U.S.A., Land of Limitations?
by Nicholas Kristof
Argument
Sept. 11, 2016

In the article, this author (Kristoff) argues that our "land of opportunity" is mostly determined by our beginnings in life. Children in poverty have a very small chance of rising to the top in adulthood. Kristof thinks back on his friend, Rick, who died of heart disease and struggled to rise in economic levels. Rick was a child "left behind" in school despite being intelligent because of his undiagnosed ADHD, no one bothered with him. Because of his own struggles, he never was able to climb out from the bottom. Kristof states, "Remember that disadvantage is less about income than environment. The best metrics of child poverty aren't monetary, but rather how often a child is read to or hugged." Children that are cared for and loved have a better chance at succeeding than one who is beaten or families with substance abuse. This is not the case with all children living in poverty but it is with a large percentage.

Children in lower class do not have the opportunities that children in high class do. Children of lower income families do not have the opportunities of private schools, music lessons, and special activities and trips. Although, I do not believe you need all of those things for success later in life but how you are brought up can pave the path to your success.

It is upsetting that if your parents or grandparents were not successful, then your chances for making something of yourself are slim. I realize that statistics don't lie and Kristoff states that there is more children living in poverty now than in 2008. Why would poverty levels be on the rise in this country and what is being done about it? Kristof also states that maybe our presidential candidates should be discussing these issues.

My personal experiences of struggling to keep a roof over my kids heads and food on the table, I've experienced highs and lows but feel it was not because of how I was raised, but more with the economy and choices I made along the way.

In this video, Marcell is an adolescent living in one of the most dangerous cities in the US, Camden, NJ. He tells his story of living in poverty. His parents were into drugs and he was sent to live with his grandmother. He talks about the violence he lives in and that lack of opportunity.