Comments and discussion

In your analysis of “The Trump Administration Says Poverty Is Over. They’re Lying.” by Bryce Covert, you should also consider commenting on and discussing statements that are interesting or controversial.

For example, at the beginning of the article, the writer notes: “The true problem, the administration claims, is not that people are poor, but that they’ve been made lazy and have to be forced to work” (ll. 8-10). First of all, we notice the writer’s strong language, which suggests that she criticises the administration for having a simplistic view on poverty. However, note that the idea behind the writer’s statement – that poor people have a responsibility to lift themselves out of poverty largely through their own efforts - reflects a typical conservative view, which is shared by many Americans.

Conservatives are known for their criticism of the welfare state. They are typically in favour of imposing strict conditions on welfare, so that people do not end up relying solely on it. Many believe that assisting poor people represents an undesirable expansion of state power over the people....