We have seen that there are many ways to solve poverty, whether the answer lies in clean water, education, a change in mindset, housing, or more jobs. However, these are just ideas. What can you do to fight poverty? Turn your ideas into a plan of action! If you have already posted a plan, elaborate on it.
One example of this kind of plan would be a statement saying "I am going to donate one bag of clothing each month to help the poor."
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Monday, March 31, 2008
Question of the Week: March 17 - April 4
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70 comments:
Poverty is a very complex issue, no matter what, there are going to be people on the bottom of the chain of society. There is most likely never going to be a stable podium of middle class americans. The only way to stop poverty, would be to: reduce or even eliminate lazyness in our society, reduce the amount of people on welfare (only those that really need to be on it, for example the blind, or mentaly handicaped would be allowed the opportunity), and make a high school degree manditory . thus we will eliminate the ignorant civilians; and poverty. Another way we could reduce poverty, is to take money away from the fortune 500 companies. McDonalds makes 22 Billion dollars in one year. If we made it so McDonalds would have to pay the american government taxes for the ability to place their plague of food among us, and still make more than if we completely disallowed their franchise to be in any part of America, then we could be in buisness. Along with other companies. Otherwise, threaten them by making them pay or america prohibits their presence in america. Then we could give the money to the people who deserve it. well, i'm starting to ramble... i just though i would leave a wonderfull, cool, awesome, cool again, awesome... again... comment, because if i didn't, my grade would be horrid.
-Luke (anderson)
ps. ha! i beat the computer! i am smart!
I really think that we have a lazy way of helping out the poor. All we do is just give out money. It helps but it just makes poor people lazy and they will never truly get out of poverty. I think that we really need a program that provides cheaper education. Not only will there be less poverty, but it will make people more productive.
You know whats interesting? is the fact that there are so many teenagers throughout the world that have done pretty big changes. From helping the environment to helping an organization for kids or people with diseases. It must've taken a lot of dedication and hardwork to make it through, but they did.I do think that im capable of something like that, being able to help. Its more than likely that you need help to do it but if you stick through it, you'll make it.
berenice
yeah man, i agree. you can do anything if you want to. lol... it sounds cheesy but i just got it not too long ago. as a kid i was always like "well, you guys are dumb, you cant be a rocket scientist if you are a dairy farmer!" but if there is a will, there is a way. (lol... cheesy also). but my lifes plan is to join Americore when i'm out of high school, get a bacholers (dont know if that is spelled right) degree and then go to Africa with the peace core. then get a doctorate in psychology, and actually make a difference in the world.
I also agree with "kenny dodd", (whomever this mystery man or chick could be ]:| <-- pondering face) that by giving the poor money all the time isn't doing much. its like giving a kid a quarter every time he or she wants candy, they'll just keep coming back. you need to reward them. lol... it sounds wierd, but when the homeless that are addicted to drugs, get off the drugs, we will award them with money. and if they spend it on drugs, we take the drugs, or something. idk. but they should earn it.
-Luke
earn the money... not the drugs... just gonna clear that up...
-the same kid as up there... you know it probobly would have been easier to just put my name... oh well... i already wrote all this.
i agrre with berenice, but not all are willing to go to the extream distance like luke up there. However that doesnt mean that there arent simpler ways(just so yall know) Already stated, we can still recycle our paper, cans, bottles, and so much more!!! Donate your clothes to the ark, do some work at a shelter(doesnt matter what kind: food, animal, homeless. Once again endless.)
so really what im saying is, we can all make a difference, and most of us are already without really realizing it.
-Krystal Anne Powell
-p.s. luke get a blogger, way easier!!!
