C. Emory Burton's "The Poverty Debate"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that C. Emory Burton in "The Poverty Debate: Politics and the Poor in America" defines poverty as the point at which the individual or family unit is no longer able to sufficiently provide itself with the essentials of life. The author points out that Burton states (1) that the vast majority of the poor do not enjoy most of the benefits of "in kind" distributions, (2) that poverty should be measured in relation to the U.S. standard of living and (3) that the effects of poverty are insidious and far reaching. The paper relates that Burton's arguments are convincing although a bit too left-leaning and a number of his claims seem questionable.

From the Paper:

"In chapter two, Burton addresses the theory of a "culture of poverty" in which those who are classified as poor are actually, in large part, to blame for their own circumstances. What the theory proposes is that those in poverty have characteristics which perpetuate and insure their condition. Be it a low interest in education, little work ethic, no desire to improve themselves, unwillingness to take responsibility, or the inability to plan ahead or look toward the future, these individuals have personal flaws which keep them in a state of poverty."

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