Empty Pockets

Essay by sniper786University, Bachelor'sA, February 2006

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Poverty is a growing social problem in Canada that is often ignored but it does not mean that it does not exist. Poverty by definition means being poor, and lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts. By looking at an article from Maclean's magazine and a journal written by Stephanie Baker Collins we can better understand and define the controversy that is poverty. John Ralston Sauls article called "Poverty, warns John Raiston Saul, threatens the very basis of our democracy" discusses how poverty is excluding people from society. Instead of creating a society that is just and equal we are eliminating those who don't fit in to our idea of "utopia" (An ideally perfect place). The article entitled "An understanding of poverty from those who are poor" written by Stephanie Baker Collins addresses poverty from the perspective of those that are poor.

By understanding this view "a deeper understanding of the multiple dimensions of poverty" (Collins,2005, p.10)

is provided. The research in this article was to integrate and contribute to a better understanding of poverty instead of what we are told from data and statistics.

The magazine article from Macleans written by John Ralston Saul portrays poverty as an issue that is ruining democracy. This article argues investing more money in housing for the poor rather then in more shelters. The reason for the increase of poverty is because "we are eliminating hospitals without developing alternatives." (Saul, 2005) While society eliminates more of these places the streets continued to be filled with homeless people. John Ralston Saul describes a solution to poverty by having as he says "A bit of human support in open group homes, for example, would change their lives." (Saul, 2005) By offering more opportunities to those living in need where they can...