(H) 376-382: Grans, The Uses of Poverty

Everyone plays a role in poverty, rich and poor. Depending on whose perspective you’re looking from. If I look at poverty from an upper-class advantage. I would argue that everyone has a chance in this country to make a living for their families or for themselves, and those in poverty are by choice. In other words, poverty only exists because the upper class has work to be done that they are not willing to do themselves. So, someone has to do the dirty work, and that’s where the lower or working class comes in. They are provided these jobs with little to no pay. Society needs poor people to do all dangerous, underpaid and temporary jobs. People who are able to get jobs that are enjoyable or easy would never want to do all the icky and dangerous jobs that need to be done. Since poor people are always in need of work, and are sometimes willing to do anything, they are usually the one who takes on these jobs. Then comes the rich people hardly having to pay taxes “by helping the poor” and sharing taxes, the poor to middle class are the ones who pick up the slack, even if these taxes are going to things that benefit the rich. The poor usually support the innovation in medical practice where they become the guinea pigs for research and experiments. Rich get richer and the poor get poorer. In some cases, services are good practices that protect poor communities, and help to raise awareness about the conditions in their community. In other occasions services that the poor help provide are sales of drugs, prostitutes, and pawn shops. Many poor people, or homeless are in their situation because of drugs, and still continue to buy and use (which they may get help there are many programs that are free of cost and will help but they choose not to). Some people even resort to prostitution as a way to make ends meet. In the lower-class, people are willing to buy old food or used clothing because of the cost of such goods. Places like the Dollar store, thrift stores and flea markets wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for poor people. They are also the ones who are willing to see old or poorly trained doctors, teachers and lawyers that other people who are in need of extra service. We all don’t like to be guilty or have fault so society needs people to blame for being lazy, dishonest and promiscuous. Since poor people are the ones that have been labeled to be these things, we need them to show the country what will happen if you act this way. Society has made us believe that poor people are lazy, and that’s the reason why they are poor. Society has also made us believe that poor people are dishonest. Many field working Mexican are the hardest working and no one really appreciates them. They are also not well seen because of their illegal status but who wants the job they have? My irrelevant thing is their fault. Poor people’s cultures are often taken by rich or privileged white people. Things that most cultures get called “ghetto or hood,” for, are becoming accepted once white people “adopt” it. In a social aspect, being poor means you’re more likely to be punished and labeled a deviant criminal for breaking the norms. Then it becomes justifiable to find those who oppose standards and ascribe to them negative characteristics. Our country has a huge distinction between the rich and the poor. Someone always has to be at the bottom, and if you’re not poor, you’re not at the bottom. It has always been this way. Many people in this country have entered the middle class because of the profits of services in the poor communities. Drug dealers and prostitutes, even strippers who have made a lot of money by being deviant, and thus being able to become middle class citizens. Society needs poor people as clients of settlement housing and beneficiaries of charitable affairs to show superiority of other elites. Aristocrats often look good when they are seen helping the poor. Poor people often suffer the consequences of change and growth in cities. Many are kicked out of their neighborhoods so that the city can” grow”. Since many of the poor do not vote, people who can actually create change for them are not put into office. Instead, people who want to keep the poor right where they are, are controlling the government. Basically, meaning that society needs people to pity. Also, saying that the poor are usually labeled as deviant, which reduces the pressure for politicians to do something about poverty, when other people in society just think as the poor as being criminals and trouble makers.