having unfair
the problem of some groups having unfair advantages let’s imagine two young
advantages let’s imagine two young
advantages let’s imagine two young people who follow all our advice and now
people who follow all our advice and now
people who follow all our advice and now they’re out applying for jobs except
they’re out applying for jobs except
they’re out applying for jobs except that one is black and one is white well
that one is black and one is white well
that one is black and one is white well study after study has shown that when
study after study has shown that when
study after study has shown that when researchers send out identical resumes
researchers send out identical resumes
researchers send out identical resumes except that half have white sounding
except that half have white sounding
except that half have white sounding names and half have black sounding names
names and half have black sounding names
names and half have black sounding names the white names get call backs and far
the white names get call backs and far
the white names get call backs and far higher rates than the blacks this kind
higher rates than the blacks this kind
higher rates than the blacks this kind of discrimination which remains
of discrimination which remains
of discrimination which remains prevalent in employment but also in
prevalent in employment but also in
prevalent in employment but also in education housing healthcare criminal
education housing healthcare criminal
education housing healthcare criminal justice and every other facet of our
justice and every other facet of our
justice and every other facet of our social life helps to explain why
social life helps to explain why
social life helps to explain why african-americans have twice the poverty
african-americans have twice the poverty
african-americans have twice the poverty rate of whites but remember even when we
rate of whites but remember even when we
rate of whites but remember even when we move from the individual to the group we
move from the individual to the group we
move from the individual to the group we are still talking about which people not
are still talking about which people not
are still talking about which people not about how many people are living in
about how many people are living in
about how many people are living in poverty to zero in on this distinction
poverty to zero in on this distinction
poverty to zero in on this distinction let’s talk about education education is
let’s talk about education education is
let’s talk about education education is the single best way for an individual to
the single best way for an individual to
the single best way for an individual to avoid being poor but when it comes to
avoid being poor but when it comes to
avoid being poor but when it comes to the macro level
the macro level
the macro level education is a surprisingly weak factor
education is a surprisingly weak factor
education is a surprisingly weak factor why think about the job market here in
why think about the job market here in
why think about the job market here in western New York about one-third of the
western New York about one-third of the
western New York about one-third of the jobs that we have are low wage jobs in
jobs that we have are low wage jobs in
jobs that we have are low wage jobs in the service sector with a median income
the service sector with a median income
the service sector with a median income of less than $26,000 a year these are
of less than $26,000 a year these are
of less than $26,000 a year these are people working as cashiers food servers
people working as cashiers food servers
people working as cashiers food servers daycare workers nursing home aides
daycare workers nursing home aides
daycare workers nursing home aides they’re all doing important work vital
they’re all doing important work vital
they’re all doing important work vital to our economy but many of them are not
to our economy but many of them are not
to our economy but many of them are not earning enough to keep a family out of
earning enough to keep a family out of
earning enough to keep a family out of poverty now let’s say that every single
poverty now let’s say that every single
poverty now let’s say that every single one of those workers earned a PhD well
one of those workers earned a PhD well
one of those workers earned a PhD well we have eliminated poverty No
we have eliminated poverty No
we have eliminated poverty No somebody still needs to do all those
somebody still needs to do all those
somebody still needs to do all those jobs and if the jobs paid poverty level
jobs and if the jobs paid poverty level
jobs and if the jobs paid poverty level wages then the people who work them will
wages then the people who work them will
wages then the people who work them will be living in poverty 7-eleven will not
be living in poverty 7-eleven will not
be living in poverty 7-eleven will not pay a cashier more because she has a PhD
pay a cashier more because she has a PhD
pay a cashier more because she has a PhD in economics it’s as simple as that
in economics it’s as simple as that
in economics it’s as simple as that education is better at predicting which
education is better at predicting which
education is better at predicting which people live in poverty than how many to
people live in poverty than how many to
people live in poverty than how many to understand our Apple example at the
understand our Apple example at the
understand our Apple example at the macro level we have to look at how many
macro level we have to look at how many
macro level we have to look at how many apples are being brought and how they’re
apples are being brought and how they’re
apples are being brought and how they’re being shared to understand poverty at
being shared to understand poverty at
being shared to understand poverty at the macro level we need to look at how
the macro level we need to look at how
the macro level we need to look at how many living wage jobs there are and how
many living wage jobs there are and how
many living wage jobs there are and how the wealth that they create is being
the wealth that they create is being
the wealth that they create is being shared it’s this society-wide lens that
shared it’s this society-wide lens that
shared it’s this society-wide lens that helps us to understand why the poverty
helps us to understand why the poverty
