“Positive Functions of Poverty” Poverty and the poor satisfy American because it is useful to their society. Without the poor who would do all the “dirty work”? The first, second, and third functions that Herbert J. Hans mention deals with the economy. Every society has jobs that the poor would work for. Some of the dirty work can be dangerous, temporary, and underpaid. Society can change all of this by filling the jobs by paying …showed first 75 words of 463 total…

…showed last 75 words of 463 total…because it is useful to our society. Society’s dirty work could be done without poverty by paying the “dirty workers” decent wages. If the poor were more affluent they would make less willing clients for upper-class philanthropy. Many of the functions served by the poor could be replaced if poverty was eliminated. Poverty will only be eliminated when the poor “the powerless” can obtain enough power to make a change in today’s society.