The DocumentariesThe Documentaries The documentaries provide a great The documentaries provide a great

deal of insight into the lives of the deal of insight into the lives of the poor; particularly insight into why poor; particularly insight into why they are poor and why it is often so they are poor and why it is often so hard to help them.hard to help them.

The documentaries also provide The documentaries also provide insight into the diversity of the insight into the diversity of the poverty population. poverty population.

The poor highlighted represent a The poor highlighted represent a range of different problems. range of different problems.

The Documentary: Ending Welfare As We Know ItThe Documentary: Ending Welfare As We Know It

I.I. Still, in one sense, the cases are not typical of the poor. Still, in one sense, the cases are not typical of the poor. Those individuals and families featured are likely to be long-Those individuals and families featured are likely to be long-term poor. As you know, most Americans who fall into term poor. As you know, most Americans who fall into poverty do not remain below the poverty level for long poverty do not remain below the poverty level for long periods, but may cycle in and out of poverty.periods, but may cycle in and out of poverty.

II.II. The documentary does not stereotype the poor (i.e., it The documentary does not stereotype the poor (i.e., it does not give the impression that only minorities are poor), does not give the impression that only minorities are poor), but it does not include all the major groups of American but it does not include all the major groups of American poor. It leaves out, for example, the elderly poor, two-parent poor. It leaves out, for example, the elderly poor, two-parent working poor families, people who are suffering serious working poor families, people who are suffering serious illness or injury, and the angry, frightened, emotionally illness or injury, and the angry, frightened, emotionally disturbed poor (e.g. many of the homeless) who may reject disturbed poor (e.g. many of the homeless) who may reject help. help.

III.III. Men you notice are missing from most of the families. Men you notice are missing from most of the families. This, as we know, is typical. This, as we know, is typical.

IV.IV. The documentary shows that often the poor, including The documentary shows that often the poor, including those with “good attitudes” make serious mistakes: they those with “good attitudes” make serious mistakes: they smoke, quit jobs before they have another one, take too long smoke, quit jobs before they have another one, take too long to address problems, and perhaps worst of all fail to plan for to address problems, and perhaps worst of all fail to plan for the future; e.g., having children without thinking about the the future; e.g., having children without thinking about the consequences. consequences.

V.V. Elba, the teenager, is a good example of a young teen Elba, the teenager, is a good example of a young teen mother. She is a bit innocent and naïve and does not think mother. She is a bit innocent and naïve and does not think about consequences. She has no reservations about living off about consequences. She has no reservations about living off welfare (she thinks it is a good idea). She badly welfare (she thinks it is a good idea). She badly underestimates the cost of the lifestyle she hopes to live, or underestimates the cost of the lifestyle she hopes to live, or where the money would come from. where the money would come from.

Elba is a third generation welfare recipient. Her mother is a Elba is a third generation welfare recipient. Her mother is a poor parent, a terrible role model, and the parents of her poor parent, a terrible role model, and the parents of her teenage boyfriend are no better. Elba would have benefitted teenage boyfriend are no better. Elba would have benefitted from better parenting and better role models. (Where does from better parenting and better role models. (Where does mom meet her boy friends?) mom meet her boy friends?)

VI.VI. Some organizations and individuals argue that life for the Some organizations and individuals argue that life for the American poor is not that difficult. However, the poor in the American poor is not that difficult. However, the poor in the documentary are sometimes homeless, short on food, often do documentary are sometimes homeless, short on food, often do not have utilities, have serious transportation and child care not have utilities, have serious transportation and child care problems, and live with a great deal of stress. This is typical. problems, and live with a great deal of stress. This is typical. There is nothing good or comfortable about being poor. There is nothing good or comfortable about being poor.

VII.VII. In every family with children, to compensate for their home In every family with children, to compensate for their home environment the children really need to be in a high quality day environment the children really need to be in a high quality day care, a good school, or an inclusive environment like KIPP. This is a care, a good school, or an inclusive environment like KIPP. This is a form of structural discrimination. Children do not get to pick their form of structural discrimination. Children do not get to pick their parents or the neighborhoods they grow up in. parents or the neighborhoods they grow up in.

