Wealth Poverty

Patricia Stegall 6/30/99 Sociology 1B Midterm 2 Essay Identify and discuss sociologically the issues about wealth and poverty in American Society. What do you believe and why? The distribution of wealth, economic inequality, and the growing numbers of people living at or below the recognized "poverty level" are issues that must be dealt with in the United States. In general, Americans subscribe to the concept that everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for …

…poverty, but I believe there are measures that could halt the increasing disparity. Earned income credit and rent subsidies, if properly implemented, could alleviate the burden on the working poor. There will always be those among us who cannot work due to disability, age or infirmity, and the current "Welfare Reform" seems to ignore these individuals. I don't believe government "hand-outs" are the solution but the Federal government could develop incentives and a "safety net".