Slog
News & ArtsThursday, September 13, 2012
Economy "There were 46.2 million people in poverty in the United States last year."
Posted by Eli Sanders on Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 6:00 AM
Paul mentioned this yesterday, but it's worth mentioning again: a full 15 percent of Americans were living in poverty in 2011.
Also worth noting: In the current economy, this apparently passes for good news, in the sense that economists thought the poverty rate would be higher.
Still, the report showed a decline in the incomes of middle-class Americans, offering a reminder that many American families have yet to experience gains from the weak economic recovery.
Median household income, adjusted for inflation, was $50,054 last year, officials said, a decrease of 1.5 percent from 2010. The level was about 8 percent lower than in 2007, the year before the recession began. The measure peaked in 1999, when the median income for American households reached $53,252.
Another important finding in this report: income inequality is still worsening. “The top end took a whack in the recession, but they’ve gotten back on their feet,“ Lawrence Katz, an economics professor at Harvard, told The New York Times. “Everyone else is still down for the count.”
1
I have a question that I would really love someone to explain to me. The median income for Americans has been hovering around the $50K range for quite some time. But when you hear politicians (both parties BTW so we can't just blame the GOP for this) claim that $249K per year makes you still "middle class". I have to ask this: what fucking planet are these assholes living on? I'm sorry but if you are making $200K a year I don't think you are suffering economically...you simply need to learn not to consume as much iCrap. And I certianly don't think elected officials need to pander to you.
There is a huge swath of the population that Obama and Rmoney both aren't talking about or to this election cycle and I wish they would.
There is a huge swath of the population that Obama and Rmoney both aren't talking about or to this election cycle and I wish they would.
2
Either I'm misreading, or that's some funny math. If it was 8% lower than in 2007, then in 2007 the median would have been $54,406. But it says the peak was $53,252 in 1999. So what am I missing?
Not that it matters - the numbers are shitty either way.
Not that it matters - the numbers are shitty either way.
3
And consider that about 22% of children - American children - live in poverty.
You're a teacher and you have hungry kids, homeless kids, kids who need glasses, etc. Your class sizes are up. Tell me how you get better outcomes especially in Washington State where our Legislature doesn't even fund schools at the national average. We are consistently in the bottom quarter for funding.
So we don't fully fund our schools, poverty rates for children are very high and the answer is to bring on more underfunded schools (charter schools)? We will end up with an even MORE school system of haves and have nots.
That's just one reason to vote No on 1240.
You're a teacher and you have hungry kids, homeless kids, kids who need glasses, etc. Your class sizes are up. Tell me how you get better outcomes especially in Washington State where our Legislature doesn't even fund schools at the national average. We are consistently in the bottom quarter for funding.
So we don't fully fund our schools, poverty rates for children are very high and the answer is to bring on more underfunded schools (charter schools)? We will end up with an even MORE school system of haves and have nots.
That's just one reason to vote No on 1240.
4
Yawn…..
"As scholar James Q. Wilson has stated, “The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.”In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation. In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker."
"As scholar James Q. Wilson has stated, “The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.”In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation. In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker."
5
Congratulations Eli and Slog-
we've been able to discuss 4 years of unending disastrous grinding worsening poverty without once mentioning the name of the Great Leader......
we've been able to discuss 4 years of unending disastrous grinding worsening poverty without once mentioning the name of the Great Leader......
7
"Another important finding in this report:...... “The top end took a whack in the recession, but they’ve gotten back on their feet,“
How dare the top end recover?
Don't they know it is their patriotic duty to wallow in failure like the Democrap base?
How dare the top end recover?
Don't they know it is their patriotic duty to wallow in failure like the Democrap base?
8
Is the income from 1999 adjusted for inflation? If not, doing so makes it even more grim: $53,252 in 1999 dollars is worth Just over $69,000 in 2012 dollars. Something g terrible has certainly happened in the last 15 years.
9
@6 THat's why it has quotation marks dummy. Try refuting the argument next time.
How is life in that ghetto, being po' in Evanston? Have those ruffians from Loyola been crossing Sheridan Road and beating on your ass again?
Some more ""
"The home of the typical poor family was not overcrowded and was in good repair. In fact, the typical poor American had more living space than the average European. The typical poor American family was also able to obtain medical care when needed. By its own report, the typical family was not hungry and had sufficient funds during the past year to meet all essential needs.
Poor families certainly struggle to make ends meet, but in most cases, they are struggling to pay for air conditioning and the cable TV bill as well as to put food on the table. Their living standards are far different from the images of dire deprivation promoted by activists and the mainstream media.
