Question

Explain how one's position on the political spectrum guides the construction of poverty as a social problem as well as solutions to this problem?

Answer 1

Poverty is constucted as a social problem and offered solutions according to the political inclination of people towards a specific group that has its own viewpoint regarding this concept and offers solutions accordingly. Poverty as a social problem and solution according to the various political viewpoint are:

Conservatives: If an individual has inclination towards this political group, they would consider poverty as a result of the lack of work ethics. Failure of family as a social institution that has caused lack of motivation to work or had caused individuals to choose the wrong way, thus, decline in traditional and moral values of family is responsible for poverty. Increase in single household is also responsible for poverty, and also the over dependence on welfare system.

Solution: They would want the people to follow the proper work ethics. Emphasize on strengthening family values and promote good parenting skills. Would discourage the welfare system and emphasize on the importance of of hardwork to fight against poverty.

Liberals: In the view of liberals poverty is caused due unemployment, lack of employment opportunities due to globalization, outsourcing, and due ethnic and cultural barriers.

Solution: Is the responsibility of the the government to provide better employment opportunities to the people and remove the barriers that makes the people from attaining better job oppuopportuni.

Radicals: From the position of radicals poverty is due to the exploitation of the capitalist or is the result of capitalism. The profit motive of capitalist makes the poor more poorer and rich more richer, thus the income gap between the rich and poor increase day by day, and poverty is caused due to this social injustice.

Solution: The government should control the profit motive of the capitalists and should bring policies that would lessen the gap between the rich and poor.