Blog 1 Post F

 

Components to Avoid Ending Up in Poverty

        There are many components to keep someone from ending up in poverty. Shipler focuses his introduction on discussing such components. He poses the question "Why are the poor poor?", and he suggests three crucial components to avoid ending up in poverty.These three components all work hand in hand with each other.

1.) A desirable set of skills

2.) Occupation with a good wage

3.) Job with promotion opportunity

       We can think of these three factors in a very simplistic way. When one has a set of desirable skills, you are more likely to obtain a stable occupation with a good wage, and stable companies that can afford to pay their employees well typically offer more room for growth. 

        The componenets discussed above focus on employment aspects only, however Shipler states we should also consider self care as a component. Purpose, courageous self-esteem, and low debt were the secondary group of components Shipler declared one must poses. Beginning with purpose, one can not strive if there is no belief of a purpose.With out belief of a purpose it is merely impossible to set goals, therefore achieve and progress. Courageous self-esteem provides the ability to believe one can achieve, this virtue is necessary in every aspect of life including the work life and home life. Lastly, low debt, which is pretty self explanatory. For example an individual with high debt will be less motivated to succeed because of the depression that may come along with debt which can lead to other health issues. An individual with high debt is also not as motivated , in my opinion, because they are working to pay off debt not for exciting purposes, or purposes that are immediately visible. High debt can limit ones resources, in example the college you attend or how much one can invest. 

          The attainment of all the above components in my opinion seems extremely difficult to attain. We must consider the circumstances of every individual and then realize that the lack of even one of these components can land one in poverty.