There is a lot of misinformation about the "conditions" of the United States on this lending teams page.
http://www.kiva.org/community/viewTeam/?team_id=7326The United States may be one of the "wealthiest" countries in the world, however many of it's citizens are very poor. Indoor plumbing, electricity, and heat are NOT found in every home. Clean water isn't available everywhere. In the Appalachian Mountains, many community water supplies are contaminated due to Mountain Top Removal Mining. The Great Lakes are contaminated due to Corporations dumping toxic waste into the water. I'm sure all of you can think of contamination in your own area. Not everyone has the resources to buy clean drinking water or dig a new well and are left to use contaminated water to drink, cook with, bathe, etc.....
We pay for children's schooling through taxes. Many schools require children/parents to pay for school supplies and sports equipment. Schools often lack funding and must cut programs. Not every student receives a "quality" education.
Affordable health care is not available for every person in the United States. Millions of people are uninsured for various reasons. Job loss, pre-existing medical conditions, high insurance premiums and high deductibles, etc...... Employers are cutting employees hours in order to make the employees pay the majority of the premiums. I could go on and on about this. For many people health insurance is just something that they can't afford.
( A SINGLE PAYOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NEEDED IN THE UNITED STATES. NO PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT HEALTHCARE. Call or e-mail your politician and tell them we need this.)
As far as receiving a "bank" loan in the U.S.- at this time financial institutions are hanging on to their money. Getting a loan is NOT as easy as it was at one time.
Our legal system favors corporations, insurance companies, and anyone who has enough financial resources to see litigation through to trial. (those who don't have the resources are forced to walk away or to settle for very little.)
I encourage all of you to take a step back and look at lending in the United States using "fresh eyes."
You can't tell what a persons situation is by looking at a picture. Just because someone doesn't look poor or sick doesn't mean they aren't in need. I've always thought that if a person applies for a loan or a job they should wear the best clothes they have (not wear ragged clothes). Should people dress a certain way in order to get a Kiva loan? Nice clothes could have been borrowed or purchased at thrift shops.
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't make assumptions about anyone who is applying for a Kiva Loan.
Look at it as a positive. If one of your poor friends or poor relatives (in need) want a loan from you, tell them you would be happy to loan them $25 if they get a Kiva loan.
That way you can help them out and get your money back!
Just my views,
Rebecca (who has never lived in poverty, but has seen parts of the country that are in severe poverty.)
