What issue-nutrition, housing, health care, education-should get the highest priority to fight poverty & why?
922512
This is a very hard question to answer. We know that all these issues are important. Education is often the way out of poverty, but children have a hard time learning if they are hungry, ill, or live in unsafe conditions. Yet, it is not enough just to give people health care, food, and shelter. Somehow we have to give them these things, but also give them hope for the future. Somehow we have to do it all. Head Start and Even Start are great programs and they do help. They give children nutrition, health care, and education. Hopefully their families are getting adequate housing at the same time. Workforce job training is a good program if people can be trained in jobs that are in demand and if they can be transitioned into jobs and not just have the rug pulled out from under them as soon as they get a paycheck. Somehow, I still feel that education and training is what is going to give the biggest bang for the buck, but only with the necessary support services to see individuals in poverty through to the end. I have heard it said that many of the education/training programs attempt to give a hand up, not a hand out. I think that is probably true. Nothing can raise a person's self-esteem like feeling like they are successful. Education can do that, whether it is completing pre-school, high school, or college. For that reason, I still feel education is the best way to fight poverty.
1165187
Excellent question. Though there are some homeless people who are simply lazy, the issue is much more complex than conservatives would have you think. Even if the person is a lazy bum, maybe they have children. Should their children have to live on the street because their parents are lazy? I think not. As far as being mentally ill, this is true also; however, I fail to see what it has to do with the question. So, mentally ill people should be left starving and homeless? In the richest country in the world?? It is ridiculous and it is sad that our government is more concerned with immoral wars and increasing their own wealth than helping the poorest among us. And all the while sending billions in aid to other countries. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with helping poor people from ANY country; however, American citizens should come first. No American should be homeless or hungry. No American citizen should be unable to see a doctor because of a lack of insurance. I will repeat, we live in the RICHEST country in the world and we let our own people suffer like this while at the same time rushing to "liberate" Iraq at a cost of billions of dollars. It is shameful.
628063
How about the Immigration issue or global warming?\nBoth are highly controversial issues.
391909
The reason for poverty in America is the politics's of greed, or Repuglicans in general. I have mine and I want to make more therefore I do not want to pay taxes and to hell with anybody else. Being poor is no more a choice then homosexuality. It is thrust on 10% of the population by another 10% of the population the very rich. I wonder why of for what reason that a person needs every cent of their billion dollars and there are many billionaires here. There is also a thing with corporate greed. Move the good paying jobs with health benefits overseas to a place where people work for pennies. But do you see the price come down on anything because of it. The answer is a big NO. Socialized medicine is long overdue here it is needed by all, not just an elite few. Every one in the United States should have a birthright to three things food, shelter and health care.
940129
There will always be poverty.   They can not be eliminated.   Some poverty exists because of the poor fortune people had.   But some are because of people not willing to do their best and work themselves up.\n\nThe question may how to reduce the poverty.      We must look at what are the most basic thing that keeps people down.\n1. housing\n2. medical expenses\n3. educations\n4. jobs\n\nIf only we can help/assist people with the needs for affordable help on the four major categories,  many people still stuck at or below poverty line.
550689
poverty and injustice
928482
Welfare is meant to help people that are on hard times. I believe in a compassionate state where no one should be hungry, be without shelter, security, education. I do not believe in handouts to the lazy as it is a tremendous drag on society and is a major reason for high taxes. \n\nI therefore advocate a system where people that are unable to support themselves receive welfare in a different format.\n1-safe and secure housing (very basic)\n2-food vouchers (healthy food only)\n3-free access to education and job training that is of a very high caliber\n4-vouchers for consumer goods at thrift stores like goodwill and value village\n5-health care\n6-mass transportation\n\nThis spartan existence should not be preferable for people to live off so there is an incentive to get to work and improve their lives.\n\nNo one should get cheques to squander on cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, junk food and other wasteful things. Not everyone is able to care properly for their children so welfare should not be a pay raise for people. On this note, there should be excellent boarding houses (akin to those used by the wealthy) where children can be brought up in safe and healthy environments and afforded the best education. Transforming future lost generations into productive members of society.
498069
I think a lot of money goes into AIDS research, and although there is obviously no cure yet, there are drugs that greatly prolong life.  Treatment and drug distribution should be a major concern, however.  The AIDS epidemic in Africa is devastating, and it is genuinely horrifying to realize that I live in a country (U.S.) that would rather funnel my tax money into a phony war that I don't support than use it to help masses of people who suffer indescribable conditions every day of their lives.  First world powers, capable of stepping in, are just leaving the African continent to rot.  The vast majority of AIDS sufferers in Africa don't have access to the medication that could improve their health and prolong their lives, and government leaders constantly avoid discussing this issue.  Even in my own country, where we do not have socialized medicine, there are people living with this disease who have no means of paying for treatment.  Health care costs are exorbitant, and fewer and fewer companies are willing to provide workers with these benefits.  I constantly hear people referring to the U.S. as one of the richest nations in the world.  Well, that may be, but I'm not in the least bit impressed with the way in which our government allocates resources.  Obviously tax cuts for the richest 1 percent of our population are more important than providing decent health care to the middle and lower classes.  It's disgusting, and things have to change.  Greed is running rampant and we are squandering one of the world's most precious resources, human life.
