This is the written equivalent of poverty porn. It's obviously very well written, but doesn't actually suggest any pragmatic solutions other than to elevate the poor to the status of martyrs. The single call to action which it does give conveniently isn't aimed at anyone at all. Whose responsibility is it to make poverty a priority? Congress? The public? The rich?

Pieces like this just leave a bad taste in the mouth - it'll obviously help shift copies of Mr. Smiley's book - but I'm not sure its going to do anything for actual poor people. And if there's anything worse than massive social inequality, its trying to make money off the back of it while masquerading as some kind of social crusader.