The United States of America is the world’s wealthiest nation, yet 14.5 percent of all households in America struggle to put food on the table (U.S Hunger). That is 49 million people (U.S Hunger). 51.4 percent of every American citizen will live in poverty at some point in their lives before age 65 (U.S Hunger). A person working at full time at minimum wage earns about 14,500 a year (U.S Hunger). The official poverty line for a family of three, one parent, two children, is 17,568 (U.S Hunger). It’s unbelievable to know that more than one in seven people in the United States live below the poverty line (U.S Hunger). That is one in five children (U.S Hunger). Although these numbers may be surprising, they are not just statistics, they are human beings, our neighbors, our children, and our fellow Americans. We as a nation need to come together to end poverty in America (Edwards). By doing this we will decrease crime rates throughout our country, promote education and jobs to U.S citizens, and increase healthy lifestyles.

Carrying this further, studies show that ending poverty in America will decrease crime in rural and urban areas. Dario Berrebi from poverties.org says, “the unmistakable characteristic of poverty and crime is that they are both concentrated in the same areas. This reveals a strong connection between the two issues.” If the people of America end poverty, and strive every day to improve the lives of others, unsafe neighborhoods, violence, and the drive to steal will soon be greatly diminished as well. David K. Shipler writes in his book, The Working Poor, “To have one bowl of rice in a society where all other people have half a bowl may as well be a sign of intelligence; it may spur a person to act and fulfill his human potential. To have five bowls of rice in a society where the majorities have a decent balanced diet is a tragedy.” Comparison of the rich to the poor is another reason for those that have less to aim for more. They feel as if their low income makes them unable to have the same opportunities as a wealthier person, and stealing in the best way to level the playing field. Crime is potently present in America, we may not end it completely, but we can strive to end it by destroying the poverty that resides in this Country.

Some people would argue that ending poverty in America will keep costing us money that is not there to spend. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51 percent of American adults think the government spends too much on poverty programs (Rasmussen). I believe by using a two year welfare program, and providing people with education and food, we can break the cycle and end poverty once and for all. It may cost money in the beginning but it will benefit in the long run. Dosomething.org says that, “Less than 30 percent of students in the bottom quarter of incomes enroll in a four year school, among that group less than half graduate.” Apa.org says that, “Inadequate education contributes to the cycle of poverty by making it more difficult for low income children to lift themselves and future generations out of poverty.” These facts are very sad and put a negative outcome on the American people. The way to escape poverty is simple, cost efficient, and will create a better face for the U.S. Ed Begley Jr. from betterworld.net says, “Think about it; every educated person is not rich, but almost every educated person has a job and a way out of poverty. So education is the fundamental solution to poverty.” If we provide poor people with two years of education and food, we will be able to take them off welfare because by then, they will have knowledge about a certain trade and will be able to get a job and provide for themselves on their own. These people could then, pay back into the system, starting businesses, hiring more people, paying more taxes, providing support for future employees, and slowly building up our economy. Although money will still be spent, citizens of America will not have to keep paying for poor people to be on welfare eternally.

Another reason poverty in America should be diminished is because it will inspire healthy lifestyles. Who.org says that, “The poor are exposed to greater personal and environmental health risks, are less well nourished, have less information, and are less able to access health care; thus they have a higher risk of illness and disability.” Poverty can affect citizens in many ways. First it can affect stress and mental health, secondly, it can affect physical health as well as obesity, and the third way is through infectious disease (Watson). The sad thing is that most poor families cannot afford to see the doctor or get the antibiotics needed if one of these three things were to take place. Flip Spagnoli from wordpress.com says that, “30 percent of poor Americans have been diagnosed with depression. “ A recently published study states that families with lower incomes have higher rates of obesity (Watson). And sociologists have actually found that poor neighborhoods and areas with housing projects only have convenient stores as their grocery supply (Watson). These stores of course do not offer fresh fruit and vegetables or lean meat, or acceptable sources of whole grain (Watson). By helping people escape poverty, we can dig them out of and unhealthy hole to a life full of nutrition.

In conclusion, our nation needs to join in union to destroy poverty in the U.S. Ending poverty in the United States of America will not only help our country by lowering crime, but it will lead to economic stability by providing jobs, and overall health will increase. If we as a nation unite like many organizations such as, Numana, Compassion International, and Do Something, to fight against poverty, we can break out of this vicious cycle and emerge into a virtuous one. Sponsoring people for a short period of time will have much better benefits than supporting someone for life while they stay on welfare. Soon everyone will be educated, off welfare, and bringing joy to our economy. They will have enough money to go to restaurants, buy clothes, buy groceries, go camping, go on vacations, all the while giving more money to companies and building our society one person at a time. Like our former President, Bill Clinton always said, “more possibility for growth and more possibility for prosperity for Americans is a very inexpensive thing to do, if you do it well.”

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Works Cited
Begley.Jr, Ed. "BetterWorld.net - Be a Hero for a Better World." Betterworld.net. The People For Peace Project, Web. 4 Mar. 2013
Berrebi, Dario. "Research on Poverty, Social & Economic Development." Poverties.org. Creative Commons, Web. 26 Feb. 2013
Edwards, John, Marion G. Crain, and Arne L. Kalleberg. Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream. New York: New, 2007. Print.
"Effects of Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness on Children and Youth." Apa.org. American Psycological Association (APA), 2012. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
"11 Facts About Education and Poverty in America." Dosomething.org. Do Something, Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
"Homepage - Bread for the World: Have Faith. End Hunger." Bread.org. Bread For The World, Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
"Poverty." Who.int. World Health Organization, 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Rasmussen, Scott. "51% Think Government Spends Too Much on Poverty Programs." Rasmussen Reports 23 Oct. 2012: 1. Print.
Shipler, David K. The Working Poor: Invisible in America. New York: Knopf, 2004. Print.
Spagnoli, Flip. "Statistics on Poverty and Health." Web log post. Flipspagnoli.wordpress.com. 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Watson, Haylie. "Poverty and Health: Obesity, Stress, Disease." Effects of Poverty on Health (2010): 1. My Family Plate. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.