Regrettably, annual Census reports not only exaggerate current poverty, but also suggest that the number of poor persons[5] and their living conditions have remained virtually unchanged for four decades or more. In reality, the living conditions of poor Americans have shown significant improvement over time.
Consumer items that were luxuries or significant purchases for the middle class a few decades ago have become commonplace in poor households. In part, this is caused by a normal downward trend in price following the introduction of a new product. Initially, new products tend to be expensive and available only to the affluent. Over time, prices fall sharply, and the product saturates the entire population, including poor households.
As a rule of thumb, poor households tend to obtain modern conveniences about a dozen years after the middle class. Today, most poor families have conveniences that were unaffordable to the middle class not too long ago."
More...
How is life in that ghetto, being po' in Evanston? Have those ruffians from Loyola been crossing Sheridan Road and beating on your ass again?
Some more ""
"The home of the typical poor family was not overcrowded and was in good repair. In fact, the typical poor American had more living space than the average European. The typical poor American family was also able to obtain medical care when needed. By its own report, the typical family was not hungry and had sufficient funds during the past year to meet all essential needs.
Poor families certainly struggle to make ends meet, but in most cases, they are struggling to pay for air conditioning and the cable TV bill as well as to put food on the table. Their living standards are far different from the images of dire deprivation promoted by activists and the mainstream media.
Regrettably, annual Census reports not only exaggerate current poverty, but also suggest that the number of poor persons[5] and their living conditions have remained virtually unchanged for four decades or more. In reality, the living conditions of poor Americans have shown significant improvement over time.
Consumer items that were luxuries or significant purchases for the middle class a few decades ago have become commonplace in poor households. In part, this is caused by a normal downward trend in price following the introduction of a new product. Initially, new products tend to be expensive and available only to the affluent. Over time, prices fall sharply, and the product saturates the entire population, including poor households.
As a rule of thumb, poor households tend to obtain modern conveniences about a dozen years after the middle class. Today, most poor families have conveniences that were unaffordable to the middle class not too long ago."
10
And yet millions of people clamor to get in every year. They must be stupid right because they don't listen to the exaggerations of America's perpetually aggrieved far left.
11
why, its almost as if higher taxes on the wealthy should be paired with a keynesian infrastructure jobs stimulus plan.
12
@11 still gettin' dreamy about another WPA? Maybe you could bring the Wobblies and woody Guthrie back too.
The po' in America have never had it so good. It's the envy (and criminality it sometimes induces) that's destroying their lives.
The po' in America have never had it so good. It's the envy (and criminality it sometimes induces) that's destroying their lives.
14
13
why should they?
they might have to pay it back, after all.
instead Obama borrows it from their children.
40¢ of every dollar he spends, in fact.
sweet, no?
why should they?
they might have to pay it back, after all.
instead Obama borrows it from their children.
40¢ of every dollar he spends, in fact.
sweet, no?
17
@1,
I'd guess the politicians claiming $250k/year is 'middle class' have lived for years in D.C., one of the wealthiest places in the country with a cost of living higher than in most other places.
Or, more simply; they're out of touch. They've forgotten what it's like to live in run down urban or poorer suburban areas.
I'd guess the politicians claiming $250k/year is 'middle class' have lived for years in D.C., one of the wealthiest places in the country with a cost of living higher than in most other places.
Or, more simply; they're out of touch. They've forgotten what it's like to live in run down urban or poorer suburban areas.
18
@sugartit,
Whether you consider these people 'in poverty' or not, they're poor enough that they're most likely not saving, not investing, not buying new products, and in general not helping to grow the economy. So go ahead and call them filthy rich if it makes you feel more smug... the fact remains they're not contributing to economic growth.
All those appliances you referenced - DVD players, Color TVs (as opposed to black-and-white? seriously?), dishwashers, clothes washers/dryers, cable tv, console game systems, microwaves... you can get all those things ,used, for dirt cheap. Less than $100 easily, most of them less than $50. I've seen microwaves and xboxes being given away for as little as $10. So please don't suggest the people with these things are somehow living the high-life. These things are giveaways, handmedowns, garage sale merchandise.
But the economy doesn't roar into life by people doing basement-bargain shopping for used appliances. It comes to life by people buying brand new toys, state of the art equipment. It comes to life by investing in the market, not by haggling over the price of a beaten up cordless phone.
So when these people are referred to as "poor" it may piss you off to no end, because how can they be poor if they own a goddamned coffee maker for chrissakes?!? But as far as the economic power of this country is concerned, you bet your ass these people are poor.
