D#2, HW#5, Topic Reflection

I was initially interested in this topic because it is a major problem in America today. I see poverty stricken people everyday of my life - on the streets, inside fast food places, in grocery stores, everywhere. After exploring this topic a little bit, I was suprised to read that one out of every five American children live in poverty. The statistics of poverty among different locations, genders, and races in the United States was also very shocking. I feel very passionate about this topic because it's our countries citizens that are being effected so negatively. Although the government spends a lot of money on welfare programs, it spends more money on un-nessecary things. I wonder how many lives could have been saved if the money that was spent on the lizard designs and the nice brick patterns on the freeways had been spent on food or shelters for people who have no money. I was raised to always look out for the less fortunate and I guess that's why i'm so passionate about this topic. I also have personal experience with people living in poverty. A woman that I worked with in Oregon couldn't afford rent so she was forced to live out of her car. It was in the winter time, snowing, and she and her husband had to suffer through the freezing nights with no source of heat. We worked in an assisted living home and when nobody was looking she would sneak crackers out to her husband it the parking lot. That was heartbreaking to see. If there was better programs for people without money, then she, or millions of others wouldn't have to suffer.