Poverty is the lack of money, need or scarcity. In America this definition applies to over 12. Poverty is not something that has just recently became an issue, it has been around for many of years. For many people in America to be in poverty means that they live from paycheck to paycheck. In most cases most people find themselves without income and unable to support themselves or their family. In America most people don't face starvation although many suffer from undernourishment. A key issue in the area of poverty in America is inequality. Poor people are often looked upon for the state they"re in rather than how"d they get there and how can they be helped to get out. America is suspicious of the both the poor and helping them. However there have been programs implemented to help the less fortunate. Programs such as Social Security, Food stamps, and housing assistance are programs that have helped lower the high risk of poverty. These programs have helped but are not enough to eliminate poverty. America and its government along with the poor need to work find a better way.
There is a history of poverty in America. Human beings lived in colonies and tried to survive by collecting things from their environment, then they would settle down in a specific territory and start their own nutrition. Even in these early stages the concept of poverty exists because people are classified by the territory where they live and by their sex. After many of years the amount of people suffering from poverty has continued to increase. Laissez-fair is also a major factor to why poverty exists today. The laissez-faire economic theory claimed that the economy and society would prosper if business and industries were allowed to do whatever they wanted to make profit. Many businessmen used this system to justify their "monopoly", bad working conditions, competition and the mistreatment of workers through low pay, long-hours and child labor.