Abstract
This paper discusses civil rights organizations and social movements. In particular, the paper focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign. The paper shows how the Poor People's Campaign was a radical departure from traditional historical civil rights actions as it expanded the concept of civil rights beyond race to the social depravity that was caused by economic injustice. The campaign's ideas and concepts and whether it could be considered a success or failure are also discussed.

From the Paper
"Many argue that the Poor People's Campaign was a marked failure in its ability to make lasting effects toward social change and representation. Yet, it is also clear that the concepts that King and the SCLC furthered were entrenched in the social movements of the day. It is also clear that the movement has not reached its goals, as social, economic disparity is actually growing at an alarming rate, currently. The literature surrounding the Poor People's Campaign does have a tendency to get bogged down in the details of the Campaign itself and the strategic failure of it, even though it was clearly a situational failure that could have been added to by the number of people who volunteered, directly resulting from King's death. Interestingly there is a clear sense that the Campaign may have been a thriving success, had King been present to work his human persuasion magic."

Tags:society poverty equality, civil rights

Abstract
This paper provides a definition of poverty, and discusses the healthcare problems that the poor have in the United States. The writer states that one problem is that many of these people who live in poverty do not have healthcare or insurance. The paper discusses that many people live in poverty, yet they are not eligible for healthcare benefits. This paper examines the difficulty poor people have in receiving healthcare and suggests possible solutions, including prevention.

From the Paper
"Poverty is a major problem throughout the world. Over 37 million people lived in poverty in 2005 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). More African Americans and Hispanics live in poverty than whites. "The poverty rate in 2005 for children under 18 (17.6 percent) remained higher than that of 18-to-64-year-olds" (Poverty 2005 Highlights,2006, para. 5). The conflict of the problem is that many people living in poverty do not have insurance, which leads to an interaction of poor people not receiving medical care and thus raising the costs of medical care for people who do have insurance. This paper will look at the problem poor people have in...."

Tags:healthcare, poor, solutions

Abstract
Cutilli (2007, p. 43) is concerned with health literacy which she defines as "individuals' ability to understand their healthcare issues and effectively care for themselves". Poor literacy causes severe problems for patients and poor outcomes, and it also results in higher health care costs. In elderly people, health literacy can range from good to inadequate but about half of older people have poor literacy skills. In relation to health, the older person needs literacy skills to read prescriptions, appointment slips, and informed consent forms. As matters stand, complex information is offered on such topics as anticoagulant therapy for patients with low literacy and the material is also culturally insensitive.

From the Paper
Literacy and Creativity in Older People Cutilli (2007, p. 43) is concerned with health literacy which she defines as "individuals' ability to understand their healthcare issues and effectively care for themselves". Poor literacy causes severe problems for patients and poor outcomes, and it also results in higher health care costs. In elderly people, health literacy can range from good to inadequate but about half of older people have poor literacy skills. In relation to health, the older person needs literacy skills to read prescriptions, appointment slips, and informed consent forms. As matters stand, complex information is offered on such topics as anticoagulant

Tags:literacy, creativity, aging

Abstract
The paper looks at the obstacles poor people in the US face in receiving healthcare. The paper offers a definition of "poor" and discusses urban inequality and the lack of healthcare for many people. The paper also explains why the government and individuals cannot pay all healthcare costs. The paper then discusses the solution of reducing healthcare costs by focusing on the prevention of serious diseases.

Outline:
The Socio-economic Inequality and Healthcare
Finding Solutions to Helping the Poor with Healthcare

From the Paper
"The first step in looking at healthcare for the poor is to define what it means to be considered poor. The Meriam-Webster.com (2007) has 15 entries for poor, but two primary definitions for this paper are lacking in material possessions or characterized by poverty. The poor in the United States would be those who do not work or work at minimum wage jobs and they make less than the poverty index. Studying the United States and other countries will show how socio-economic inequality affects healthcare."

Tags:socio-economic, inequality, prevention, Medicare

Abstract
The paper discusses how certain areas of Toronto are marked by a much higher prevalence of drug use than others; St. Jamestown currently stands out for drug problems as does Parkdale, and then there is the Jane and Finch area which is especially well known for drug use. The paper notes that people across these areas are not precisely the same in terms of socioeconomic status and not all are affected by drugs. The paper explains that this topic was chosen because there are many stereotypes about the poor and their links to drugs and crime. There is especially a misunderstanding about the connection between poverty, drug use and crime. This writer's argument is that we are never justified in blaming the poor but instead have to understand what the condition of poverty actually means as well as considering other factors. Research demonstrates that poverty of itself does not cause drug use but the impacts of poverty can cause the contributing conditions for drug use. This paper presents an overview of research into some of the most vulnerable groups for drug abuse. It also presents traditional and innovative approaches to deterrence and prevention. The paper shows how the high prevalence of drug use in poor areas is not due to material deprivation but poor parenting and deprivation in terms of opportunities and resources.

From the Paper
"Certain areas of Toronto are marked by a much higher prevalence of drug use than others. St. Jamestown currently stand out for drug problems as does Parkdale, and then there is the Jane and Finch area which is especially well known for drug use. Many youth have no fixed address. People across these areas are not precisely the same in terms of socioeconomic status and not all are affected by drugs. The topic was chosen because there are many stereotypes about the poor and their links to drugs and crime. There is especially a misunderstanding about the..."

