Census shows 1 in 2 people are poor or low-income

The rich and the doing wells and have 5 figure jobs people are totally oblivious of just how bad it is out there....they are immune

lpast said:

The rich and the doing wells and have 5 figure jobs people are totally oblivious of just how bad it is out there....they are immune

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Minimum wage is a 5-figure job.

joko104 said:

Why do you say it is the fault of "the Right" - as opposed to the fault of incumbents in Washington? Obama exempted the 6 WalMart heirs from healthcare requirements - those each worth from $14 BILLION to $25 BILLION each. When Obama and the Democrats controlled both sides of Congress - what did they change??? NOTHING.
Same breaks for the rich. Some special treatments. Same lobbyists. They changed nothing, when they could have changed everything.
When it comes to insider trading, taking lobbyist money, voting on tax exemptions etc - BOTH sides DO EXACTLY THE SAME VOTING.

I stopped buying "the big lie" that there is a partisan fight at all. They say opposite words, but end up voting/doing exactly the same at every substantive level. WITH NO DEBATE, BOTH SIDES agree to INCREASE the massive military budget - despite the wars supposedly over - and BOTH voted in that bill to decrease civil rights.

What is the different between "the left" and "the right" in ANY REAL terms? Other than words? Both sides end up "compromising" to give the other side what they want - meaning the argue furiously in a trillion words - then agree to vote exactly the same, claiming the other side made them do it.

It's sickening.

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I think this is what we need to be focusing on. It really doesn't have a whole lot to do with left or right. Both sides are on the same payroll. Or at least similar ones. Both sides are bought and paid for. That is the real problem. And it will only go away once money no longer determines elections. A candidate who does not function as an employee for the ones who paid for their campaign finds himself quickly unemployed after the next election.

muciti said:

Give it a rest, your lying. You can convince whomever you'd like of whatever you'd like. It won't make it true.

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Come to my home if you don't believe me. Talk to my friends/family, lets take a nice long walk along the same path I took. I live in Bonners Ferry Idaho. If you seriously wish to come then send me a pm and i'll give you the rest of the info that you will need to contact me once you get here.

Hicup said:

Ever hear of the term: "path of least resistance".. It's human nature (Genrally) to gain the most by doing the least. Welfare entitlements corrupt human nature!

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To suggest that people would stay in poverty, voluntarily, because it's easier would be to suggest that a person would leave a spike in their foot if it were easier than pulling it out. Being poor sucks. Being hungry sucks. Worrying about money all the time sucks. It's not easy at all. Living in squalor sucks. Being bored all the time because you have no reason to leave your home sucks. No one would remain in an awful position like that simply because they're lazy. Doing whatever they can and fighting until their last breath is human nature.

Catawba said:

Democrats try to lure jobs back to U.S.
Senate bill offers payroll-tax breaks, cut in subsidies for outsourcing

“We’re going to take away the incentives corporations have to send our jobs overseas, and give them powerful new incentives to keep American jobs in America,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in remarks on the Senate floor.

Introduced last week by Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, the bill also would end subsidies for firms that move facilities abroad."

Senate Democrats target job outsourcing - MarketWatch

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Great, but it should have been done long ago and I'll bet there are loopholes galore but I thought the left didn't like corporate tax breaks?

Wait, never mind........this is from over a year ago. So what happened?

Paschendale said:

To suggest that people would stay in poverty, voluntarily, because it's easier would be to suggest that a person would leave a spike in their foot if it were easier than pulling it out.

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Just to get it out of the way.....I'm NOT claiming this is the norm and I have no evidence that shows it anything but the fringe, but have you seen the things drug addicts are willing to live with?

Being poor sucks. Being hungry sucks. Worrying about money all the time sucks. It's not easy at all. Living in squalor sucks. Being bored all the time because you have no reason to leave your home sucks. No one would remain in an awful position like that simply because they're lazy. Doing whatever they can and fighting until their last breath is human nature.

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Yes, *some* would.

Lachean said:

Whenever I hear about poverty in America this video comes to mind:
[video=youtube;OkebmhTQN-4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkebmhTQN-4&list=FLoW4fWXJeqwEpk-Qcid06-g&feature=mh_lolz[/video

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Whenever I see the Heritage Foundation referenced as some kind of authority, this comes to mind:

The Pot, the Kettle, and the Heritage Foundation

"While 501(c)(3)s are allowed to do a limited amount of lobbying as long as they report it to the IRS, the Heritage Foundation does not use this allowance -- it actually certifies to the IRS that it has not "attempted to influence national, state, or local legislation, including any attempt to influence public opinion." (Heritage also claims to have spent zero dollars on lobbying activities in 2006, despite an estimated $40,000 paid to the lobbying firm Foley and Lardner in 2006 disclosed in the Senate's lobbyist registry.)"

