Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. Matthew is a sociologist at Princeton University. He is also the principal investigator of the Eviction Lab.
Matthew’s first book Evicted was the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner. In addition, Time Magazine named Evicted one of the ten best nonfiction books of the decade. So, can lightning strike twice?
Matthew’s follow up book just might as he provides fresh insights into how society actually thinks about a morally urgent issue. Yet, he is also indicating solutions are available without raising taxes.
This is not about the war on poverty or welfare reform, but simply a book addressing how poverty somehow persists in the richest nation on earth. Long story short: because the rest of us benefit from it.
Matthew’s insights are data driven and so he asks why. Why are 1 in every 8 children in fact going without basic necessities, why are citizens homeless, and why can corporations pay poverty wages? In addition, Matthew is providing updated statistics the really resonate in a post COVID-19 world.
In fact, throughout our history, the US Congress has raised the minimum wage 22 times. The current level — $7.25 an hour was established in 2009. Wow that was 14 years ago.
There are certainly key factors that perpetuate poverty and economic disparity. Matthew points out how the government gives so many benefits and subsidies to the wealthy. This directly undermines the poor.
Is it more interesting or sad to realize how greed motivates people?
Perhaps his most interesting position is how long held tax breaks and welfare of the rich. Yet, for many readers this may seem like a tired, long held political believe. However how many of us take full advantage of the Mortgage Interest Deduction on our taxes? You will be amazed to see how much of a tax break for the wealthy as it applies to more than one mortgage.
Matthew also is addressing intersections of race and poverty with an emphasis on Black Americans, and he also details how expensive poverty can get through the presence of factors such as unnecessary banking and paycheck fees. So, to help erase poverty requires the wealthy to give up some resources. For reference, the wealthy hold multiple mortgages over $800,000 — just to better focus who the wealthy are in 2023. This is just one fixed example. He provides more.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
So, in essence Americans knowingly and unknowingly allow poverty to persist. If you believe you are financially secure, are you also exploiting the poor, driving down their wages, and forcing them to overpay for housing and access to cash/credit and medical care? As they say, sometimes You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.
In conclusion, Matthew calls on all of us to become poverty abolitionists. Let’s begin a new age of shared prosperity and end poverty across our country. This is a short read but worthy of all the praise and recognition.