Persistent Poverty

}Once heralded as the land of opportunity America has become for increasing numbers of her inhabitants a nation of disappointment and hardship. In a land characterized by innumerable economic environmental and social problems poverty is escalating to the point where approximately one-third of the population is composed of the poor and the near poor. Persistent Poverty provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of one of Americas most disturbing social problems.In a clear uncompromising style Richard H. Ropers Ph.D. a noted authority on the plight of the poverty-stricken unravels a skein of government inconsistencies in handling the mounting effects of poverty homelessness the welfare system and the gradual polarization of our class system resulting in the gradual erosion of the middle class. After examining various blame-the-victim and blame the system theories of inequality Dr. Ropers asserts that such poverty results primarily from long-term economic social and political policies and is not necessarily derived from the supposed deviant behavior of the poor.With a staggering 70 million Americans living just above or below the poverty line the author advises that urgent attention be paid to the structural roots of poverty in light of significant increases in the rate of crime juvenile delinquency substance abuse domestic violence and unemployment. As an objective focus on the enormous scope of poverty this groundbreaking work offers keen insights into the argument that despite substantial efforts to alleviate similar plights worldwide the United States cannot provide sufficient care for her own impoverished citizens.Sociologists educators politicians urbanologists public officials and concerned citizens will all benefit from this provocative and thoughtful appraisal. }