The Pot, the Kettle, and the Heritage Foundation

1Perry said:

Great, but it should have been done long ago and I'll bet there are loopholes galore but I thought the left didn't like corporate tax breaks?

Wait, never mind........this is from over a year ago. So what happened?

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What do you think? The Republicans blocked it.

GhostlyJoe said:

I find this statement kind of galling:



Being poor in America, you have little security. Having a car, a roof and a TV (as if they're rare or expensive) is hardly representative of your ability to afford health insurance or provide for yourself or your family in old age. We live in a consumer society filled with cheap electronics. The working poor have ample access to Wiis, as they are affordable. Health insurance, however ...

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Do you have any idea just what a significant possession a car is? I'm sorry, but just owning a car brings you up quite a bit. Add to that a house, and the fact that you clearly make enough money to buy a Wii, or a big flat screen that requires purchasing a monthly cable or satelite contract, and I'm gonna say, not poor. Maybe they don't eat well, maybe they DON'T have health insurance...maybe, they shoulda thought about THOSE things before buying goods they don't actually need.

Paschendale said:

I think this is what we need to be focusing on. It really doesn't have a whole lot to do with left or right. Both sides are on the same payroll. Or at least similar ones. Both sides are bought and paid for. That is the real problem. And it will only go away once money no longer determines elections. A candidate who does not function as an employee for the ones who paid for their campaign finds himself quickly unemployed after the next election.

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One side and one side only signed a pledge to support a lobbyist, over 270 republicans and every republican presidental candidate except Jon Huntsman signed a pledge to support a lobbyist

Paschendale said:

To suggest that people would stay in poverty, voluntarily, because it's easier would be to suggest that a person would leave a spike in their foot if it were easier than pulling it out. Being poor sucks. Being hungry sucks. Worrying about money all the time sucks. It's not easy at all. Living in squalor sucks. Being bored all the time because you have no reason to leave your home sucks. No one would remain in an awful position like that simply because they're lazy. Doing whatever they can and fighting until their last breath is human nature.

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It's not just being lazy. The fact is, it's hard. I mean, HARD. Just to be middle class. Even HARDER, nigh on impossible, to break the million dollar bubble. When I say hard, I mean, freaking hard. Even a hard worker can remain poor. But the guy next to them might be just a bit HARDER working, and make it to middle class. Sure, some luck is involved, too. Any successful, or semi successful person says otherwise, they are LYING to you. So, saying that poor people are lazy is false...well, some of them might be, but it's not a very accurate blanket statement. But it IS accurate to say that they are, as of yet, NOT willing to do all that is required to climb out of that pit. I have worked with a lot of these people, started over in my "career" a couple of times, and ever time, managed to rise above them, through sheer determination, hard work, and desire...and sometimes, just a little luck. One solid reason why some folks don't try a little hard is, the pit isn't as bad as it COULD be. The pit is livable, made so at the expense of the folks who clawed their way out, or were BORN out. You got a roof over your head? Check. Entertainment? Likely. I would say that spending more on TV and video games is a hallmark of "poverty" stricken people.

Just my thoughts.

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a higher percentage of Americans is living in extreme poverty than they have ever measured before."

"It is absolutely imperative that we get as many Americans back to work as possible. The more people that are doing something economically productive, the more wealth there will be for all of us.

That is why it is so alarming that the ranks of the "very poor" are increasing so dramatically. When the number of poor people goes up, the entire society suffers.

So just how bad are things right now?

The following are 19 statistics about the poor that will absolutely astound you....

#1 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of "very poor" rose in 300 out of the 360 largest metropolitan areas during 2010.

#2 Last year, 2.6 million more Americans descended into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.

#3 It isn't just the ranks of the "very poor" that are rising. The number of those just considered to be "poor" is rapidly increasing as well. Back in the year 2000, 11.3% of all Americans were living in poverty. Today, 15.1% of all Americans are living in poverty.

#4 The poverty rate for children living in the United States increased to 22% in 2010.

#5 There are 314 counties in the United States where at least 30% of the children are facing food insecurity.

#6 In Washington D.C., the "child food insecurity rate" is 32.3%.

#7 More than 20 million U.S. children rely on school meal programs to keep from going hungry.

#8 One out of every six elderly Americans now lives below the federal poverty line.

#9 Today, there are over 45 million Americans on food stamps.

