An exerpt from the book "down to earth sociology" it explains how the existence of poverty is benefical to the affluent in American society.

The Uses Of Poverty: The Poor Pay All Herbert J. Gans There is much more to poverty than having to "tighten your belt". In fact, sociologists that have studied the poor have found that they are faced with such dangerous and damaging social conditions that within their subculture there is a higher divorce rate, more frequent health problems, a higher rate of school dropouts, and a higher rate of crime. As sad and horrible as …

…stabilize the political process. The poor vote less and more often support the Democratic parties as opposed to Republicans. 13.)The unemployment of the poor can have a political function. It provides politicians with something to work on while serving in office. It seems strange o say, but poverty survives in society because it is useful to society and its parts. If poverty did not exist, costs would go up in just about everything in society.