Why it’s so hard to escape the cycle of poverty

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At a time when so many of us have so much, why is there still widespread poverty across the United States? Is it really bad decision-making and poor self-control that keeps people from moving into the middle class?

Quartz: “When considering poverty, our national conversation tends to overlook systemic causes. Instead, we often blame the poor for their poverty. Commentators echo the claim that people are poor because they have bad self-control and therefore make nearsighted choices. But psychology research says the opposite might be the case: poverty makes it hard for people to care about the future and forces them to live in the present.”

In his article, University of Oregon professor Elliot Berkman details the “permanent now” those in poverty must live in constantly, focusing attention on immediate needs like food, rent and utilities. Thus, he argues, “the traditional definition of self-control doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

We Can Do Better Conference to address top health issues in Oregon

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I’ve always been a bit of a conference geek, and I’m incredibly excited to attend the We Can Do Better 2015 Conference Thursday in Portland. I haven’t been to one of these conferences in the past, but it looks like it’s going to be quite interesting. The agenda includes topics such as:

  • Creating health equity with intentionality
  • Transportation planning and its impact on health outcomes
  • Addressing health issues within communities
  • Creating greater access to complementary medicine
  • What’s next for the Affordable Care Act in Oregon?

I’m particularly interested in the first two topics above, as they are especially relevant here in Portland. I’m hoping to have more to share after the event!

Portland extends Old Town crowd control effort

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Crews block off a street in Old Town Chinatown. (Source: KPTV)

According to The Oregonian, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has announced that the city will continue closing several streets in the Old Town Chinatown entertainment district for several hours during weekend nights after studies have shown that the closures have likely helped reduce crime.

When the city first implemented the crowd control effort three years ago, businesses in the area initially protested that the reduction of traffic would hurt their sales. The mayor reported that these businesses have, for the most part, adjusted to the change and that the city is striking a good balance between public safety and protecting local businesses.

At this time, the biggest issue appears to be the large number of vehicles being towed on weekend nights—an average of nine per evening.

In addition to the street closures, the city of Portland has set up taxi areas in an effort to curb drunk driving and ensure more people get home safely after bar time. There are also plans to re-stripe NW 3rd Ave. to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Report: ACA slices American uninsured rate

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Affordable-Care-Act-BenefitsAbout 17.6 million people have gained health insurance coverage through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a recent report from the Department of Health & Human Services. The numbers also represent a decrease in the country’s uninsured rate from 38 percent all the way down to about 12.6 percent.

McClatchyDC: “About 15.3 million gained insurance either through marketplace coverage, non-marketplace individual coverage or through Medicaid, the state/federal health plan for low-income Americans. The remaining 2.3 million young adults ages 19-25 secured coverage under a health law provision that lets them remain on a parent’s plan until age 26.”

The next marketplace enrollment period begins November 1.

CDC: Poor families don’t eat more fast food

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chicken-nuggets-308448_1280Although obesity continues to be a major problem for people in poverty across the United States, a newly released CDC study indicates that low-income families do not consume any more fast food than other Americans. The study challenges conventional wisdom about who eats the most unhealthy fast food.

Time: “[The study] finds that there’s no correlation between fast-food intake and poverty status. Covering 2011 and 2012, the CDC study found that about a third of adolescents and children consumed fast food on a given day. Children in the poorest group, from families earning less than 130% of the federal poverty level (currently about $26,000 for a family of three), get 11.5% of their calories from fast food, compared with about 13% for richer kids.”