How+Mobile+Are+We

Poverty in America - How Mobile Are We?
 * Objectives:**
 * To present census data graphically
 * To analyze data over a period of time
 * To understand the various ways of interpreting poverty in the United States

The United States has been proud of the title "Land of Opportunity," but in recent years that title has come under attack. You see poverty in the news and even on your streets. You see it in your schools and neighborhoods, but are often at a loss as to what it means to you or your country. In this lesson you will develop and analyze graphs dealing with U. S. Census Bureau Data over a thirty-year span of time.

Working in your groups, and using data from Census Bureau's Income pages, along with your own research, create a chart showing the number of poor and the percentage of poor over the last thirty years. What year had the highest number of poor? Which year had the highest percentage of poor? Is it the same year? Why would the highest nmber of poor and the highest percentage of poor not have to be the same year? In the next five years, do you think the percentage of poor will go up or down? Why? Discuss the results within your group. Post your answers, along with evidence that you found in your research, to the discussion board.

Next, create a graph which shows the poverty rates for the following age groups during the same thirty-year span: Under 18 years, 18-64 years, and Over 65 years

Which age group had the greatest change in poverty rates? Which age group remained relatively constant? Which age group had the highest poverty rate? Why would this group be increasing? Why would the poverty rate for the over 65 year category by declining? Again, in your groups, discuss these questions and any other ideas that you may have discovered. Post your findings to the discussion board, making sure that your subject indicates the topic you are discussing.


 * Two Explanations**

The term "cycle of poverty" means that poverty passes from one generation to another generation so that if an individual is poor then the individual's children will be poor, and their children will be poor. As a result of the cultural effects of parents not having an education, their children are often not provided an education. Also, children learn to expect to be on government programs and accept it as the way of life is.

"Distribution of wealth" means that if the highest 20 percent of the population controls 78 percent of the wealth, and the lowest 20 percent of the population control 1 percent of the wealth, then the poor have less opportunity to have extra money to invest to make more money. This is supported by the adage that the "rich get richer and the poor get poorer.:

Research these theories and present your results in a post to the discussion board. Read the responses made by your classmates and post at least two comments, either agreeing or disagreeing, and explaining your reasons.


 * Writing Assignment**

The "cycle of poverty" thesis suggests that poverty is perpetuated by the personal characteristics of the poor themselves. An opposite thesis is that poverty is caused by unequal distribution of wealth in society. Select one of these views and explain how it affects mobility from one social class to another in the Unites States. Share your document with me through Google Docs.