(Student’s Full Name)
According to Peter Capelli, “52% of U.S. employers surveyed say they have difficulty filling positions because of talent shortages” (par. 10). However, at the time that The Wall Street Journal article was written the unemployment rate was around 9%. The writer explains further that American employers are still complaining about “talent shortages” because they would like to employ persons who do not require any “training or ramp-up time” (Capelli par. 10). These employers hardly hire anyone despite having an “abundance of workers to choose from” (Capelli par. 10). The unwillingness of U.S. employers to hire persons and training them to suit the workplace has led to not only the increase of unemployment, but also to the increase of the number of persons living in poverty. Americans who are poor because of inability to be gainfully employed have very limited opportunities that stem from the lack of opportunities for employment. In assessing the living of conditions of America’s poor, it can be argued that their limited or no opportunities for employment, which can lead to unstable living arrangements, no access to healthy food, and poor or no transportation.
A poor American citizen, who is unemployed, is unable to afford to access proper housing or accommodation. Most poor or unemployed American citizens will only have access to government housing options. For instance, the poor has the option of living in communities that provide public housing and is funded by the U.S. government. In addition, low-income persons residing in America also have the choice of living in housing that is privately owned or subsidized. Furthermore, America’s poor have the opportunity of living in mobile homes in trailers parks and emergency shelters. Persons from a low socio-economic background have the chance of living in mobile homes in trailer parks, where the rent and bills are affordable. However, it should be borne in mind that these options are only available if an individual has access to a limited amount of funds where he can pay to live in these areas for a short period of time until he finds work. If an individual is poor, unemployment, and does not have any funds to support himself then he can opt to live in an emergency shelter, sharing living accommodations with a friend or family member or living on the streets. If the individual lives nearby and is able to easily locate one then he can always stay at an emergency shelter until he is able to find employment. If a poor, unemployed person, who has no money, is unable to find a shelter he can always decide to stay at a friend’s or family member’s home until he is gainfully employed. In the event that the above options are not available for him then the only choice that is left for him is to live on the streets.
Most of American’s poor have difficulty affording healthy foods. Most poor persons, especially those who are unemployed, have difficulty affording healthy foods. The majority of poor persons find it difficult to afford to buy organic foods at supermarkets and markets, which can have a positive effect on their health. Moreover, persons who are poor, unemployed, and come from low socio-economic households find it difficult at times to buy fresh produce if they are using food stamps and are on welfare, which does not allow persons to buy much fresh foods. Additionally, poor Americans have the choice to afford the very heavily processed foods that are usually sold cheaply at supermarkets or grocery stores. However, persons who have no income, which would usually be the case for persons who have not been employed for a while, have the choice to get free food from soup kitchens or food banks operated charities, social organizations, or churches.
American citizens, who are from low-income households, or do not have a source of income, have either poor or no transportation at all. Poor Americans, who have access to limited funds, would have enough funds to afford very old vehicles that are in constant need of repair. It is understandable that older vehicles will be accessible for the poorer classes since they are more affordable than the newer models. Nevertheless, a poor person who owns an old vehicle, since that is the only one he can afford, has difficulty being transported from one place to another because of problems related to repairs. Americans who are from a low socio-economic background usually have to opt to take public transportation, travel with someone else who owns a vehicle, or no transportation, if they are unable to purchase a vehicle. Persons, who have limited financial resources and are poor, are able to use the public transportation system. Public transportation can take several forms, which can include: taxis, buses, trains or the subway. If a person, who is poor and is unable to afford a vehicle, can choose to travel along with someone else who owns a vehicle. If that option is unavailable, then American citizens who are poor and have no money only has the option to use no transportation. This means that this person will most likely have to walk from one place to the next to arrive at his destination.
In conclusion, the American citizen who is poor and have limited financial resources have few choices has related to accommodations, food, and transportation. A poor person with a small amount of a money and is living in America has the opportunity to have public housing that is provided by the government or public housing that is subsidized, use food stamps or be on welfare then they can buy heavily processed and fast foods that can compromise their health, and they can purchase an older vehicle to travel from one point to the next. If someone who is poor and has no income as a result of not being employed for a significant period of time then his options are even more limited. This means that this person can either live with someone, live in an emergency shelter, or on the streets. This person will be able to receive free food from soup kitchens or food banks operated by charities, social organizations, or churches. A poor person with no income has the option of traveling along with someone who owns a vehicle or walking.
Essay Outline
Thesis Statement: In assessing the living of conditions of America’s poor, it can be argued that their limited or no opportunities for employment, which can lead to unstable living arrangements, no access to healthy food, and poor or no transportation.
First point: A poor American citizen, who is unemployed, is unable to afford to access proper housing or accommodation
Sub-Point: Most poor or unemployed American citizens will only have access to government and highly-subsidized housing or in mobile homes.
Detail/Example: The poor has the option of living in communities that provide public housing
Detail/Example: Low-income persons also have the choice of living in housing that is privately owned or subsidized.
Detail/Example: The poor has the option of living in trailer parks, where the rent and the bills are affordable.
Sub-Point: The poor has the opportunity of living in accommodations such as emergency shelters, sharing accommodations at a friend's or family member's home or living on the streets.
Detail/Example: A person who is unemployed and has no income has the option of sharing accommodation at a friend's or family member's home.
Detail/Example: The American poor also have the choice of living in emergency shelters albeit for a period of time.
Detail/Example: A person who has no funds or no opportunity to live within a building is only left with the option of living on the streets.
Second point: Persons from low-income households in America have limited access to healthy food
Sub-Point: Most of America's poor, especially those who are unemployed, have difficulty affording healthy foods.
Detail/Example: Most poor persons find it difficult to afford to buy organic foods at supermarkets and markets, which can have a positive impact on their health.
Detail/Example: Persons from low-income households find it difficult at times to buy fresh produce if they are using food stamps and are on welfare, which does not allow persons to buy much fresh foods
Sub-Point: The majority of America's poor will have access to unhealthy food options.
Detail/Example: Most persons from low-income households will be able to afford food items from fast food restaurants.
Detail/Example: Poor individuals living in America will be able to afford the very heavily processed foods that are usually sold cheaply at supermarkets or grocery stores.
Detail/Example: Persons who have no income and are unemployed have the choice to get free food from soup kitchens or food banks operated by charities, social organizations or churches.
Third Point: American citizens, who are from low-income households, or do not have a source of income, have either poor or no transportation.
Sub-Point: Poor Americans, who have access to limited funds, would have enough funds to afford very old vehicles that are in constant need of repair.
Detail/Example: It is understandable that older vehicles will be accessible for the poorer classes since they are more affordable than the newer models.
Detail/Example: A poor person, who owns an old vehicle, since that is the only one he can afford, has difficulty being transported from one place to another because of problems related to repairs.
Sub-Point: Americans who are from a low socio-economic background usually have to opt to take public transportation, drive with someone else who has a vehicle, or no transportation, if they are unable to purchase a vehicle.
Detail/Example: Poor Americans have the choice to use public transportation that comes in the form of a taxi, bus, train/subway.
Detail/Example: Persons who are poor, especially those who are unemployed, have the option of driving along with someone who owns a vehicle.
Detail/Example: American citizens who are from low income households have the choice of using no transportation.
Work Cited
Cappelli, Peter. “Why Companies Can't Find the Employees They Need.” WSJ. Wsj.com, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Sept. 2016.
