In 2014 Russian aggression towards the Ukraine and the rise of ISIS called into question whether or not the United States genuinely functions as a world power anymore following numerous failures by Americans to influence and affect global change in the areas that most threaten national security. In this thoughtful and thought provoking book, author-historian Laurel A. Rockefeller takes a look at the role poverty plays in American foreign policy effectiveness and how each of us can play a part in making our world better and safer for everyone. Part one: essays on five aspects of American Poverty that affect everyone in the United States. Part two: analysis on each essay topic, how each affects our society, and what we as individuals can do to make things better. Part three: a look at poverty in Germany, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom to see how they handle the same issues confronting Americans. Analysis on how American poverty affects the reputation of the United States overseas.