Here is a list of problems that I think need to be looked at as an integrated whole. That's why I've put this as a Forum topic. I've also put each of these in Activist Solutions as a separate problem.

1. Stress – Generally
2. Boredom – Particularly among youth
3. Poverty
4. Energy Consumption and Destruction of Farmland through Development
5. Workforce Dissatisfaction, Overwork and Stress in the Workplace
6. Workplace and Corporate Culture
7. Anger In the Workplace – Both Overt and Covert

The State and City of New York are committed to placing 25% of people who go to government programs into some kind of job. The government actually places between 8% and 25% of such people into jobs depending on how you read and interpret the very complicated data. The Problem is that at least 75% of people who apply for help seeking employment for the purpose of getting out of poverty do not get a job or much if any help. This is a complicated set of problems to which programs are focusing on the wrong initial solutions.

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Member communities of The Federation of Egalitarian Community attempt to end poverty through the following principles:
o holding land, labor, income, and other resources in common
o assuming responsibility for the needs of its members, receiving the products of their labor, and distributing these and all other goods equally, or according to need.
o practicing non-violence
o using a form of decision making in which members have an equal opportunity to participate, either through consensus, direct vote, or right of appeal or overrule.

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The number of American living in poverty equals the population of California, the world’s 7th largest economy. StarPoint Inc. (a Bentonville, AR nonprofit organization that assists the poor) fixes the financial impact of poverty on government at between $290,000.00 and $1.3 million for each person in poverty during that person’s lifetime- a minimum cost of over 10.2 trillion dollars. I found this information in 2004. The numbers may have changed, but the problem persists. I believe it will get far worse before it gets better.

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I believe that all human beings need to have sufficient funds in order to pay 100% of the REAL and ACTUAL costs in today’s dollars of the following items:

1. Shelter (rent/mortgage) – Very modest accommodations
2. Food (Food Stamps and/or cash from earned income) – reasonably nutritious food
3. HVAC and Electricity (sometimes this is included in the rent)
4. High speed internet and telephone service. I personally pay $36/month for each service for a total of $70/month.
5. Transportation – In New York City that would be an $81/monthly MetroCard

It has been estimated that in 2001, 1.1 billion people had consumption levels below $1 a day and 2.7 billion lived on less than $2 a day. (World Bank)

36.5 million people lived in poverty in 2006, according to the Census Bureau.

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Thank you for your interesting and informative article on what you’re doing to help reduce poverty in areas where it’s really worse than we here can imagine. I do think that encouraging and assisting small business could make a very big difference in many parts of our own country as well.

It is not possible for even a very small fraction of the 3 billion living in poverty (below $2 per day in income) to become successful entrepreneurs. Most of them do not have any education, business skills or financial resources. In countries like India, the poor are both illiterate and socially disadvantaged; there is little chance that micro-credit or even larger funds can help them plausibly start and run businesses. The present generation of impoverished people can only hope to earn a living by working in the fields for landlords or at businesses nearby.