The Causes of Poverty

One outcome of Hurricane Katrina is the light it has shed on race and class in America. Though the disaster has struck both rich and poor, the displaced victims we see on television,on the internet, and in our newspapers are largely the poor and, of them, primarily people of color. No sooner are we struck with evidence of poverty, then we fall into opposing explanatory positions, loosely labeled as conservative: poverty is their (the poor's) fault versus liberal: poverty is our (the government's) fault.

It's the poor's own fault: Look, poor, America is the land of opportunity. All you have to do is stay in school, work hard, persevere, stop being the victim blaming other people or slavery or racism for your condition. Look around you; other Blacks have succeeded and so can you if you'll only persevere.
It's the government's fault:Damn you, government, you're giving tax breaks to the rich while cutting programs and services for the poor. You're still working on those failed trickle-down theories; meanwhile the wealth continues to trickle up.

These positions are virtually undiscussable. If one of these is yours, try discussing the issue with someone with an opposing position. Arguments are possible, open exploratory conversations less likely.

The way it usually goes:
1. Life is full of uncertainty, complexities for which there are no clear-cut, simple solutions. How one deals with poverty and racism is clearly one. (So far, the only nations that have successfully eliminated the inequity between rich and poor, have done it by making everyone poor.)
2. Our minds do not appreciate uncertainty.
3. So we reflexively fall into the comfort of positions.
4. We cling firmly (desperately) to our positions - dismissing counter arguments - because to let in such arguments threatens to toss us back into the abyss of uncertainty.
5. A hypothesis worth considering: Living in the complexity of uncertainty may create the ground out of which more fruitful approaches emerge.

There is an exercise that is part of our Organization Workshop on Creating Partnership. Its purpose is to deal with the complexity of complaint. Maybe it opens up some new thinking regarding poverty.

Their Part/Your Part.
When we hear someone complaining about what others have done to them, we deal with it this way.
Step One, Clarifying Their Part: " I want you to tell them exactly what it is they have done or not done. And I want you to tell them how their actions or inactions have impacted you.You need to be very specific so they are clear about what they have done or not done and the impact that is having one you."
Step Two, Clarifying Your Part:  "That's good feedback to them. Now, what's your part in this situation? To what extent does it continue because of things you do or do not do? What can you do now to change this condition?"

Accepting the complexity - it's not me or you - generally opens the whole system to more fruitful actions. Maybe there is something in this regarding poverty and racism.

6. Chances are neither Liberals nor Conservatives appreciate this way of thinking.

Comments

[Irvin Scott]

Barry,

I just finished your work, Power and Position! I went on line to see what you are doing and I came upon your blog. I am a fan of Meg Wheatley, Ervin Laslow, and now Barry Oshry. I am also a fulltime, doctoral student at Harvard's Graduate School of Education. I am convinced your work has poweful implications for an Urban Education Renaisssance in America.

I am writing in response to your posting on poverty because it's my belief that social issues like poverty and urban educational improvement are inextricably linked. Consequently, they require a triadic framework for designing strategies for improvement, not unlike the one designed by Robert Keidel from the Wharton School.

In order to sustain improvement over time, the work must be addressed on three fronts: Hierarchical Accountability, Collective Accountability, and Autonomous Accountability.

Hierarchical refers to the responsibility of institutions and individuals with positional power. For example, the government, directors, etc.

Collective Accountability refers to the responsibility of those who are not directly affected by the challenges of the poor. John Donne taught us in a poem that we are all intertwined in grand web of humanity.

Autonomus Accountability refers to what we, the poor need to do to improve our plight. As you discuss in your work, members have power...not just the middles and directors.

I look forward to reading more of your works.