Blog Post #4

After I read chapter thirteen and fourteen, I thought both these articles presented a clear correlation between poverty and crime, and how crime is an effective method (in the short term) to make ends meet for those with minimal means of income. Goode analyzes society’s false reasoning for poverty, and does a great job at explaining the cycle of poverty and how difficult it is for those living in poverty to move up from their socioeconomic classes. She discusses those living in poverty are faced with systemic oppression through a limited labor market, and mentions William Wilson, who explained the main root of poverty is structured economic change, such as less factories. Goode refutes explanations made by people such as Ronald Reagen and Moynihan, who both claim that poverty is a “cultural mindset”, which is basically calling those in poverty lazy, blaming them for being part of a “dependatory culture”. This is of course not the truth to why poverty exists, as Goode points out. She explains that poverty is a result of people being excluded from the urban labor market by structural economic change. As a result of those in poverty struggling financially, people’s choices to make ends meet are limited, which may lead people to make ends meet through crime. Bourgois makes similar points regarding what leads to people living in poverty turning to crime. He discusses how as the public sector declines, less people can find work, and these people tend to turn to crime to make ends meet, and the underground drug economy grows as a result.