Three Steps We Can Take to Solve Poverty, From Someone Who Knows Firsthand

[Triana]

Tianna Gaines-Turner, a child-care worker from Philadelphia, presented these three suggestions to Congress this week during the House of Representative’s latest hearing on the War on Poverty. What makes Gaines-Turner’s testimony different is firsthand experience. Gaines-Turner and her husband have struggled for years to escape poverty while raising their children — a 10-year-old son (who, she proudly noted, was on the honor roll), and two 6-year-old twins. Both parents work: Her husband is employed at a grocery store for $8.50 an hour, and Tianna leaves home each day at 7:00 a.m. to take care of children aged 4 to 16 for $10.88 an hour. Nonetheless, her family struggles to make ends meet and put food on the table. Twice, Gaines-Turner, her husband and their three kids have been homeless.



. . .

Three recommendations for solving poverty:

1. Provide living wages and family-oriented labor policies
. . .
2. Invest in a safety net that supports and promotes economic mobility
. . .
3. Invest in community solutions, run by people who know poverty firsthand

THE WHOLE THING (lots more details on the above three suggestions):

http://billmoyers.com/2014/07/11/three-steps-we-can-take-to-solve-poverty-from-someone-who-knows-firsthand/

[Rod Beauvex]

1. Congress doesn't want it.

Most of them don't even believe poverty is a real problem, since it doesn't affect them.

[yeoman6987]

2. Ok so 18 dollars is not enough to live on

Between the two then why are we doing this 10.10 minimum wage increase and not higher? If we really want a living wage that will really help then I think 20 dollars should be the goal. Why low start? Start high and negotiate. In negotiations you always start way higher then you end up with.

[hopemountain]

8. agreed. this is one instance

when baby steps and teeny tiney increments to the minimum wage is holding back our country's future.

everyone would have to adjust and learn how to handle more than double the increase in income ~ but there were be so many opportunities and many more jobs in the business sector, home building, infrastructure, etc., - and tax revenue for mulititudes of ways to rebuild our country.

[Rod Beauvex]

9. Ummm....

I'm not sure why you responded to me...

At any rate, you are preaching to the choir. :p

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Then again....

[littlemissmartypants]

4. What a beautiful family.

And the twins are holding hands. Dig it.

Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp

[historylovr]

5. K & R

[TheBlackAdder]

7. +1

[littlemissmartypants]

6. I love Moyers. I met some of his crew

In Raleigh while waiting to observe the #NCGA as they were researching a documentary he is doing.
Something about his voice just reeks empathy.

Thanks for your post, Triana.

Love, Peace and Shelter.

[WillyT]

10. K & R !!!

[freshwest]

11. What a brilliant, clear-minded woman! Now this is on the Record, they can't hide from it.

Paul Ryan only wants to make things worse, with his calling the WOP a failure and his cuts to SNAP and calls for the end of the social safety net. He has no wiggle room now. This needs to go viral!

[Worried senior]

12. I've seen her on MSNBC

several times and she is a wonderful, articulate woman.

Of course the repubs gave her some silly advice but I do believe she got her points across. Whether anyone will pay attention she did a good job.

I see a future for her in public speaking or representing the working poor if someone gives her a chance.