Poverty for a Lifetime

Poverty for a Lifetime - Why

Dear Editor:

Many of my generation grew up in poverty. By the grace of God we escaped it. Comparing the success of that generation with the failure of the current generation of poor folks, I note the following differences:

We did not know we were poor. The family didn't talk about it. Others didn't remind us we were poor.

There was no incentive to stay poor. If you did not work you did not eat. No government agency was standing by with a handout for those "unfortunate poor folks."

Our parents taught us to work. By age seven I had chores to do. My allowance was increased if I did extra work. I had my first paying job at age 12 and worked all the way through high school.

We had no professional advocates for the poor who made their living by working our plight.

We were taught, "If you want something, set your goal, work hard and save your money and one day you can have it."

Our heroes and examples were those who had worked hard, served well and been honestly successful. Criminals, thieves, drug pushers, hustlers were despised. We were warned to avoid them and their bad example.

My parents knew that education was the way to prosperity. We went to school. We walked to school, rain or shine. School was serious business. Homework was checked. Any discipline imposed at school was reinforced at home. Parents almost always sided with teachers and principals in matters of discipline.

We had neighborhood schools where our parents were close enough to interact with school officials to guarantee we got the training we needed.

When in school it was plainly understood that we must study, learn and pass the course or fail and repeat it. No social promotions were offered. Thus when we finished school we could read, write and cipher.

Most our my generation went to church and received spiritual training that helped mold and shape their character and instill in them an ethic of work, honesty and perseverance.

When we finished school it was understood that we would not enter the job market at the top of the pay scale or in management. We could not afford to be too proud to take those entry-level jobs. Success would come later.

Now contrast these points with the training and education most youngsters in poverty receive today and it is clear why they have trouble escaping their poverty. That which is keeping them imprisoned in poverty is the social philosophy that has evolved in our nation in the last 50 years. So long as this approach to childrearing, education and personal responsibility prevails, generations will languish and die in poverty.

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