Why is society responsible for poverty?

In his book CHAVS: The Demonization of the Working Class, author Owen Jones offers a detailed and fascinating look at the problems facing working class Britons today. One theme that occurs frequently is the idea that the working classes are poor because they lack ambition, due in part to lack of education. But in previous generations, many Britons who lacked a formal education were able to have secure financial lives because they worked in...

In his book CHAVS: The Demonization of the Working Class, author Owen Jones offers a detailed and fascinating look at the problems facing working class Britons today. One theme that occurs frequently is the idea that the working classes are poor because they lack ambition, due in part to lack of education. But in previous generations, many Britons who lacked a formal education were able to have secure financial lives because they worked in trades, such as manufacturing, building, and various domestic services. Many manufacturing industries have moved to countries where costs are far lower, in order to maximize profit (clothing and shoes are a good example of this, as these were once staple industries of Great Britain--most shoes are now made in China, where the cost of labor is much lower).

Similarly, in the United States, many jobs once done by the working classes (who may or may not have been college educated) are no longer as prevalent as they once were. Many jobs have been replaced by automated functions, for example, highway toll collectors and automatic check out stations at grocery stores. We tend to throw away items instead of having them repaired (repair shops for everything from shoes to televisions were once commonplace). Most major manufacturing (of automobiles, electronics, etc.) have moved overseas, again, to maximize profits.

The reason that "society" is responsible for this downturn in the fortunes and opportunities of the working classes is that society dictates what is valuable in the marketplace, as well as identifying what is considered more desirable among consumers in terms of convenience. Our society seems to value cheap goods and speed over durability and local employment.