Tags:drugs, youth, poverty

Abstract
This paper briefly examines Reiman's book which keeps up on criminal justice statistics and other trends in the system. The thesis of the book is that the goal of the American criminal justice system is not to eliminate crime or even to achieve justice but to project to the people an image of the idea that the threat of crime is a threat from the poor. The system must therefore maintain a large population of poor criminals, and to this end, it must not eliminate the crime that poor people commit or even reduce the number of those crimes to any great extent.

From the Paper
"In the chapter "Crime Control in America," Reiman suggests that the system has been designed to fail. Imprisoning drug offenders, for instance, does nothing to reduce the number of rug offenders in society because they are immediately replaced. The decline in violent crime is more attributable to demographic changes than to enforcement efforts. Most of the decline in crime of all sorts takes place because of forces beyond the control of the criminal justice systems. Reiman also says we could reduce crime if we wanted to do so and that four excuses given are not really answers to the problem at all but merely excuses to explain why the system fails. We know the causes of crime--poverty, prisons, and drugs--yet we do nothing to change how these things operate, such as banning guns and decriminalizing drugs."

Tags:crime, drugs, justice, criminal, system, poverty

Abstract
In this paper, the writer outlines the discussion in Erik Eckholm's article, "America's 'Near Poor' are Increasingly at Economic Risk, Experts Say", on the growing number of people in America who are considered "near poor". The writer relates that he strongly agrees with Eckholm's premise that many Americans are struggling with the high cost of living, low wages and poor benefits. The writer is angry that there seems to be no end to poverty in sight and argues that the U.S. government can support other countries but is unable to spend money to better education or assist the working class in its own country. The writer emphasizes how it is not just the lower class who can not make ends meet, but the middle class and upper classes who are also feeling the effects of the economic downfall.

From the Paper
"An article published on May 8, 2006 in the New York Times titled, "America's 'Near Poor' Are Increasingly at Economic Risk, Experts Say" written by Erik Eckholm addresses the growing number of people in America who are considered "near poor." The Abbott family used to have an income of $40,000 a year prior to 2001. Mr. Abbott lost his job in 2001 because of "a collapse in demand for the aviation-related electronic parts." This led to his loss of unemployment and health benefits and an eviction from their apartment. Mrs. Abbott lost all her teeth due to diabetes and with no insurance to fix it believes finding a job with no smile would be difficult. In addition, they have a teenage son who is also bearing the brunt of joblessness."

Tags:wages, benefits, poverty, welfare, debt, jobs

Abstract
This paper discusses the poverty in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and its implications. The paper particularly focuses on urban poverty compared to rural poverty and the general feeling among the people in PRC regarding the two. It then looks at the political repercussions of the poverty in the PRC and the repression of dissent with regards to the poor.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Two Principal Opinions
Timeless, Ominous Signs
Urban Poverty
'Poverty Eradication' in the PRC
Political Repercussions of Poverty
Repression of Dissent and the Poor
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper
"Dissent is alive and well in the contemporary PRC, much done to break up public displays of dissent, in very old methods of deterrence rooted in policing, courts and the prison system, presented to the literate public as ensuring safety when, in fact, assuring regime safety. Chinese to benefit from liberalization are rarely inclined to question what is occurring in the countryside, content to see the urban poor kept at bay. Many might regard the situation differently, as observed by foreign journalists, certainly, if able to recognize the potential threat of millions alienated completely from the economically advanced society, some able to draw parallels between the present and centuries of other Chinese misrule to perpetuate such disparities. As the topic of Chinese poverty indicates, democratization is not likely, any day soon, in the People's Republic of China. Indeed, policies and approaches of the state have systematically pushed millions of citizens beyond the existing political system, far from the ideals of inclusion and participation that might suggest a possible shift towards democratic institutions."

Tags:dissent, democratization, development, rural

Abstract
This paper discusses the gap that exists between the rich and the poor, explaining that it has been widening for two decades. The paper explains that the problem exists because there are no benefits for the poor, whereas the rich get everything. Data is provided that shows that, in recent years, there has been an increase in the incomes of the rich people while, gradually, the middle class is vanishing.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Index of Social Health
Difference between Social Index and Dow Jones Average

From the Paper
''THE gap between the rich and poor has widening for two decades as hardworking families pay record tax bills. The rich are getting richer day by day and the poor are getting poorer. The problem is there are no benefits for the poor where as the rich get everything. The data tells us that since the past decade there has been an increase in the incomes of the rich people. Slowly and gradually the middle class is vanishing.
''Since the early 1960s, people have lived with these questions and with the tension between activism and scholarship, which have tried to mediate with research on a number of questions about American social institutions, public policy, and reform.''

Tags:economic, incomes, benefits

Abstract
This paper discusses how in the United States the working poor are defined as those who cannot live comfortably with benefits or proper housing on menial or minimum wage incomes. The paper contends that the working poor need an advocacy that will intervene and set up programs to help with starting a career, as well as tax breaks and advancement. A plan is proposed that would help make the lives of hard working people much easier, and to afford them the benefits that everyone who lives in America and works should have access to.

From the Paper
"In the United States the working poor are defined as those who cannot live comfortably with benefits or proper housing on menial or minimum wage incomes. In a statistical study done in 2003, 1 in 5, or 7.4 million people were categorized as working poor (US Department of Labor). This number is staggering considering the many whom can afford to drive luxury vehicles and live in nice neighborhoods without the constant struggle to buy groceries or pay rent. The working poor need an advocacy that will intervene and set up programs to help with starting a career, as well as tax breaks and advancement. A straight forward healthcare plan would be in order so those less fortunate can afford to see physicians, as well as visit emergency rooms without risk of being turned away."

Tags:healthcare, education, welfare, housing, wage