Reflections: Family, Unemployment and poverty

Family problems are very complex, and this can include issues due to poverty and unemployment, but can also include issues such as inequality in who a person can marry.  I have a very hard time in the way our government not only dictates whom a person may or may not marry, but the fact that many long term relationships do not receive the same benefits that a married couple or domestic partner would.  Child abuse is another huge issue when it comes to families.  The child welfare system really could use a ground up overhaul.  Often children who truly need the help fall between the cracks, while some families who may not be in crisis are inundated with issues from the state.

While reading through the chapters on unemployment and poverty, I was really affected.  I know many people who live under the poverty level, who are unemployed, who struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table, or who have lost their home.  Poverty is one of the great injustices.  When it comes to available jobs, there is a huge issue with what is available; many companies are outsourcing their jobs to save money.  This is causing a large number of displaced workers, and has helped to pull away vital money from our economy.  

I realize that there is not a fix all solution, and that the problems many of us face are like a very tangled spider’s web   I do, however, believe that there has to be something that can be done to start turning things around in the right direction.  Though I am not certain what the answers may be.  Some solutions might be in an unemployment and welfare overhaul.  The level of poverty should match up on the national level when it comes to how the welfare system screens applicants.  I think that the welfare system has set income limits too low, and many families who are in desperate need of help are being turned away.  Many of the unemployment guidelines are way too outdated and need to be updated as to reflect the situations and needs of this day and age.  As far as jobs are concerned, I truly believe that we need to focus on education.  The students of today will be workers of tomorrow.  If we can boost the amount of students graduating in professions such as the math and sciences, then there would not be a need to continually outsource positions.  Some of the issues that need fixed might seem too great, or like they would just be a drop in a very large bucket.  There is a very old and wise saying, and it says that every drop in a bucket helps.  I think that this is very true, and any change for the better would help.