VIII.VIII. Some of the children might be better off if they were removed Some of the children might be better off if they were removed from their household—perhaps the child of the “depressed lady,”--from their household—perhaps the child of the “depressed lady,”--perhaps those of Ms. Kracker. perhaps those of Ms. Kracker.

IIX.X. The poor in the film are typical in the sense that they are The poor in the film are typical in the sense that they are generally single parents, badly educated, and very low on generally single parents, badly educated, and very low on marketable skills.marketable skills.

X. Some have so little education and are so naïve that they would X. Some have so little education and are so naïve that they would be very difficult to train or educate. be very difficult to train or educate.

XI.XI. Some of the poor in the film may need medical care which they Some of the poor in the film may need medical care which they most likely will not receive. They may be depressed, addicted, most likely will not receive. They may be depressed, addicted, and/or dispirited. and/or dispirited.

XII.XII. As the film shows, private charities play a very important role As the film shows, private charities play a very important role in helping the poor. Hard to measure but billions in aid every year.in helping the poor. Hard to measure but billions in aid every year.

XIII.XIII. Under current laws, it may not be possible to help many of Under current laws, it may not be possible to help many of the poor. Some fall outside the boundaries of the programs the poor. Some fall outside the boundaries of the programs and cannot meet the eligibility standards. Others probably and cannot meet the eligibility standards. Others probably cannot be given much help by programs such as TANF. cannot be given much help by programs such as TANF.

Some may have been spoiled by welfare and may be Some may have been spoiled by welfare and may be unable or unwilling to help themselves. unable or unwilling to help themselves.

Some may have emotional or mental problems that Some may have emotional or mental problems that will remain undiagnosed and treated. will remain undiagnosed and treated.

What about MS. Kracker? Can she be What about MS. Kracker? Can she be helped?helped?

What about the depressed lady? Is What about the depressed lady? Is she just a lazy bum? she just a lazy bum?

Was the young woman who claimed Was the young woman who claimed that she could not find child care that she could not find child care really trying? really trying?

What is the problem with the mixed-What is the problem with the mixed-race couple in Florida? race couple in Florida?

Will determination help the Will determination help the “determined lady?”“determined lady?”

The Second Documentary The Second Documentary

Living with a Hole in Living with a Hole in your Pocketyour Pocket

Focuses on: Why Work Does Not WorkFocuses on: Why Work Does Not Work

Wages that are too low to allow people Wages that are too low to allow people to avoid poverty, or other problems to avoid poverty, or other problems related to food, housing, related to food, housing, transportation, health care.transportation, health care.

Histories that make all their problems Histories that make all their problems more complex: single-parenting, credit more complex: single-parenting, credit problems, living in communities with a problems, living in communities with a depressed job market, criminal depressed job market, criminal backgrounds. backgrounds.

Social services limited by:Social services limited by:

Our measurement of povertyOur measurement of poverty Asset limits—cannot effectively build Asset limits—cannot effectively build

savings.savings. Certification and recertification Certification and recertification

requirementsrequirements Complex paperworkComplex paperwork Multiple agenciesMultiple agencies Often the poor just give up and stop Often the poor just give up and stop

asking for helpasking for help

They often need a way to:They often need a way to:

Get out of debtGet out of debt Obtain a better credit scoreObtain a better credit score Build a nest eggBuild a nest egg Obtain a better wageObtain a better wage Gain access to affordable housingGain access to affordable housing Obtain Amnesty: A fresh start by Obtain Amnesty: A fresh start by

putting their background behind putting their background behind them. them.

Obtain more education and better job Obtain more education and better job skillsskills

How are the Poor CopingHow are the Poor Coping In a recent NYT article poor young In a recent NYT article poor young

mothers said they are surviving by mothers said they are surviving by selling food bought with SNAP, selling selling food bought with SNAP, selling blood, skipping meals, shoplifting, blood, skipping meals, shoplifting, doubling up with friends, scavenging doubling up with friends, scavenging trash bins, and returning to violent trash bins, and returning to violent partners. partners.