Solutions to solving poverty start with small steps. This isn't something that we can just wake up and think to our selves, "Hey, I think today I'm going to feed every homeless person in America." But there are many simple things that we can do to help. First off, donate food. Maybe if one homeless person has finally satisfied the feeling of hunger he'd some how find the energy to look for a job? You're probably thinking, "Uh, not likely" but hey people give them the benefit of the doubt. Be charitible, someone some where appreciates it. Be considerate enough to drop your few extra pennies into the donation cup for the hungry, don't over look the small fundraisers that we neglect everyday. Ha, I realize that my comment is somewhat straying from poverty, but hey its just a thought.
Kaeli ")
the only way to end poverty is to get teens and children something to look forward to in school, not the same thing every day to bore them, but make it something that they will get excited about. not a "oh yeah school," kind of thing but a "OH YEAH SCHOOL!!!!" kind of thing. the first step to ending overty is getting an education. stop welfare, dont make is so easy to get on welfare or work disability. lazy fat people shouldnt be on there!!!!!!!!!!! Get more jobs available but don't just give them away make people have to work for it but dont refuse someone tooo soon. have a cheaper easier way to make it throw college and get that extra degree in my mind everything is too expensive and to come from high school, being expected to make enough for college and do good in school is ridiculous!!!!!
I am trying to cut down on the amount of things I buy that can't be reused or such. i.e-food containers from cookies or things can be reused to cut down on the amount of money pouring into big businesses instead of pouring into our federal programs.
see whats happening here we all just list things that we COULD do instead of things that we ARE doing. i recycle to my best ability and ddonate clothing.
WHAT DO THE REST OF YOU DO???
bukwrm, please leave your real name so that you get credit for the comment. Thank you.
I think to do my part, I'm going to read up more on poverty so that i get a better understanding of it and what i can do to help. I also plan on trying to recycle more because we don't have recycling where i live and it's a pain to do it, but it's something that needs to be done and i will make a bigger effort to do it.
-Krista
exacally same up money and go clear it up or clean it up or whatever you have to do.....everybody should do it...
britbrat, please append your real name to your post. Thank you.
Note: bukwrm is Erin S.
I'm going to try and learn more about poverty so I can see what I can do to help. Right now I will try to recycle more and try not to buy things that can't be reused.
I agree with kenny, we aren't really teaching the poor anything if they really wanted to get out of poverty they would find a way.
I feel that there are ways to fight poverty while also conserving the environment. Some stores offer rebates if you bring your own shopping bags or reuse plastic ones, usually about 5 cents per bag. My personal plan to help the poor would be to bring my own shopping bags every time I go grocery shopping with my parents and to save up the rebates. Then, it is just a matter of choosing the best charity to give the money to. This plan would not only help provide the essentials, like clean water, to those in third world countries, or even those in our own nation, but would also help conserve the environment.
Well, personally I have already done a lot to help those in poverty... not end it unfortunatly. Sometimes it can't be helped though so sometimes you have to hlep those in trouble by giving time... I have worked with many charities such as: Salvation Army, Soup for Homeless(worst program ever!!!!!!!!!) and toys for tots. Just helping a little bit goes along way and it is fun and YOU MAKE FRIENDS!!!
Now to help stop poverty... that is interesting but the main thing is to make it known... like making a program at SCHOOL!!!!! Oh my gosh.... I JUST GOT A HUGE IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here it is: Okay so this blog thing is awesome and a lot of people post and care, we discuss poverty and how we think we should end it, why not get the entire SCHOOL involved and try to start a program where we raise money and awareness for ending poverty within our school and community. I mean look at the blog look how committed we are to one subject, why not really try to change something, why not MAKE a difference in the WORLD!??
I know this is huge but as a goal this year I AM going to make people realize how BAD poverty is and if everyone else is as passionate about it as they act well then we really can help... first step would be to talk to the school and see what they think and whether they will help us!
Okay give me feed... I want to know whether we are willing or I should have a more individual goal that will still rock or this one that will make a difference???
-Kacey Killingbeck
*Formally known as TehMaster
~The Admin's sidekick (GO ME!!!)
