Rogerian Argument

Sidney Faine

Professor Crumit-Hancock

Rogerian Argument Essay

5/2/2017

Poverty in Communities

            A common characteristic in communities all over the globe is poverty.  The average percentage of communities in financial need is 80% (Leiner, 2014); that’s well over 3 billion people who seek help. Due to the lack of finances, the citizens in these communities suffer from aggression, depression, anxiety, dropping out of school, and coming into contact with crime. (Leiner, 2014). There have been many debates as to whether these communities deserve help from others or not, and after looking through numerous articles it is clear that many people have been attempting to provide help. However the real question is, what is the correct approach to help these communities in need? By reading Community Anti-Poverty Strategies: A Conceptual Framework for a Critical Discussion, The Jewish Quarterly Review, and The Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Children Exposed to Poverty, many solutions have been mentioned such as economic help, charity organizations, and other various types of donors. However, the Community Anti-Poverty Strategies: A Conceptual Framework for a Critical Discussion is the only article that provides strong options to help improve these communities.

            Although many people around the world are trying to find solutions to help those in economic need, there are many people that think those in poverty should fend for themselves. Not only did those in poverty “dig their own grave” per say, but they also made it difficult for their children and grandchildren to dig themselves out of the poverty hole as well. Basically, half of the population wants to help those in need, while the other half thinks they should provide for themselves, and if they cannot afford certain things, than that is due to their own actions and decisions. For example, global poverty strategies were considered, but after a long debate, concerns were shown towards a large demographic change on the “scope and nature of global poverty.” (Strier, 2008). Although not all may agree, this is a very accurate statement. When the world undergoes a drastic change, chaos is bound to happen. Therefore, if it was decided to completely end world poverty, problems and possibly even riots would break out. Community Anti- Poverty Strategies: A Conceptual Framework for a Critical Discussion also discusses national, regional, and community level changes as well as the global change mentioned above. However, it was also discussed that if anyone were to make a large change towards poverty in the national or regional level, it would not work properly. This being said, a community-level change is the only proper solution according to this article. The author, Roni Strier, states that poverty strategies at the community level are, “linked to the political nature of poverty research,” and are to some degree, “research funding agencies.” (Strier, 2008).

            Although there is a lot of controversy on whether or not to help the communities suffering from poverty, I think that the answer is pretty clear. Although a global change can drastically harm the world, I think that if communities were to start out slowly, and work within their own city limits to improve themselves, poverty could surely cease. Obviously, it will not end all at once, it will take time and lots of help and donations. However, over time I truly believe that the world could end poverty by helping one another out. This plan is beneficial to all communities that decide to join, because in the long run it will improve the lives of everyone involved. Not only is this plan beneficial, but it is valid as well. Communities could construct a donation fund to those in need, while also providing efforts to help their fellow citizen.

            There are many similarities and benefits that come along with each argument discussed above. For example, both arguments discuss helping communities, whether it be on a larger scale or a smaller scale. Both arguments also discuss the benefits of supporting those in need with donations that are not needed by the more fortunate.  However, the argument I suggested also benefits the surrounding communities and makes the world a better place altogether. Therefore, those that are not in poverty should slowly move towards making the less-fortunate communities a better place to live.                  

           

Annotated Bibliography

Leiner, Marie “The Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Children Exposed to Poverty.” Salud

            Mental. April 3, 2014. Print.

            This article focuses on the relationship between poverty and the affect it has on children in a community. The author, Marie Leiner, studies a sample of children living in numerous cities in Mexico that face poverty compared to children living in more stable cities, such as El Paso, Texas. The rest of the article explains the type of study she used to measure the emotional problems these children face, while also giving a conclusion as to what her study found.

Shoshan, Boaz. “Poverty and Charity is the Jewish Community of Medieval Egypt.” University

            of Pennsylvania Press. July 17, 2008. Print.

            In this article, Shoshan discusses the poverty that Jewish communities have faced throughout the years. However, Shoshan focuses more on how poverty makes their community healthier by bringing all the people together to provide charity to those who are less fortunate. Therefore, unlike the article used beforehand, this article provides an argument as to how poverty helps the community.

Strier, Roni. “Community Anti-Poverty Strategies: A Conceptual Framework for a Critical

            Discussion.” Oxford University Press. 2009. Print.

            This article discusses how communities are a reoccurring theme when it comes to poverty in an area. However, Strier also discusses how this relationship has not been adequately proven. Therefore, this article helps prove both sides of the argument correct by proving that neither side has an adequate amount of information.