186489
Home safety improvements can start with alarm systems, add a good dog, then get and learn to use a firearm. (Note: Firearms are not for everyone.  If you have kids, think long and hard about a firearm.)\n\nMy opinion on poverty is (1) bad or corrupt government (2) poor education due to bad system (back to government) or lack of funds (3) lack of opportunities (government again)\n(4) lack of motivation are the cause of poverty.\n\nThe solution is replace "bad and lack" with "good and plenty".
338100
This is no small question.  :)\n\nIn your family, eluding poverty involves hard work.  Those who start poor will not have an easy time, but hard work is the key.  Nevertheless, life throws us sour apples at times and there is no way to perfectly prevent bankruptcy or financial ruin.  Things happen.  These are learning arenas where only by persisting can one make headway.\n\nAs far as country is concerned, I will speak for the sake of the USA (my country).  There really is no excuse for poverty in America; we have more than enough resources to meet the needs of every American and all those who would wish to immigrate.  ***Allocation*** is the problem, and I don't mean that in the Capitalism vs. Socialism frame -- I still believe in Capitalism.  Thing is, many items on our budget are frivolous or faulty; it is grand that our government is kind enough to fund socially-minded groups (which can be funded by charity), individuals who refuse to take care of themselves (remaining in poverty and pulling others down with them), and poor countries (don't get upset on this one yet; I'll handle it next), but meanwhile we have starving children of our own.  Nobody should be starving; there's enough food in America to feed the whole Western continent!!! \n\nAnd the world at large...  We have spent decades throwing money into third world countries, and no change has been made.  The reason:  most of these countries are ruled by selfish dictators who take our generous funds and use them craftily in self-serving ways.  You CANNOT pour money into a country with corrupted leadership!  \n\nGhana is an excellent example; thousands of Christians with good intentions send supplies and money to this country...apparently unaware that the military (and postal service itself) goes through these things before they ever reach their target.  When they do, if they do, guess what?  Yep.  Resources are gone.  I've been to Ghana and seen this with my own eyes.  The only way to get resources in successfully is by taking them in yourself or being there when they arrive...and since civil law is ruled militaristically, this still does not mean you will keep them.\n\nUnfortunately, I don't have a sound answer to eradicating poverty in third world countries.  We could make sure resources entered in massive quantities, but that would not necessarily change the economy or government...and we've recently experienced how costly and grueling changing the government can be (if you're responsible afterwards).
831682
probably studies in social sciences, economy and employment are two things that homeless people and health care facilities can not fix, its the politicians who are unable to fix them one way or the other, so the results and recommendations from such studies would be mere waste of paper, good luck
1102396
Because the government doesn't care if poor people survive.  Have you noticed the truly healthy foods are very expensive?  Think about it.
419291
Prevention is better than cure. It can happen anywhere anytime again, so what we should do is helping poor countries to develop. If they have no reason to strike, they are less likely to do it.
1037219
If I had the money...I would fix up inner city schools and make sure they have modern computers and have people who know how to fix them. With large numbers of people leaving the country and moving to the city, this could be very helpful. I would also work on feeding and clothing the poor in America.
1038157
Unhappily, most "developing nations" are corrupt.  Billions have been spent on them, only to have the bucks stolen and/or misdirected and/or misspent.  Further, a bunch of them have an environment rife with disease and degradation.  It is a very formidable enterprise to "help develop" such places.\n\nSo I would say that what would be most effective is to promote self development strategies, which would mean self-cleansing of corruption, to start.  Once that has been well enough tackled, then these nations should prioritize their development with the view that the people need to work, and to work, they need decent food, clothing, health care, and education.
432314
Poverty is the main problem. What follows is lack of education, utilities, medical care, food and all the other things we take for granted. It also opens the company up to dictators who, with a little money and power, can control the weakened population and keep them surpressed.\n\nThe Asian countries are great examples but Africa, Russia , Mexicon and Cuba also are models of what can happen when there are long histories of poverty and surpression. We have so much to protect and be thankful for in America.
1187373
personally I think we have more important things to worry about like poverty, war, healthcare, the economy, issues facing everyday Americans.  Gay marriage... let gay people get married, who I dont understand why its such a big deal who marries whom.  Its a "throw away" issue used to distract people from bigger problems