Nice idea, kilrb. That's an idea that could go really far. You and a group of other students could set up an assembly, or at least an appearance at an assembly, talk to Leadership to put up some posters, put jars in teachers' rooms, have silent auctions or dinners, and ask companies to help. The possibilities are endless. With enough self-motivation and the help of our peers, you could make a difference and raise awareness. (This is also the kind of thing our local news loves, and if you got a spot there, you would get even more people involved.)
i think that if you put all of your time into this you can do it but your going to need alot of help. ill sbe there for the food drives and what not and help spread the word when you decide what to do just post it and let everyone know what you decided.
(keep in mind that were going to need a few people to make it happen.)
also youll need to do more than just the blog, youll need like ralleys and stuff at school or something
great thought kace
Thanks Admin and Krystal... I know it will be work but it is worth it... I need some help with this since it is such a large idea and any help and ideas are greatly appreciated.
-Kacey Killingbeck
*Formally known as TehMaster
~The Admin's sidekick (GO ME!!!)
All people do to help proverty is donate money clothes bla bla bla. What i would do is Dontate DOUBLE ZIP LOCK BAGS for the Flying Tolite. That is one thing i would do. From Brett Haney
i guess i can help by just getting an education and learn what's going on around the world,and also donate to charities,maybe that would help a little.
Breigh-Anna
Well, poverty is a big issuse. It would take a lot more then just one person to fix it, but one person can make a difference. I could help change it by getting a good education and not dropping out ha. That way i would not join the huge population of people in poverty
Jacoby Pintler
POVERTY...POVERTY..MMM..well its complicated because there is more then one thing that needs to be fixed here in america to make poverty disappear and over the world. its not like just out of the no where its going to go away. no it will take some time and hard work. first thing is to get all those lazy ppl a job the ones that think that holding up a dumb sign out in the parking lots to get a few bucks is easier then going out and looking for a job or getting a better education... thats only the first step there's more but like they say one step at a time right!!-dulce
What I can, or am going to do is recycle paper, and plastic, and start volunteering at centers that better life for other people.
I could donate some of my old clothes, and shoes, and give them to a charity.
I will stop using plastic water bottles, and use a reusable tin cup that is sealable.
-(Tiffany Hayes) Period 5.
Poverty is a really serious issue all around the world. I think that people in america should instead of having yard sales and stuff they should just give all of the stuff they dont need or use to the poor. That would help at least a little bit.
Josh Davila
we need to educate the poor. many do not know the help and services they can apply for and use. if we give out money, water, clothing, great; however, it will do NO good if the poor are not using these resources. they need education.
TiAnna
recycle tin cans and bottles and the money we recieve for them we send to people who are in need of food,clothing,ect.
-adri g.
One thing to help solve poverty is to tax the h.e.c.k. out of celebrities. They do give millions of dollars to charities, which somewhat help poverty and diseases, but I believe that they shouldn't get more money for doing that. I also think that you should pretty much be required to have a job unless your over a certain age, have a real disability, or just had a kid, other than that you should have a job. Many fast food places and grocery stores throw out good food because it is required. I think if they food was donated to a soup kitchen, then we could feed many more people. I recycle aluminum cans right now to help the earth and i save the tabs to give to the Ronald McDonald house. I also donate to The ARC, which is kind of like the Salvation Army, but you donate clothing and household items and they pick them up at your house on a certain day. It feels good because you get rid of stuff you don't want and all of it goes to diabled people. If you want to donate to them contact me at smileslots59@yahoo.com or at school and i can give you a phone number to schedule a date to have something picked up. There is one place in Nampa that i know of that you can donate at which is D&B Supply in south Nampa. You just put the items in a sack and put them into the container. I would like to do more, but sometimes it is inconvenient, but as Keller, I am officially done buying bottled water.We can all help poverty by working and by donating and even volunteering for a day or two somewhere. Do what you can, because if you were in that situation you would want help.
