Is poverty a serious problem in America? -- Census Bureau measures show the US poverty rate has increased / Census Bureau methods of measuring poverty are unreliable / Most "poor" Americans enjoy a comfortable standard of living / The working poor are not getting by in America / The gap between the rich and the poor is widening / The gap between the rich and the poor is not widening / What causes poverty in America? -- Immigration is increasing poverty in the United States / Immigration is not increasing poverty in the United States / People are poor through their own bad choices / Job loss due to the recession is increasing poverty / How can poverty be reduced in the United States? -- Raising the minimum wage will reduce poverty / Raising the minimum wage will not reduce poverty / Welfare reform has reduced poverty / Welfare reform has increased poverty / The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will reduce poverty / How should global poverty be addressed? -- Foreign assistance can reduce global poverty / Foreign assistance cannot reduce global poverty / Philanthropy is a necessary response to global poverty / Philanthropy is a flawed response to global poverty / Microfranchising can be a solution to global poverty / Microfranchising may not be a solution to global poverty