helps us to understand why the poverty rate goes up and down how did we cut
rate goes up and down how did we cut
rate goes up and down how did we cut poverty among senior citizens
poverty among senior citizens
poverty among senior citizens dramatically in the 1960s it wasn’t that
dramatically in the 1960s it wasn’t that
dramatically in the 1960s it wasn’t that senior citizens as individuals made
senior citizens as individuals made
senior citizens as individuals made better choices it was that we changed
better choices it was that we changed
better choices it was that we changed national policy to raise their incomes
national policy to raise their incomes
national policy to raise their incomes with programs like Social Security and
with programs like Social Security and
with programs like Social Security and cut their expenses with programs like
cut their expenses with programs like
cut their expenses with programs like Medicare it’s also this policy level
Medicare it’s also this policy level
Medicare it’s also this policy level that helps us to understand why
that helps us to understand why
that helps us to understand why countries with similar economies can
countries with similar economies can
countries with similar economies can have vastly different poverty rates why
have vastly different poverty rates why
have vastly different poverty rates why is it that the child poverty rate in
is it that the child poverty rate in
is it that the child poverty rate in Denmark is less than 3% while in the
Denmark is less than 3% while in the
Denmark is less than 3% while in the United States it’s over 20% Denmark in
United States it’s over 20% Denmark in
United States it’s over 20% Denmark in the US have made different policy
the US have made different policy
the US have made different policy choices about how to share their apples
choices about how to share their apples
choices about how to share their apples now let’s talk about solving poverty the
now let’s talk about solving poverty the
now let’s talk about solving poverty the good news is when it comes to
good news is when it comes to
good news is when it comes to understanding poverty at the macro level
understanding poverty at the macro level
understanding poverty at the macro level it’s surprisingly simple
it’s surprisingly simple
it’s surprisingly simple solving poverty is not like curing
solving poverty is not like curing
solving poverty is not like curing cancer or sending people to Mars because
cancer or sending people to Mars because
cancer or sending people to Mars because poverty is in many ways a
poverty is in many ways a
poverty is in many ways a straightforward problem means that your
straightforward problem means that your
straightforward problem means that your income is too low and your expenses are
income is too low and your expenses are
income is too low and your expenses are too high and so reducing poverty means
too high and so reducing poverty means
too high and so reducing poverty means choosing public policies that raise
choosing public policies that raise
choosing public policies that raise people’s incomes and lower their
people’s incomes and lower their
people’s incomes and lower their expenses let’s talk first about raising
expenses let’s talk first about raising
expenses let’s talk first about raising incomes the key to income for most
incomes the key to income for most
incomes the key to income for most people is wages and there’s some tried
people is wages and there’s some tried
people is wages and there’s some tried and true ways to raise wages one is to
and true ways to raise wages one is to
and true ways to raise wages one is to raise the minimum wage the current
raise the minimum wage the current
raise the minimum wage the current federal minimum wage is 725 an hour
federal minimum wage is 725 an hour
federal minimum wage is 725 an hour that’s very low in the late 1960s the
that’s very low in the late 1960s the
that’s very low in the late 1960s the minimum wage was worth over $10 an hour
minimum wage was worth over $10 an hour
minimum wage was worth over $10 an hour in today’s dollars since then it has
in today’s dollars since then it has
in today’s dollars since then it has been eroded by inflation if we recovered
been eroded by inflation if we recovered
been eroded by inflation if we recovered those losses by raising it back to where
those losses by raising it back to where
those losses by raising it back to where it was we would bring thousands of
it was we would bring thousands of
it was we would bring thousands of families out of poverty but when we
families out of poverty but when we
families out of poverty but when we think about raising incomes remember
think about raising incomes remember
think about raising incomes remember that not everyone can work many people
that not everyone can work many people
that not everyone can work many people are temporarily or permanently disabled
are temporarily or permanently disabled
are temporarily or permanently disabled and whether they live in poverty will
and whether they live in poverty will
and whether they live in poverty will depend in large part on how much public
depend in large part on how much public
depend in large part on how much public assistance we provide to them the
assistance we provide to them the
assistance we provide to them the federal program we have for people who
federal program we have for people who
federal program we have for people who are permanently disabled is SSI
are permanently disabled is SSI
are permanently disabled is SSI Supplemental Security income in 2015 the
Supplemental Security income in 2015 the
Supplemental Security income in 2015 the annual SSI payment for a single person
annual SSI payment for a single person
annual SSI payment for a single person was eight thousand eight hundred dollars
was eight thousand eight hundred dollars
was eight thousand eight hundred dollars the federal poverty line was eleven
the federal poverty line was eleven
the federal poverty line was eleven thousand seven hundred dollars in other
thousand seven hundred dollars in other
thousand seven hundred dollars in other words our public policy is that people
words our public policy is that people
words our public policy is that people are permanently disabled should live in
are permanently disabled should live in
are permanently disabled should live in poverty that is not a fact of nature or
poverty that is not a fact of nature or