Erin Canoy
Another thing that would help would to tax cigerettes and alcohol so not many people could buy it because all it does is hurt them inside and out. We should also only allow food that have be approved by the FDA so that we have no junk food and thus less obesity and more people able to work and bring up our economy.
well what i could do is instead of letting all the clothes i don't ware sit in my closet collect dust i could give it to the salvation army, the DI or some place like that. Also recycling. Its kinda hard because my dad like doesn't quite believe in it but I will.
I'm going to donate some of my own money to some sort of charity that will go to help poverty stricken people.
I think one way poverty could be solved is if the government would start investing in an 'End Poverty' program, which would be a mass program that involved finding jobs, building schools, creating better education systems, vacination oppurtunties, water purification plants, plumbing, affordable homes, etc. etc. etc...
Unfortunately, no government is really investing in this. Instead they seem to like to go to war. The U.S. goverment spends billions of dollars each year on the war in Iraq, and only invests a couple million in medical research, education, and welfare programs. If the government would shift this billions of dollars of spending towards something that saves lives instead of taking them, it'd be much much faster to solving poverty in most places than the combined efforts of innumerble Non-Government Organizations that are trying as hard as they can, but can't, because they aren't just getting a lot of money to help.
So, I think one of the best ways to help solve poverty would be for someone to become president and invest the money in more important things than controling oil countries.
Who wants to be president?
-Jacob Haun
I have been recycling more, and I am getting my education to learn more about poverty in the first place. Also I have thought about going to an animal shelter or a nursing home to volunteer.
personally, i say go to school and get an edumacation. because that is the only way you get anything in life, is by working hard for it. if you don't work hard in school, then expect yourself not knowing how to work in the future.
take a shower every other day, and cut down my time i can save water. If I take a shower at night i wont have to blow dry my hair so it can cut down energy costs.
I forgot to put my name the above statment is hallie per 5
There are so many things we can do to help impoverished people. I don't think that it is possible at this point to 'cure' poverty, because it is such a huge issue, but there are little things we can do to at least change the life of one person.
Not only could people help by donating money to organizations that specifically send money to third world countries, but they could also put time in themselves. It is so easy to write a check and send it in, but people could be doing so much more...
There are thousands of opportunities out there to help, such as working in a soup kitchen, volunteering, or if you want to be really involved, you could get with a mission group and GO to a foreign country and tackle the issue head on. Of course, all of these things take time and usually money, so the best solution is this: turn off your television, shut down the computer and DO something about poverty.
Imagine if every person in the United States decided to do this. So many problems could be solved... laziness, obesity, boredom, and more would be cured! And the ultimate result: a better world...
-Emilee Baker
I think I am going to start donating clothes. Because the more I think about it, the more I realize just how easy it would be to go and clean out my closet every once in a while. Or whenever I find a shirt I don't wear or is too small or whatever, take it in and donate it.
I'm not really one for giving out money to people. I believe that if people want to get out of poverty, that they should go to school and work to be smart enough to succeed. Maybe even give people who dropped out a chance to get a ged cheaper.
ironcross_900 is Andy.
There are so many ideas. Some are to the extreme, but I agree with Krystal even the simple things count. Donating clothes to the Ark or a homeless shelter is a great idea. All you have to do is take maybe 30 min. and go through your clothes and find ones that are too small or that you never wear. There are many different ways to drop them off too. I know the Ark will sometimes come by your house and pick up items that you put out for them. I'm going to give some of my clothes to a homeless shelter as well as some other things as well, like blankets or maybe a stuffed animal. Even the small things like this help.
whooo hoooo sara!!!lol
I believe that the government would give money to the poor for cleaning up the land filth which will provide a job that pays and also trash that can be recycle<
i think we can beat poverty by making it so kids cant drop out and they have to stay in school and must attend collage that way they could graduate and have a high paying job and the government should give the homeless some where to live and give them enough money to support themselves.
I say do away with money and we would have no problems of poverty caues there not poor
sorry dont thind that would work cause then we would have so many free loaders cause no one would have a motive to do the work that is necessary to live like bridge reapir men or our military. i know its a huge sorce of "evil" and can drive people crazy but...we really do need
Remember, this question of the week asks what you would do to fight poverty. For example, "I am going to give away clothes to the Salvation Army." Think of an original one, though.
