Poverty-?

Webster defines poverty as pauper poor. The state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.

Now, if I choose to tag myself or someone else with the poverty label simply because the $$$$ amount doesn't read properly, then that is one answer as to why many stay at the accepted "poverty level." We are what we believe we are. Our thoughts today become our actions tomorrow and the outcome depends on breaking out of the poverty level way of thinking.

But...is it that simple? No, it is not.

I don't think those of us who are lacking in money and possessions because we are negative, lazy, or unwilling to change our actions qualify for the label.

The "Poverty" label should be reserved for those who are caught in the trap of ignorance. ( destitute of knowledge )

There are people living all across our country that are confined to such a small amount of education, if any, no guidance except from the same empty mentality that produced them. This segment of our society has always been.

Travel the poorest sections of the Appalachian regions of West Virginia and Kentucky, this to me defines poverty. A way of life in 2008 and in a country with so many riches and options-humans live with no lifeline to anything better than "poverty." Real poverty. No money, no possessions, no hope, no reality actually that they are who and what they are.

Bea Kunz