Posted on 12/05/2012 8:53:35 PM PST by JerseyanExile
The federal government now considers a family of four in New York City to be poor if its pre-tax income is below $37,900.Even with full medical coverage.
The calculation helps explain why newly revised Census Bureau figures hike the number of poor Americans to 49 million as of last year, further widening an already yawning gap between ordinary perceptions of poverty and how the government sees it.
This breathtaking number begs the question: What does it mean to be “poor” in the United States?
To the average American, the word “poverty” means significant material hardship and need. It means lack of a warm, dry home, recurring hunger and malnutrition, no medical care, worn-out clothes for the children. The mainstream media reinforce this view: The typical TV news story on poverty features a homeless family with kids living in the back of a van.
But poverty as the federal government defines it differs greatly from these images. Only 2 percent of the official poor are homeless. According to the government’s own data, the typical poor family lives in a house or apartment that’s not only in good repair but is larger than the homes of the average non-poor person in England, France or Germany.
The typical “poor” American experiences no material hardships, receives medical care whenever needed, has an ample diet and wasn’t hungry for even a single day the previous year. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the nutritional quality of the diets of poor children is identical to that of upper middle class kids.
All these government statistics were based on the Census Bureau’s old definition of poverty. The new definition, released last week, stretches that gap between common-sense and government perspectives even further.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
With the way rents are in NYC, that income really might be considered poor.
In the rural area I live in $37,900 a year are pretty good wages.
Duh, what if Poverty = $ 7.50 X 8 hours X 5 days X 52 weeks = $15,600 for a family of four? That is $ 42.74 per day, tax free.
What Obama and the Class divisionist’s don’t understand is you can make us all poor and there will still be envy.
All, Obama will accomplish is stifling ambition.
Between EBT, WIC and Section 8 housing, the *poor* in America have much more than the poor in other countries, and much more than most working class families in America have. It’s absurd what folks are given — so that they don’t have to *suffer*.
Thus insuring the Gov't has increasing amounts of dependents and justifies its programs - FOREVER
I was at a friend’s house recently, and he began slamming “rich” people saying they have to pay more taxes, are the root of the problems, etc.
I had to point out to him that once you start playing that game, there is no end to it, and had to point out to him that he had a job, a car, a house and a hot tub on a four season porch, and that he can take two week vacations in Montana and have season tickets to professional football games.
He doesn’t seem to realize that when you play that game, someone will point the finger at you, no matter how modest your means might be, simply because you have a little more than them.
Just amazing.
The welfare class has the benefit of knowing that there will be another check in the mail every month. They may not have much money at the end of the month but they do know that there will be security which is a luxury that a working person does not have.
Yep.
I always viewed the census as an apolitical process up until 2010. I was appalled that they got away with doing it as they did, in full view, and not a single Republican stood up and said anything.
It was an extraordinarily partisan abuse of a heretofore non-partisan event. They ran that census with a view to produce a certain result.
Bingo.
And once the slug that won’t work gets what you have, while getting the same you, You stop working too.
Then where is society?
It is in decline, and envy is still there.
Social disorder and chaos comes next.
In NYC, I’m sure there are places where dinner for 10 could come pretty close to $37, 900;)
Baloney. I'm too young for Medicare, and Medicaid was denied because I get Social Security income. It's less than $8k a year and I have no other income whatsoever. Nor any health insurance.
I find it hard to believe that anybody in this country is stuck with 8K a year even on honest disability.
Gosh, how do you survive on $665/ mo.? And yet still have Internet?
If that is true then most FReepers won’t criticize you for asking for food stamps and Section 8. AT least its real disability and not generational welfare.
It isn’t disability. You need a doctor for that, and probably a lawyer. I can’t afford either one.
Believe it. No food stamps, no medicaid, no freebies here. Just an early Soc Sec, which is discounted to around 70 percent.
And it isn’t too bad, except that there’s no way to afford medical care when needed.
Not complaining. Just noting that the oft-heard remark is untrue. The poor do not have medical care whenever needed.
I think I live on about 10K a year that I earn and when I get to the finish line they are going to steal anything I saved living frugally for 35 years.
Actually, I don’t have internet. I use the pc at a relative’s home now and then.
I survive, and am generally contented. :)
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