I started helping poverty a long time ago. about every two weeks i decide to clean out my closet of clothes i either don't wear or don't fit and i send them off to people who really need them and aren't spoiled like me. Another way could be to recycle. Recycling saves money and since that's what people in poverty lack saving your own money or money for the economy is helping everyone just by doing something little. It's doesn't take very much to help someone else. i think the reason there is poverty is because the rest of the world gets greedy and the people who can't fight all the greedy-ness go into poverty.
--Evann [Thoms]
Let me make myself very clear. I am going to buy one goat for $120.00. I need someone to buy a chicken and next thing you know we have the start of an Ark. Be the change that you want to see in the world.
Poverty is not one issue that can be solved in one solution, it is gonna take many ideas and alot of action to conqure. One way to possibly solve this massive issue is to take more taxes from the extreamly wealthy and give some to 3rd world countries that are currently fighting the issue of poverty. Keller is also right about the clean water. [Flying Tolite really need to be eliminated.] Some other ways we could all help a bit: recycle, volunteer where poverty is being solved in your town, reduce your energy conservation to save energy to eventualy save money, donate to the guy on the corrner with the sign. I also really like Kacey's idea about getting the whole school involved! that is brillant!
i was also doing some research, a few months ago when poverty was first beginning to be discused in class, and found a really good web site that is joining in in the fight to solve the problem. http://www.one.org/
I really liked their motto.. Make poverty history. its a good one. They set up things all over to help this ongoing fight.
.. ok i think im done.
haha.
keller why dont we like start a fundraier?
OOOORRRRR......
*everytime someone is late to class they owe you like $.50
*when they miss class to get their work they pay another amt.
*or you cloud just ask people to bring in poket change.
just things like that.
What i would do to help Proverty is i would take my spare time to the soup kitchen or something like that. Any little thing helps. Like canned food, money, clothes, toys any thing PLASITC BAGS. Any little thing.
Brett Haney
I think that I could donate some old clothes to the Youth Ranch or Goodwill sometime soon. I have lots of clothes that I don't wear anymore.
HEY! i already commented on this! oh well... ha! i shall put down some more of my opinion! HAHA!
Honestly, has anyone noticed that the american government hasn't even really givin a thought about Africa? they just want to protect Iraq? i sound like a hippie man,lol... jk... but seriously, politics are corrupt. i think that everyone in america should go on strike for a week. no school, no work (except necessities, such as hostpitals, ect.), no money for the government. if we went on strike for one week, i GARENTEE you we could get anything we wanted. it says in the constitution that we can overthrow our government, so why dont we? it says "Whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government ..." (i got that off wikipedia, but i saw it in a textbook before that... so its all cool :D) Our government is incredibly corrupt, and we should overthrow our government for the good of mankind. We all know that the government lies to us. take the satalite a while back as an example: "it wont hurt us if the missle doesn't hit us" ( so their just wasting some 40 billion or whatever amount of money on target practice?) then they say "well, its good we demolished it, because if we didn't, a lot of people would get hurt." you see? the government is lying to us to avoid mass hysteria! well, i'm kinda tired of typing and my brain kinda craped out a while ago... so... yeah...
-Luke Anderson... THE BLOG MASTER!
ps. i use this blog so much because i pretty much have nothing better to do... everything else is useless. >:( lol...
By the way... i'm not a hippie.......... just an F.Y.I. man... i mean... dude... ah! crap! i mean, wonderful most delightful people on the internetical (? Lol) web!
-same dude as up there... one up... just right up there... yeah...
I argre to this part so find a job and don't be lazy and becareful of using the trust of the people of doing job coz I think you're poverty it's up to you and be honest.