poverty that is not a fact of nature or a fact of life it’s a decision that we
a fact of life it’s a decision that we
a fact of life it’s a decision that we as a society have made but poverty is
as a society have made but poverty is
as a society have made but poverty is not just a question of income it’s also
not just a question of income it’s also
not just a question of income it’s also a question of expenses think for a
a question of expenses think for a
a question of expenses think for a minute about the biggest items in your
minute about the biggest items in your
minute about the biggest items in your household budget things like housing
household budget things like housing
household budget things like housing utilities food transportation and
utilities food transportation and
utilities food transportation and childcare the cost of these items is
childcare the cost of these items is
childcare the cost of these items is affected not just by the private market
affected not just by the private market
affected not just by the private market but also by public policies so if we
but also by public policies so if we
but also by public policies so if we want to lower people’s expenses we can
want to lower people’s expenses we can
want to lower people’s expenses we can lower their expenses for the things that
lower their expenses for the things that
lower their expenses for the things that come out of their basic household budget
come out of their basic household budget
come out of their basic household budget an easy one is taxes by lowering the
an easy one is taxes by lowering the
an easy one is taxes by lowering the amount that low income people pay in
amount that low income people pay in
amount that low income people pay in their income
their income
their income taxes we can boost people out of poverty
taxes we can boost people out of poverty
taxes we can boost people out of poverty the program that does that is called the
the program that does that is called the
the program that does that is called the Earned Income Tax Credit it lifts 10
Earned Income Tax Credit it lifts 10
Earned Income Tax Credit it lifts 10 million people out of poverty each year
million people out of poverty each year
million people out of poverty each year other programs like food stamps lower
other programs like food stamps lower
other programs like food stamps lower the cost of food affordable housing
the cost of food affordable housing
the cost of food affordable housing programs lower the cost of rent but it
programs lower the cost of rent but it
programs lower the cost of rent but it turns out that the United States spends
turns out that the United States spends
turns out that the United States spends much less on these programs than other
much less on these programs than other
much less on these programs than other countries and that’s why we have such
countries and that’s why we have such
countries and that’s why we have such high poverty rates compared to those
high poverty rates compared to those
high poverty rates compared to those other countries alright let’s wrap up
other countries alright let’s wrap up
other countries alright let’s wrap up with what we’ve learned about poverty
with what we’ve learned about poverty
with what we’ve learned about poverty the first is that the typical family
the first is that the typical family
the first is that the typical family living in poverty in the United States
living in poverty in the United States
living in poverty in the United States is not who many of us thought it was
is not who many of us thought it was
is not who many of us thought it was it’s a white mom with a high school
it’s a white mom with a high school
it’s a white mom with a high school diploma and one or two kids living in
diploma and one or two kids living in
diploma and one or two kids living in the suburbs the second is that certain
the suburbs the second is that certain
the suburbs the second is that certain groups suffer disproportionately from
groups suffer disproportionately from
groups suffer disproportionately from poverty and that that fact comes from
poverty and that that fact comes from
poverty and that that fact comes from discrimination today in a long history
discrimination today in a long history
discrimination today in a long history of discrimination in the past and
of discrimination in the past and
of discrimination in the past and finally we learned that when it comes to
finally we learned that when it comes to
finally we learned that when it comes to the causes of poverty it matters whether
the causes of poverty it matters whether
the causes of poverty it matters whether we focus on individuals groups or
we focus on individuals groups or
we focus on individuals groups or societies to determine whether we’re
societies to determine whether we’re
societies to determine whether we’re talking about which people live in
talking about which people live in
talking about which people live in poverty or how many and when it comes to
poverty or how many and when it comes to
poverty or how many and when it comes to that big question how many people are
that big question how many people are
that big question how many people are living in poverty why are there over 40
living in poverty why are there over 40
living in poverty why are there over 40 million people living in poverty in the
million people living in poverty in the
million people living in poverty in the United States today it’s a matter of
United States today it’s a matter of
United States today it’s a matter of public policy choices it’s not that we
public policy choices it’s not that we
public policy choices it’s not that we don’t know how to solve poverty it’s
don’t know how to solve poverty it’s
don’t know how to solve poverty it’s that we’ve chosen not to we lack the
that we’ve chosen not to we lack the
that we’ve chosen not to we lack the political will and that means that it’s
political will and that means that it’s
political will and that means that it’s up to all of us to help generate that
up to all of us to help generate that
up to all of us to help generate that political will and demand that our
political will and demand that our
political will and demand that our elected leaders make reducing poverty a
elected leaders make reducing poverty a
elected leaders make reducing poverty a top priority after all
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