U.S. Poverty Rate on Track to Reach Levels not seen since the 1960's

BI ^ | 7/22/2012 | Staff

[GlockThe Vote]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of America's poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net.

Census figures for 2011 will be released this fall in the critical weeks ahead of the November elections.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/us-poverty-on-track-to-reach-highest-level-since-the-1960s-2012-7#ixzz21Ne9zDAz

[winner3000]

(...amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net.)

The weak economy is DUE TO the increase in the safety net. How could the socialists say the government “safety net” is fraying when government is now taking in 24% of GDP, more than any time in the past? Have these jokers seen the number of people on food stamps lately? I loved the way they mention it without any evidence whatsoever.

[jersey117]

Hope and change set us back five decades. And people are willing to vote for him again? Really?

[JCBreckenridge]

Not yet, we’re only back 3 or so, back to the early 80’s.

[RetiredTexasVet]

If needed, it is easier just to change the measurement criteria necessary to reach the desired result. Want poverty .... you got poverty .... it’s the American Government way (see BLS Bureau of Lies and Statistics, the real pros).

[riri]

If they have $300 sneakers, widescreen plasma TV, electronic games, computers and PDA’s they aren’t poor.

But they are, really. Most of that crap is bought on credit and is worthless two months after they bought it. They still have the debt and some worthless crap made in China that gave them a momentary feel good moment and a few more weeks keeping up with the Joneses.

[JCBreckenridge]

“Poverty among people 65 and older will remain at historically low levels, buoyed by Social Security cash payments.”

Odd that. Apparently the young folks are getting screwed.

[MachIV]

To use phrases common from the left during the Bush Administration, the war on poverty, as LBJ and the left wanted to wage it, is a failure and lost.......time to bring the troops(tax payer dollars) home.

[JimSEA]

“The Government safety net is what is increase the ranks of the poor!”

Right on! If the unemployment rate was currently being calculated with the criteria used in 1940 and retroactively applied to the Depression years, we would have similar unemployment rates today.

[Buddy Sorrell]

poverty won...

So, the war on what's left of the middle class begins.

[Mike Darancette]

I don’t see how announcing the poverty rate now helps Obama at all. The GOP can choose to address the issue now or when the numbers are released in the Fall.

[jimmyo57]

“Hope and change set us back five decades. And people are willing to vote for him again? Really?”

I’d be willing to vote for Obama if he could set us back another 5 decades before the black community was treated to the war on poverty!

[fireman15]

My wife and I stopped at a fast food restaurant last night. There were four obese young black women sitting by the front door. My wife sat down near them while I went to order our meal. One of them said loud enough that my wife heard her, “Look at that ring!” Another said, “Skinny white bitch.” One of the others said that it should be “illegal” for someone to wear a ring like that in this economy when people are “suffering”. One of them then said,. “I wonder what she would do if I went over and pulled that ring off of her skinny white finger.”

My wife didn't mention what she heard until after we left the place because she didn't want me to confront them. But this is what Obama has caused. This is what class warfare results in... fat, spoiled welfare recipients sitting around getting fat on fast food, feeling like they should be able to steal what they want from people who have more than they do.

[Pollster1]

I don’t see how announcing the poverty rate now helps Obama at all. The GOP can choose to address the issue now or when the numbers are released in the Fall.

Better to take their medicine now. Then in October/November, when the casual voters are listening, this can be dismissed as "old news". It helps the far left a lot to get the bad news out now, so long as it doesn't completely turn off their voters.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

You got the title wrong. There is no apostrophe in 1960’s in the original article. Why did you add the apostrophe?

[driftless2]

"they aren't poor"

Ditto to that. If you are truly poverty-stricken, you don't know where your next meal is coming from and if you'll be sleeping under the stars instead of in a nice warm bed. Most people in the U.S. defined as poor or poverty-stricken are simply less fortunate than their neighbors. Or lazier than their neighbors.

[Mike Darancette]

It helps the far left a lot to get the bad news out now, so long as it doesn't completely turn off their voters.

If Romney doesn't bring it up now who will? This AP story is trolling.

[James Cona]

Between Obamas “stimulus” that did nothing good and welfare queens in the inner city pushing out more kids for welfare checks ,what would you expect to happen?

[GlockThe Vote]

Cascading to communism.

[Pollster1]

If Romney doesn't bring it up now who will? This AP story is trolling.

Better to bring it out when the official report is released and it will have the most effect on turnout among unemployed liberals. That's why the media are bringing it out now.