Extreme Poverty Is Now At Record Levels (HOPEY-CHANGEY!)

Zero Hedge- ^ | 11-05-11 | Ilene

[tcrlaf]

The extreme the wealth disparity in the U.S. keeps on widening. We already know that people at the higher percentage levels are doing well, particularly at the highest, while the middle class is shrinking rapidly. Here, Michael Snyder presents some handy statistics on the growth at the lowest levels of poverty.

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

Courtesy of Michael Snyder of Economic Collapse

[Extreme Poverty Is Now At Record Levels - 20 Statistics About The Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a higher percentage of Americans is living in extreme poverty than they have ever measured before. In 2010, we were told that the economy was recovering, but the truth is that the number of the "very poor" soared to heights never seen previously.

Back in 1993 and back in 2009, the rate of extreme poverty was just over 6 percent, and that represented the worst numbers on record. But in 2010, the rate of extreme poverty hit a whopping 6.7 percent. That means that one out of every 15 Americans is now considered to be "very poor".

For many people, this is all very confusing because their guts are telling them that things are getting worse and yet the mainstream media keeps telling them that everything is just fine.

[hinckley buzzard]

Many of these statistics are not what they appear. The government had a strong campaign last year to recruit people on to the SNAP(food stamp) program. They are proud of the numbers. Many of the "elderly in poverty" are living in nursing homes, no income, but total care provided courtesy of medicaid. "Food insecurity" is a bogus concept that counts you if you claim to have some anxiety about your next meal, even if you never miss one. And so on.

[hinckley buzzard]

You won't be finding any pine forests in Southern Arizona-- Flagstaff, maybe. But your point is still valid. Poverty is relative.

[cripplecreek]

I’m just irritated that I live within my means and as a result, go without much of the crap that the so called “impoverished” seem to have unlimited funds for.

Its pretty damned bad that the working poor are in worse shape than those on welfare.

[CodeToad]

This is nothing but Communist propaganda by Obama. The redefine “poor” as anyone not making a million bucks. This is an attempt at class warfare.

[Lancey Howard]

Extreme Poverty Is Now At Record Levels

This is why every city now has an "Occupy Obamaville" settlement.

[Verginius Rufus]

The headline is ridiculous. Most of today's poor have stuff that even middle-class people didn't have 50 or 75 years ago. Not only was unemployment much higher in the 1930s than now, but the deprivations suffered by the poor were much worse.

In Grapes of Wrath the Joad kids when staying in a government camp flush a toilet without realizing what they are doing, and think they have broken it--they had never seen a flush toilet before.

Go back another 100 years and the lifestyle of the average person was much worse than that of an extremely poor person now.

[cripplecreek]

A lot of the old folks around my hometown were depression era orphans. I used to listen to them talk about coming to town on the train and being “adopted” by local farmers right there on the spot.

[A_perfect_lady]

Yeah, people are like that. I’ve known people who “can’t afford” $600 a month for medication. Understandable. That’s a lot of money. But a closer look at their habits reveals that they can afford full cable, fine wines, weekly shopping sprees, lunch ordered out 5 days a week, 2 evenings out every weekend, designer clothes, manicures, pedicures, vacations out of the country, on and on and on. It’s almost like they think that everything they NEED should be provided, so that they are free to spend their money on what they WANT.

[driftless2]

I’m am amazed anyone falls for the “hungry America” scam. All they have to do is walk through Walmart. I’ll start believing the hungry America trope when I start seeing emaciated wraithes on streetcorners asking for crusts of bread. I don’t think I’ll see that in the near future. Of course, if we keep electing Democrats, we’ll start seeing more skinny people in Walmart. Or asking for a crust of bread outside the doors.