Poor May Not Be So Poor, After All

http://www.foxnews.com ^ | Friday, January 23, 2004 | William LaJeunesse

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

LOS ANGELES

[McGavin999]

"I just think that measuring quality of life in the United States -- or for that matter anywhere -- by material possessions is morally bankrupt," said Bob Erlenbusch with the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger

Uh, if you don't measure poverty by material possessions, how do you measure it?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Every night in this great nation, a child goes to bed without big-screen High Def Television.

It's a shame...won't you help?

[eno_]

Let's see, with a 16% CAGR for 15 years, that about a tenfold increase.

Did the moron reporter question the unlikiness of there being only 3.5M poor people 15 years ago?

Innumeracy.

[Peach]

The financials of the country are SO much better than being reported generally, although this was a good article.

This one is even better.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031774134551&path=!business!columnists&s=1045855934868

[annyokie]

A child goes to bed without his X-Box.

[FITZ]

The only thing is that what our so-called poor have is artificial wealth --- they didn't earn the money for their nice homes, tv's, vcr's, video games, computers, cell phones, and all the rest --- they are being given the money someone else earned.

[templar]

'Poor' is a poor term. Everyone always associates 'poor' with 'poverty', invoking images of hunger, tar paper shacks in Apalacia, etc. A more discriminating standard of measurement is needed, as many of the 'poor' by current standards obviously do not fall into the category of poverty stricken.

[alloysteel]

Being poor, in America, is not necessarily to be homeless and hungry. Poverty is as much a state of mind as it may be a monetary problem, and like wealth, it may be earned, or even inherited. Persons who have lived for years in a hand to mouth situation grow habituated to living that way, and cannot imagine themselves living a different life. Take the example of the lottery winner, some guy who has been working for the equivalent of $10/hour. The winnings from the lottery are gone within months, or at the most, a very few years, and the formerly wealthy may have run up a debt that can never be repaid, even if the annuity is paid annually until death or beyond.

[Kirkwood]

"According to a recent study by the Heritage Foundation (search), 46 percent of the technically "poor" live in their own homes, most with more living space than the average person in Paris, London or Vienna. While 73 percent own at least one car, 30 percent own two or more, and 76 percent have air conditioning. Also, according to the study, 65 percent have a washing machine, 97 percent have a color TV and 78 percent have a DVD player or VCR."

Holy smokes! Based on this, the majority of poor live a better life than me.

[The Great RJ]

Tom Daschle has been running TV ads here saying how "senior citizens should get the drug benefits they deserve.." I want to ask him why should someone who owns farms or ranches, has large investments or a fat pension get free or reduced price drugs simply because they are age 65+? No one seriously objects to helping the truly poor, but just because your 65 you aren't necessarily poor... you may be rich according to Democrat standards. No one seems willing to help me with my prescriptions and I have an income far less than many of the over 65 crowd who bitch about the price their discounted coffee at Denny's.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

they are being given the money someone else earned

Thats not quite fair ! I own a car 3 tv's 5 computers 3 dvd players 2 vcr's 1 x box 1 playstation 2 and my own home with a 2 car garage

I eaarn well below the so called poverty line but i worked for everything i own and havent barrowed a red cent off of anyone ! no one bought a damn thing for me i had to do it myself through Gods good grace and alot of sweat i support my family and we still have what we want but mostly we have what we need and actually its none of the stuff mentioned above except the house that we NEED to survive ! Money and Playtoys are nice to have but if you live on just whjat you NEED everything else falls into its own place !

[momfirst]

Thank you for the info! (both articles) Great ammo to bring to my pessimistic-Bush-hating sociology class on Tuesday!! Printer runnin'.....

[CindyDawg]

The only people who might get hungry here are the one's who work and don't qualify for assistance. Go to any grocery store and look at the people who use food cards. Some people really need a hand getting up but a lot are dressed really well, and often have an abled looking male with them and drive away in nice cars.

[Peach]

You're more than welcome. I'm going to work this week to e-mail this information to everyone I know and post it to every thread discussing the economy or jobs.

Good luck!!

[olde north church]

It's also strange that we don't read too much about moral poverty.

[Peach]

In general, you're correct.

I am happy to report that this week there were two mainstream articles that pleased me.

Unweb motherhood stats are down. Teenagers are waiting longer for their first sexual experience.

[saveliberty]

Good point!

How do the Dems redistribute moral wealth?

[olde north church]

Then there is intellectual poverty.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Every night in this great nation, a child goes to bed without big-screen High Def Television. It's a shame...won't you help?

He shouldn't be watching so much TV anyway (isn't that what the "verb" campaign is all about?)

On the other hand I don't have one. And that is a true shame.