|
In the fourth chapter of Luke, Jesus quotes Isaiah saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” It is a simple yet radical notion — that we as people of faith must have concern for those experiencing poverty. But our culture and our politics refuse to live into this profound calling, and our policy priorities and laws have a distinct preference for the wealthy and powerful. Jesus’ message is counter, even contradictory, to the norms of our society — which is why we so seldom hear about policies that would help increase financial stability and independence for the millions of families and countless communities across the country that struggle to break out of cycles of poverty.
Despite our immense wealth as a country, poverty has always been a problem in the United States. It remains as an insidious legacy of slavery and systemic racism as well as an ever-present barrier in largely white rural communities and increasingly among Americans living in suburban communities.
According to 2019 Census data, over 34 million Americans live in poverty. Likely, that number is much higher today given the economic recession caused by the inability to coordinate a national response to COVID-19. A recent study found that the top 25 percent of Americans by earnings are better off now than they were before the pandemic and subsequent recession hit. The remaining 75 percent of Americans are significantly worse off than they were before the pandemic and recession. On a global scale, a recent Gates Foundation report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has already moved nearly 40 million people globally into extreme poverty and has set back the Sustainable Development Goals by 25 years.
In the U.S., many are having to reconsider misconceived notions of how and why people find themselves experiencing the hardships of poverty. Millions of Americans have had to apply for unemployment insurance and food stamps for the first time, some finding themselves in long lines at food banks to ensure their families have enough to eat. It is a moment for a new national conversation about how we as a country can better ensure the common good, allowing all of us to realize our full potential and thrive.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
|
