Our Rate Of Poverty Isn't a Surprise (14.3% of the Population or 43.6 Million People)

IBD via RealClearMarkets ^ | 09/17/2010

[SeekAndFind]

Poverty: A new report comes as a punch in the gut for proud Americans: One in seven of us is poor, government data show. Surprised? Don't be. It's what happens when you kill the most productive parts of a country.

An estimated 14.3% of the population, or 43.6 million people, were considered poor in 2009, up from 13.2% the year before, the Census Bureau reports. This is the highest share living in poverty since the government began keeping records half a century ago.

How can this be in the richest nation on Earth?

Since Democrats took power - Congress in 2007, the White House in 2009 - policies that punish the productive private economy have become the norm.

Meanwhile, government wastes massive sums bailing out failed businesses, purchasing bad loans and rewarding those who borrow too much, make bad economic decisions or belong to unions.

Knowing this, no one should express shock that 15 million Americans don't have jobs, and that perhaps another 14 million or so are working only part time when they'd prefer to be working full time.

Persistent unemployment from misbegotten government policies is why we have this poverty. And it leads, inevitably, to dependence on government. As recently as 2006, federal payments to individuals as a share of GDP - a proxy for welfare - stood at 12%. Now it's 16.4%, a 37% rise in three years and the highest level ever.

[SumProVita]

What is not being discussed in any of this is what exactly qualifies a person to be in the poverty level in the USA. Poverty in the USA is “well-to-do” compared to many other countries.

(I am not at all opposed to helping those in genuine need. However, our present government “solutions” only make it worse.)

[griswold3]

I suffer from Affluenza. ‘Stuff’ isn’t that important to me.
I can live well below the poverty level. Most of my lifestyle I justify by calling it, ‘recycling’.
This is fall cleaning season and there’s alot of good stuff on the curb that I can repair, decorative paint, and resell. But lately, because of the ‘bed bug’ infestation in my area, I can’t bring myself to bring anything home.

[Roccus]

Was this number reached with or without counting illegal aliens?

[yldstrk]

the proof is in the pudding

[DManA]

This poverty figure is pure b.s. If you own two cars, if you have a cell phone, if you have cable TV you are not in poverty. I don’t care HOW little money you TELL us you make.

Plus, they don’t include as income the Earned Income Credit check, food stamps, medicaid benefits, etc. etc. etc.

The only accurate way to measure poverty would be to track CONSUMPTION, not income.

[Oratam]

Only in America do the “poor” have an HD TV in every room.

[jimmyo57]

It’s nice to live in a country where the poor people are fat!

[Onelifetogive]

When I was a child, my family was middle to lower-middle class. Birthdays and Christmas was a BIG deal!

Now, for my kids...they get birthday and Christmas presents, and dance team secret-sister presents, and dance camp presents and start of school year presents, and end of school year presents, etc... Most of their presents sit whereever they opened them for weeks.

[chickenlips]

When do we get to the discussion of the effects of single parenthood and out of wedlock births?

It’s the culture and the Gramscian efforts of the left will only make it worse.

[paul51]

bump

[paul51]

This poverty figure is pure b.s. If you own two cars, if you have a cell phone, if you have cable TV you are not in poverty. I don’t care HOW little money you TELL us you make. Plus, they don’t include as income the Earned Income Credit check, food stamps, medicaid benefits, etc. etc. etc. The only accurate way to measure poverty would be to track CONSUMPTION, not income.

Consumption being paid for by someone else is not an indicator of affluence.