Most of the mothers interviewed were Most of the mothers interviewed were single and receiving little or no help single and receiving little or no help from the fathers of their children. from the fathers of their children.

The states have trimmed the welfare The states have trimmed the welfare roles and now refuse to let people back roles and now refuse to let people back on during a recession. on during a recession.

Compared to the late 1990s, the Compared to the late 1990s, the national welfare rolls are down by 68%.national welfare rolls are down by 68%.

The best estimate is that some four The best estimate is that some four million mothers and children live in million mothers and children live in homes where the single female parent homes where the single female parent is jobless and without cash aid. is jobless and without cash aid.

Just one in five poor children receives Just one in five poor children receives cash aid, the lowest level in nearly 50 cash aid, the lowest level in nearly 50 years. years.

Poverty can cast a wide net. Poverty can cast a wide net. As the economies of Europe have As the economies of Europe have

floundered, suicide over “economic floundered, suicide over “economic distress” has been increasing. distress” has been increasing.

The victims tend to be men, The victims tend to be men, particularly small business owners. particularly small business owners.

As their businesses fail (many long-As their businesses fail (many long-term family businesses), some are term family businesses), some are committing suicide. committing suicide.

Two countries have had no increase Two countries have had no increase in the suicide—Sweden and Finland. in the suicide—Sweden and Finland.

In Sweden and Finland they decided In Sweden and Finland they decided to convert most of their to convert most of their unemployment compensation funds unemployment compensation funds to a program to rebuild to a program to rebuild infrastructure. infrastructure.

The unemployed are given jobs The unemployed are given jobs rather than cash support. rather than cash support.

These countries have found that These countries have found that those put to work are happier and those put to work are happier and more hopeful about the future. more hopeful about the future.

How Do we Design a Real Solution?How Do we Design a Real Solution? I think that would mean reducing the I think that would mean reducing the

number of people who ever have any number of people who ever have any need to have contact with the need to have contact with the welfare system. welfare system.

I see one solution: better education I see one solution: better education systems. systems.

The problem, I think, is that we have The problem, I think, is that we have not come to accept how hard it is to not come to accept how hard it is to educate much of our population. educate much of our population.

Whatever it Takes documents this Whatever it Takes documents this problem. problem.

Canada is a very smart, idealistic, Canada is a very smart, idealistic, compassionate person.compassionate person.

But he failed to understand how big a But he failed to understand how big a challenge he faced. challenge he faced.

He needed to start early, and work He needed to start early, and work with parents to get them engaged with parents to get them engaged and supportive. and supportive.

He did not understand how important He did not understand how important it is to place emphasis on teaching it is to place emphasis on teaching both cognitive and non-cognitive both cognitive and non-cognitive skills. skills.

He needed to focus on skills such as He needed to focus on skills such as proper behavior, patience, persistence, proper behavior, patience, persistence, ability to set and work toward long-ability to set and work toward long-range goals. He needed to help the range goals. He needed to help the student learn to be conscientious. student learn to be conscientious.

All American schools need to learn the All American schools need to learn the importance of soft skills. importance of soft skills.

The evidence suggests that we should The evidence suggests that we should start school for all kids at 3 with a goal start school for all kids at 3 with a goal of never letting kids fall behind and of never letting kids fall behind and teaching both cognitive and non-teaching both cognitive and non-cognitive skills. cognitive skills.

The research shows that educational The research shows that educational success breeds success, failure breeds success breeds success, failure breeds failure. failure.

The best evidence at this time is that The best evidence at this time is that not all kids will succeed even in the not all kids will succeed even in the best designed environments.best designed environments.

But some 70% or so do well. This is But some 70% or so do well. This is much better than current rates and a much better than current rates and a better educated and more confident better educated and more confident youth would be better suited for the youth would be better suited for the jobs of the future and fewer would turn jobs of the future and fewer would turn to crime. to crime.

Reducing crime rates would more than Reducing crime rates would more than pay for the cost of paying for better pay for the cost of paying for better education systems. education systems.