The Media Doesn't Help
Our Poor
Frank Williams
One
in five children, 15.3 million kids less than 18 years old, lives in poverty.
Why is it that we, the United States of America, one of the wealthiest
nations in the world, are plagued by poverty? Is it because of
welfare
reform, social policies, and neglect of certain classes? Who do we blame?
What
part does the media play in the poverty game?
In 1994, 15% of the American population was categorized as
"living in poverty." (US Bureau of the Census 1996) We have
homelessness, unemployment, the working poor, etc., in our nation, and
we have shows such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire that showcase middle-class and upper-class contestants. Soon, there will be a show hosted by Donald Trump,
called the Billionaire, in which a contestant will be allotted
time to spend a million dollars. Would the contestant be selected from
among the working poor? I doubt it. This idea is only a dreamscape for
the lower class
and those in poverty.
They will continue to dream, because they will not be allowed to participate in these types of game shows. Game shows
are created for entertainment and opportunity.
Why, then, can't the working poor compete? The contestants for these type
of game shows usually work one job and make more than $40, 000 a year.
My
point is this: networks make their money from the working poor and people in poverty. Why aren't these people given an
opportunity to participate?
Shows like Survivor are a joke,
because we have poor people in the US, who are surviving the cruelty of
racism, discrimination, the elements of street life, the harsh results of social policies
and welfare reforms. The only games they get to participate in are food
lines, lotteries for shelters, general assistance, unemployment lines, labor-ready lines,
and the lottery ticket line, hoping to win some money to relieve their
harsh situations.
The media glamorizes the rich and sells dreams to
the poor. Why not give them a chance at a big break in life? The media
promotes acceptance in a way, but the accepted "norm" is that
the worthy can participate, the UNWORTHY cannot. The worthy are always
the able bodied people who belong to a particular class, and the unworthy
are always the ones below middle-class.
There
are the "in-groups," and the "out-groups," and if
you are of the
haves, then you are in the in-group. The media
does well in keeping division alive. The media does well in promoting separatism,
discrimination, and quotas. The media does well in glorifying the status
of the elites.
Oh
say can you (the Public) see? We have people working two or three
jobs just to get by. We have children living in foster
homes, group homes, and detention centers. Most are from single-parent
households where there is unemployment, limited or unaffordable housing,
and lack of opportunities. These people are considered the out-group;
some make fifty-cents more than what they are allowed to receive assistance
from government agencies. Poverty is their result.
Don
King is right: "Only in America, baby.” We have the greatest nation in the world--we keep telling ourselves and
everybody else this truth (?). But our media wants competing game
shows to help the rich get richer, while molding minds into a greed
culture; the focus is off reality.
Our society has people who are literally starving every day. The media
should be creative and develop game shows where everyone has a chance.
At least Bob Barker's The Price is Right targets housewives,
seniors, and college students. They win cash and prizes, but not millions.
If we can make real issues the focus of attention,
then maybe moral values could make a comeback. Because, as it stands,
the poor don't have a chance,, and the media is no help.[]
Frank
Thomas Williams
