So, I wanted to share my thoughts on this podcast episode called “Why the poor in America stay poor” from “The Gray Area” by Vox. The host, Sean Illing, had a chat with Matthew Desmond, a sociology professor at Princeton University and author of the books Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City and Poverty, by America I won’t go into all of the details because it’s a complex issue, but one simple matter is that America has a poverty problem.

Matthew Desmond made a compelling argument during the episode. He basically said that we can solve this issue of poverty in America, but it seems like either we don’t want to or maybe it’s just been set up that way intentionally.

Desmond’s perspective further motivated me to get involved. Not just with poverty-related issues, but also with other local and national ones as well. Desmond emphasized the need for more people to stand up to politicians. He warns against focusing on calling out the actions of individual politicians though.

I agree that we should push back more on bad policies introduced by politicians, but I think there’s probably value in calling those individuals and institutions, moreso the individuals out as well. We shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture, the policies, but we should hold these politicians more accountable.

After listening to the podcast, I found my interest in getting involved on a deeper level reinvigorated. Tackling poverty systemically and also helping individuals in need right now are in great need. This mindset extends beyond poverty too. It made me think about the most pressing issues in my own community and how I can make a difference. It’s all about taking action and making an impact.

So, all in all, it was a great episode with a thought-provoking discussion. I’m definitely on board with what was said. Good talk. Good talk.