B@be V@si
I'm gonna work on cleaning up the parks and the recuration areas and collect donations for the people in poverty
I really like the idea of giving up lunch and donating that money to charity idea..
I enjoy volunteering and donating to the D.I. as a way of helping to fight poverty.
-Hannah "Former Camerawoman" Wilkett.
the thing is luke, not all think the same as you. Its sience vs the people and most of the people listen to what science is telling them, what else are they to listen to?
i guess really when you think on it, its all sience vs. science.
there is the science that wants to spend money on space exploring. also the welfare and helth care. and we also have money that goes all over the world and to people in america.
i think we should not just worry about the physical objects we are giveing, but we should also let poeople who are poverty know that we are here to help and that we care, and we shold give them our time. time in helping them find a job, or working in a shelter, there are many more things we can do then just saying "here ya go, enjoy yourself" we only really think that thats all there is to it giving them clothes and money and goats, please dont get me wrong those things do help, and i am not suggesting we all go to africa (unless its a feild trip keller)what i am saying is that we all help our community and devote like an hour or two a week. thats just an idea of taking action. not just giving money.
lets throw this in the hat with all the other iedas admin.
Well, it is an interesting idea, Kranky, and you have a point. We'll be sure to include it as a possibility.
I totally donate clothing and everything every chance i get!!! i will every time i can give money to those donation areas and start showing to those who don't know what is going on and how badly poverty is!!!!!
if people stopped acting in there best intrests, and at least tried helping the world, by just small means such as giving some cloths away or like mr. kellers idea: buy an arc, and fundraising it to save a village in Africa, that could make a difference. Money wont end poverty, trading and bartering may though cause there are better benefits such as more food and it supplies more people, it would cost alot just to save an entire village, alot! so spend your money wisely and on good bargins!
i think that with all the things that the US does to everything in the country could be put into planes to work on other things like saving poverty in other contrys. Miller Lite
simple.
im not just going to get in my private jet and fly across the pacific ocean leaking fuel behind me,
no i'm going to solve it where i CAN.
idaho.
poor people?
find them a job.
or education.
poor children? find them a home where they can be safe.
ranshacked housing?
get a crew and fix it up.
skyview does have a house-building crew ya know :]
teachers need to tell of what happens around the world in more than one class to get the message across.
it's not like most teens pay attention to the news anymore thanks to technology and beer pong.
-Dani
Overall I think that poverty is such a large issue that it would take a long time to fix it and everybody would have to do their part. Although one person can't fix the problem, one person can make a difference. You should stand up for whats right even if you are standing alone, if you find you can help poverty, or even just helping people in need you should do it. Donate. Volunteer. Anything you can do.
Mikyla Hollinger
I also agree with Berenice as well as Mikyla. We all make a difference, and everything counts. It's kinda like a 10,000 piece puzzle, every peice is important to the completion.
But as for my contribution to the fight, I am going to donate clothing more often, and recycle as much as I can remember to.
T*Bird (Tia A.)
i think that we could all make a huge difference, just by doing simple things that wouldnt take much time. instead of selling your old clothes to a thrift shop or at a garage sale, donate it to somewhere like st vincents or the arc..or to someone else who just cant afford new clothes for their kids. this saves them money to spend on more important things. or for people who spend a lot of cash, keep all of your change in a jar, and then at christmas turn it into bills and drop it in those cans for the salvation army. even if you buy from local produce stands and help support the farmers with less money instead of huge companies like wal-mart that would help. but i think that a really big thing that we could do to help decrease the future of poverty is spend some time with the kids. head over to the boys and girls club, volunteer to be a teachers aid in a school, or help coach a kids sports team and become a role model. you may not feel like it, but kids really look up to teenagers..theyre cool, theyve "been through it all", and the dont boss them around like adults. just take some time to play with them, and talk to them about how IMPORTANT it is to do their best in school..it honestly makes a huge difference in their lives.
sure donating clothes is sweet..but isnt there something else..something more we can do to help actually STOP poverty?
i think so
melissa schmidt
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