Oscar Lewis studied poor Mexican Americans in the Southwest United States. Out of this study he wrote The Culture of Poverty. The main points are as follows:
In poor groups, a culture will emerge that functions to keep the people in poverty.
This culture results in behaviors and a perspective on the part of the people that is not conducive to upward mobility in our society.
It can result in high rates of alcoholism, drug us, criminality, and violence. not all people do this, but There are higher incidents in these communities.
The culture that emerges inhibits upward economic mobilit.
Elements of this culture:
despair
hopelessness
fatalism
resignation
powerlessness
instant gratification
Willium Julius Wilson wrote that Affirmative Action, which says if equally qualified people apply for a job the minority person must be hired, will not solve the problems of poverty but solves the problems of minorities and women in the middle class. To help the poor we must have Affirmative Opportunity in which each person has the ability to get an education using a pay-what-you-can scale. It will be expensive, yes, but so is crime, drug use and so many other social problems.Many people agree Affirmative Opportunity is the way to help the poor but as Oscar Lewis pointed out, many of the truly poor people of the world are in a mindset that isn’t even conducive for education. Their culture has taught them resignation to their position in life; many are not even aware there is another way of life.
The government should treat education as if it is a job opportunity for the poor. For each poor person who becomes literate, there should be a monetary reward. For each poor person who completes grade school, there should be a monetary reward. For each poor person who completes middle school and high school, there should be a monetary reward. For the first [long-term] job, for saving money in the bank, for proving themselves as individuals who can take care of themselves out of poverty there should be a monetary reward.
This reward should be announced to all poor communities, offered to all poor people and should be a short-term offer. An individual can accept it (child-care should be provided free for parents) within a specific time frame, perhaps 5 – 10 years, and the individuals who accept it will be in the program.
The goal is to educate or socialize the majority of a community, ensuring the following generations will be taught education is helpful and good.
The goal is to break the chain of hopelessness and resignation within one generation of poverty stricken people.
The means is by money… the motivator of many.
