Avoiding ‘culture of poverty' a group effort

December 27, 2005

Sarah Welton\Spectrum

It is possible that I really did have an epiphany while teaching a class at Mat-Su College on the cultural foundations of human behavior. It is likely the information may have been rattling around for a while in my subconscious mind and just came to the surface, but the clarity is such that I will not discount that it truly is a unique manifestation of awareness.

I was giving a lecture on the &#8220culture of poverty.” This particular lecture was just a brief foray into the work of Ruby Payne from her book &#8220A Framework for Understanding Poverty (2003).”

The information about the culture of poverty is from a research-based framework and not just conjecture. It contains generalities, and not all conditions have to be met for the definitions to be useful.

So what is it? It is an attitude, a mind-set, a system that punishes the poor. It is unforgiving, it supports apathy, and it fosters feelings of worthlessness and depression.

It is a condition that can be passed down generationally and institutionally.

It is not necessarily based on the actual income a person has. It can be found in the neighborhoods of the well-to-do and those in abject poverty, those in high-profit businesses, and those just squeaking by. It concerns beliefs and actions that money is to be spent, and the sooner the better.

The belief system is based on a &#8220live for today, for there may be no tomorrow” philosophy. If there is a tomorrow, someone will take your money (or possessions) away.

The culture of poverty involves get-rich-quick schemes and miracle money-makers. It involves those who have been beaten down and no longer have credit so they have to pay large deposits for utilities and sky-high insurance because their track records are poor or nonexistent.

A tenet of the culture of poverty is to not repair things when they break because the repair is more expensive than replacing in the short term. For example: a broken refrigerator might cost $100 to fix, but the local appliance dealer might advance credit for a new one at $20 per month for high interest and payments double the price of the refrigerator.

In my lecture, I gave examples of conditions for the culture of poverty. There is the situation of a person driving without insurance due to a sudden loss of a job. Yes, it is against the law.

Then a minor parking lot accident, that was not the person's fault, happens. It escalates into no license for three months and SR-22 insurance for three years. Then there is the spiraling effect of now having no way to get to a job. This becomes overwhelming.

In my lecture, I provide examples of businesses and situations that prey on the poor, such as check-cashing places with pay-day loans or grocery stores with higher prices in sections of the community where people without transportation have to shop.

The culture of the middle-class has a different set of values based on a &#8220planning and managing” set of beliefs. Achievement, goals, hard work, accomplishments and the future are basic to the characteristics of the culture of the middle class. Education is the tool, and the advancement of not only the self but future generations is seen as worthwhile and essential for well-being.

This culture puts an emphasis on preventable health issues, training for new information, safety inspections, and it sees learning as a life-long commitment. Persons of the culture of middle class may be poor financially, have moderate income, or have enormous amounts of money.

It is the sense of purpose and the value of working toward a goal that creates the culture. Money is managed and caution rules. People of the culture of the middle class seek to plan, improve, help others, and there is a vision for the future.

The culture of wealth is based on history and status from the past. It is about connections with others who have pedigrees. Traditions, formal events and social standings are all important.

Again, the actual financial status of a person, family, institution or community is not the basis for the definition, but the attitude and belief in high social standing is. Money, in this culture, is to be conserved and invested to retain the pedigree or tradition.

Endowments might be made to institutions so that the children of the wealthy may enter even if the grades are not up to par. Positions at particular businesses go to unqualified persons due to rank or pedigree status.

Yes, people do make choices, and people are responsible for the choices. Seeing, hearing, believing and knowing that some of our beliefs are irrational does not make us change our behavior when it is ingrained in our particular culture.

It takes awareness, motivation and then intentional steps to change behaviors, patterns and beliefs.

But back to the epiphany.

It really was an opening of the heart and mind when it comes to our community. I looked at the issues

and the current problems in our community.

The controversy over coal-bed methane, the overcrowding of schools, property tax and tax cap, and the impact of growth on roads and emergency services, big-box stores and other large retail operations coming into our communities. The nation's, our state's, and our local community infrastructures are not being addressed, fixed or replaced as the repairs or additions are needed.

We are buying what we can for today with little ability to address the needs of tomorrow. Look at the deficit spending at the federal level. We are hanging on to the &#8220winning the lottery” mentality when expecting dollars from the state or federal government.

The &#8220I'll get mine and I don't care about you” philosophy is quite prevalent. This is a hybrid of the culture of poverty and the culture of wealth. This is thinking only for today and having a sense of entitlement.

Finally, I am able to get to the epiphany. The idea that came into my mind was, and is, a vision that we reflect the culture of which we are a part by our community. The culture isn't just the personal decisions and actions, but the community's actions.

When our leaders, councils and boards do not look to the future we all receive the results. Nothing or little is accomplished, and the problems are either given a Band-aid or ignored.

When we lead with vision, planning and resource management, we are looking at accomplishing long-range goals. We are looking at the future of the community.

Let us not live for today without thought for the future. Let us manage our resources, keeping in mind a vision for all in our community. We can be intentional in working to achieve a community of promise.

Sarah Welton is the president of the Mat-Su School Board.