The purpose of my letter is to introduce you to the problem of poverty among U.S. citizens and to offer the steps that should be taken to improve the situation. Despite the fact, that America is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, millions of people still struggle to support their families with food and other resources. Low wages and unemployment are reasons for hunger. The issue appears to be the most pressing among children, as they cannot feed themselves and rely fully on their parents. Although the government and the global administrative society have developed several programs to fight poverty and hunger, they do not seem to provide sufficient results. It appears that the problem should also be tackled individually.
The issue of poverty has existed in the world since humanity transferred from hunting and gathering to farming. As people collected more valuables over centuries, resources were distinguished unevenly, dividing the society into the rich and the poor. Nowadays, democracy prevails over most of the world. It is the government’s concern to ensure every citizen has a decent life. However, the issue has been persistent even these days. The USA experienced major economic downfalls in the past. The Great Depression caused unemployment and famine among thousands of Americans. The recent economic crisis of 2008 created similar problems, as many people lost their jobs or were forced to work with little reward. Nowadays, as the country is slowly recovering from the latest recession, reports are showing a slight improvement in the situation with the U.S. poverty rate declining by 1,5 percent in 20131. However, there is still much to be done as more than 10 percent of the country’s population does not have the means for the essential products and services.
While receiving education and finding a job is the responsibility of an individual, people in charge of the country’s administration are required to take every possible action to ease this process. Since people pay taxes, they expect their money to be used for reasonable initiatives that would improve the quality of life. Currently, the government is implementing several steps, which are targeted at the economic growth of the community. One of the campaigns includes the nutrition program design to ease the pressure of hunger among the most vulnerable populations,
specifically among women and children. The primary problem of the nutrition program lies in the fact that not all the eligible groups are enrolled in it2. Another program developed by the UN called the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) seems to have better results. According to the reports, the MDG campaign has decreased the poverty rates by half3, and the numbers are expected to go down further. It proves that the issue is best resolved when the actions are taken both on the local and the international levels.
The MDG includes several steps targeted at improving the wellbeing of people in the short- and long-term run. They include such segments as education, health care, and economic security. Supporting nations in these industries will ensure all generations receive benefits from the budget. The sanitary regulations are crucial as well, for they provide a healthy environment for everyone. One of the most important goals is educating children on their rights, as it will create a base for the future prosperity of the community. Since you are a person who is well-known for addressing the poverty issue in your local community, you could promote the MDG values among people. Your authority might be a great benefit during the meetings and presentations. Moreover, it allows you to contact the administration offices of your state to inform them of the required actions. Your effort put into fighting hunger and poverty would be extremely valuable.
References
Clarke, Kevin. “Small progress on U.S. poverty.” America, 2014, 9-10.
Egerter, Susan, Carina Saraiva and Brian Morrow. “Eligibility and enrollment in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) — 27 states and New York City, 2007-2008.” MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 62, no. 10: 189-193.
LaFranchi, Howard. “UN Millennium Development goals: World cuts extreme poverty in half.” Christian Science Monitor, 1.
Footnotes
- Clarke, Kevin. “Small progress on U.S. poverty.” America, 2014, 9-10.
- Egerter, Susan, Carina Saraiva, and Brian Morrow. “Eligibility and enrollment in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) — 27 states and New York City, 2007-2008.” MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 62, no. 10 (March 2013): 189-193.
- LaFranchi, Howard. “UN Millennium Development goals: World cuts extreme poverty in half.” Christian Science Monitor, 2014, 1.