Poverty (this one is a doozy)

Question 1

What is the difference between an issue and a trouble? what is the structural problem pertaining to these categories?

Answer 1

Trouble- individualistic experience of a problem

Issue- affects more than one person/ impacts society

We tend to treat large issues as if they are individual troubles

Question 2

How ideas about poverty changed over time - medieval to industrial revolution 1700 to middle 1800

Talk through as best you can

Answer 2

Medieval - being charitable seen as good, poverty (serfs) seen as a ligitimate social class, not lots of judgement there

IR 1700 - keeping working people poor as a function of producing wealth for elite

Middle 1800 - Karl Marx : working class being kept down by elite, poverty as a product of oppression
Also full blown capitalism/ poor laws and less eligibility
Dark time for welfare state

Question 3

Define market society (M pre 18)

Answer 3

early form of exchanging labour for money

Question 4

Define aprenticeship system (M pre 18)

Answer 4

training people to have certain skills to sell

Recognized that some people can’t work (old, widowed) - parish system/local church looked after them

Question 5

Define less eligibility program (M 18)

Answer 5

Passed into law alongside poor laws in 1834
Conditions in state provided work houses (including pay) have to be worse than conditions of work outside work houses - deterred from claiming poor relief

Question 6

Define liberal democracy, why is it conflicting? what are the benefits?

Answer 6

Liberalism - individual as a free agent (deregulation)
Brought about rights - freedom of speech ect.

Democracy - a rule for the people (equality)
Right to vote, extension of rights to working people

They conflict because liberalism depends on individualism and democracy is founded on mutual interdependence

Question 7

Define capitalist democracy, why is it conflicting? (kind of same thing as liberal democracy just in market terms)

Answer 7

Capitalism will always creates inequalities - democracy is equality in its purest sense

Question 8

Why do we harbour prejudices towards the poor?

Answer 8

We harbour ideas that homeless people haven’t worked hard enough due to historical context of capitalism

Economic system effectuating the political system - capitalist democracy

Question 9

How do we measure poverty?

Hint: 3

Answer 9

LICO - Low income cut off: how much of income is being spent on basic needs - when family pays 20% more than the average family on basic needs

Market basket measure: how much is needed to meet basic needs - when a family income is less the cost of purchasing basic nessesities
(BASKET of modest, nessesary goods)
Primary measure for canadians now (fed)

Low-income measure (poverty line): when a family income is less than half the median family income

Question 10

What groups are most at risk for poverty?

Answer 10

Indigenous population, women (single mothers), newcomers, people with disabilities

Most at risk - disabled or mentally ill

Question 11

What contributes to poverty?

- talk through

Answer 11

Capitalism 
Inequality = necessary component 
Lack of resources (education, affordable goods)
Lack of incentives
Geographic location 
Mental health 
Cycle of poverty 
Generational / hereditary deficit 
Marginalization of certain communities 
Violence 
Domestic, trauma, gangs, structural 
Issues vs. troubles 
Individual vs. society

Question 12

What policies and programs can you think of that try to adress poverty and its symptoms?

As many as you can

Answer 12

Ontario works 
Ontarians with disabilities support program 
Food banks 
Housing 
OSAP 
Minimum wage 
Old age security 
Taxation systems 
Basic income

Question 13

How can we adress labour market inequality?

Answer 13

Redistribution of wealth - taxes/income support programs

Secondary band-aid solutions - (ex: food security programs, shelters and day-programs for homeless, programs for particular population - newcomers)

Question 14

Who is most affected by low-income rates?

Answer 14

People with disabilities - especially those with combined physical and mental problems (37)

Question 15

Define fiscal welfare, how is it achieved? examples?

Answer 15

Support provided through taxation system, size of benefits depends on income

Progressive income tax, write offs (rrsp, tuition credits), medical expense tax credits

Question 16

What are some examples of redistribution through taxation?

Answer 16

Proportional tax
Fixed rate but depends on how much you spend (ex: sales tax)

Tax expenditures
Tax expenses incurred by government that would otherwise collect taxes

Question 17

Explain Ontario works?

Answer 17

For those who need money for basic nessecities and are willing/trying to find employment - it is means-tested and people involved are subject to ongoing evaluation

Question 18

Explain ODSP? what are some upcoming changes

Answer 18

Must be 18 to apply, meet programs definition of a person with a disability or member of prescribed class

Changes: Clawbacks - recovery of money already distributed
Changing definition of disability to fit federal definition - narrower criteri, new people won’t be able to qualify

Question 19

Explain employment insurance?

Answer 19

For people who are available to work but cannot find a job who were employed in insurable employment before and have worked required amount of hours

Question 20

What are some symptoms of poverty within the indigenous community?

as many as you can

Answer 20

Less education, lower labour market outcomes, over-rep of children in welfare system, housing crisis, higher mortality rates, worse physical health, more interaction with CRCJ

Question 21

What can poverty in indigenous communities be credited to? - talk through

Think: crimm models

Answer 21

Colonization - cultural genocide
Continued structural subjugation and marginalization - assimilation
Low levels of funding and infrastructure
Not collecting data
Failing to respond to recommendations of reports, commissions and even court cases
Victim blaming