#10 According to the Wall Street Journal, nearly 15 percent of all Americans are now on food stamps.

#11 In 2010, 42 percent of all single mothers in the United States were on food stamps.

#12 The number of Americans on food stamps has increased 74% since 2007.

#13 We are told that the economy is recovering, but the number of Americans on food stamps has grown by another 8 percent over the past year.

#14 Right now, one out of every four American children is on food stamps.

#15 It is being projected that approximately 50 percent of all U.S. children will be on food stamps at some point in their lives before they reach the age of 18.

#16 More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid. Back in 1965, only one out of every 50 Americans was on Medicaid. Today, approximately one out of every 6 Americans is on Medicaid.

#17 One out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one government anti-poverty program.

#18 The number of Americans that are going to food pantries and soup kitchens has increased by 46% since 2006.

#19 It is estimated that up to half a million children may currently be homeless in the United States."

Extreme Poverty Is Now At Record Levels – 19 Statistics About The Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You

Simon W. Moon said:

That would be the equivalent of running a marathon speed wise.
Whats a average time for an amateur to run a marathon and a half marathon? - Yahoo! Answers
Walking is closer to 3 mph. So that mean about 12-14 hours walking--6 to 7 hours each way. Add an eight hours shift with a half hour break, we're talking 20 - 23 hours a day just in work and transport back and forth from work. That's a pretty rough schedule.

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Meh, I figured if I gave him the benefit of the doubt and had him walk around a 10 minute mile - which is actually a little fast now that I do the math. I guess a better estimate would be 4 mph, which is a 15 minute mile. That would be slightly over hours each way. Either way he obviously had a long walk, regardless of the accuracy of distance. Maybe it was 18 miles, who gives a ****?

Catawba said:

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a higher percentage of Americans is living in extreme poverty than they have ever measured before."

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All the while Wall Street is clamoring for QE3.

The middle class has been destroyed over the few decades.

1Perry said:

All the while Wall Street is clamoring for QE3.

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Inflation is at historical lows.

1Perry said:

Just to get it out of the way.....I'm NOT claiming this is the norm and I have no evidence that shows it anything but the fringe, but have you seen the things drug addicts are willing to live with?

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So then we are agreed that anyone who, by their own volition, abuses social support systems and stays in poverty is a tiny minority?

Such a group is statistically insignificant. And it would be foolish of us to even take such people into account when determining the way we want to ensure that anyone who is willing to work will not be in poverty.

Catawba said:

Inflation is at historical lows.

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Tell that to those going to the grocery store. It's another government twisting of numbers. It's being held down by poor housing figures. A double wack for the lower classes. Pay more while they are losing more.

Paschendale said:

So then we are agreed that anyone who, by their own volition, abuses social support systems and stays in poverty is a tiny minority?

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I believe *most* in the lower incomes work their way into higher brackets. It's why the numbers presented are misleading. It's not a problem if the majority of "poor" are working their way up to higher brackets and being replaced by a new generation of the "poor" working their way up to higher brackets.

1Perry said:

Tell that to those going to the grocery store. It's another government twisting of numbers. It's being held down by poor housing figures. A double wack for the lower classes. Pay more while they are losing more.

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You are confusing the increased cost of everything due to increased fuel costs, as we approach world peak oil, with inflation as result of QE.

Catawba said:

You are confusing the increased cost of everything due to increased fuel costs, as we approach world peak oil, with inflation as result of QE.

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QE being a huge part of the problem.

Food Price Watch - February 2011

http://www.farmfoundation.org/webcontent/Whats-Driving-Food-Prices-in-2011-1742.aspx?z=85&a=1742

1Perry said:

QE being a huge part of the problem.

Food Price Watch - February 2011

What's Driving Food Prices in 2011?

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Nowhere in your article is QE mentioned for the cause of rising costs of world food costs. Here is what your article suggests is the way to address these high food prices:

"it is important to ensure that further increases in poverty are curtailed by taking measures that calm jittery markets and by scaling up safety net and nutritional programs. Investments in raising environmentally sustainable agricultural productivity, better risk-management tools, less food intensive biofuel technologies, and climate change adaptation measures are all necessary over the medium term to mitigate the impact of expected food price volatility on the most vulnerable.

FYI- the American poverty rate was almost 10% higher, 50 years ago. Its been steadily going down since 1959.

1Perry said:

Tell that to those going to the grocery store. It's another government twisting of numbers. It's being held down by poor housing figures. A double wack for the lower classes. Pay more while they are losing more.

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Lets be fair the prices at the grocery store are being pushed up by greedy Wall Street speculators, remember the truth will set us free