Whether you consider these people 'in poverty' or not, they're poor enough that they're most likely not saving, not investing, not buying new products, and in general not helping to grow the economy. So go ahead and call them filthy rich if it makes you feel more smug... the fact remains they're not contributing to economic growth.
All those appliances you referenced - DVD players, Color TVs (as opposed to black-and-white? seriously?), dishwashers, clothes washers/dryers, cable tv, console game systems, microwaves... you can get all those things ,used, for dirt cheap. Less than $100 easily, most of them less than $50. I've seen microwaves and xboxes being given away for as little as $10. So please don't suggest the people with these things are somehow living the high-life. These things are giveaways, handmedowns, garage sale merchandise.
But the economy doesn't roar into life by people doing basement-bargain shopping for used appliances. It comes to life by people buying brand new toys, state of the art equipment. It comes to life by investing in the market, not by haggling over the price of a beaten up cordless phone.
So when these people are referred to as "poor" it may piss you off to no end, because how can they be poor if they own a goddamned coffee maker for chrissakes?!? But as far as the economic power of this country is concerned, you bet your ass these people are poor.
19
I guess it's time to post this again:
World of Class Warfare - Warren Buffett vs. Wealthy Conservatives - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/18/11
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-au…
World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is Over - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/18/11
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-au…
World of Class Warfare - Warren Buffett vs. Wealthy Conservatives - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/18/11
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-au…
World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is Over - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/18/11
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-au…
20
Who is Sugartit? Oh, is that someone who doesn't even have the balls to register? Well then, they're obviously incapable of posting anything worth reading.
21
@1,
It's been my experience that upper middle class/rich Americans truly have no idea of how good they have it. I try mightily to keep my mouth shut when my sister bitches about having so little money. She makes a low six-figure income, owns her own house, owns two brand spanking new SUVs, has a walk-in closet stuffed full of clothes, but "can't make ends meet", because, of course, she blows all her money on useless shit.
Americans who make greater than the median have no concept of what it's like to survive on $15,000 a year, and they never will.
@2,
I presume the numbers are not adjusted for inflation. $53,000 was worth a lot more 13 years ago than it is today.
It's been my experience that upper middle class/rich Americans truly have no idea of how good they have it. I try mightily to keep my mouth shut when my sister bitches about having so little money. She makes a low six-figure income, owns her own house, owns two brand spanking new SUVs, has a walk-in closet stuffed full of clothes, but "can't make ends meet", because, of course, she blows all her money on useless shit.
Americans who make greater than the median have no concept of what it's like to survive on $15,000 a year, and they never will.
@2,
I presume the numbers are not adjusted for inflation. $53,000 was worth a lot more 13 years ago than it is today.
22
"Americans who make greater than the median have no concept of what it's like to survive on $15,000 a year, and they never will."
Bullshit.
I wasn't always upper middle. Made poverty wages for a decade working my ass off, learning skills that have now paid off handsomely. So yes, I know what it's like to make $15000 a year (much less in fact). No tv, no mobile phone, no car with $1000 rims, no $200 Air Jordans, no cable, no drugs and most importantly, I used fucking condoms and ate ramen!
"Americans who make greater than the median have no concept of what it's like to survive on $15,000 a year, and they never will."
Bullshit.
I wasn't always upper middle. Made poverty wages for a decade working my ass off, learning skills that have now paid off handsomely. So yes, I know what it's like to make $15000 a year (much less in fact). No tv, no mobile phone, no car with $1000 rims, no $200 Air Jordans, no cable, no drugs and most importantly, I used fucking condoms and ate ramen!
23
@22,
Nevermind, that was a rhetorical question. You and everyone else here is fully aware that that's a blatantly racist statement you just made.
Racist.
no car with $1000 rims, no $200 Air JordansWhat poor people own those things?
Nevermind, that was a rhetorical question. You and everyone else here is fully aware that that's a blatantly racist statement you just made.
Racist.
24
LOL...I just turned off the un-registered comment filter. WOW!! There are some fucking retared asswipes who comment on this stuff. I mean this is deep south sorta stupid. I mean WOW!!! How do these people wipe there asses or know which of their cousins they should fuck at the next family reunion?
25
Sorry for the spelling..I'm just really pissed off by the base stupidity of those who don't have the balls to register.
26
"What poor people own those things?"
Ha ha, thanks for the laugh. Just keep denying what we see everyday. Poverty has nothing to do with poor choices. It's all someone else's fault you live in a trailer/ghetto/barrio with a house full of fatherless, ferel children.
Ha ha, thanks for the laugh. Just keep denying what we see everyday. Poverty has nothing to do with poor choices. It's all someone else's fault you live in a trailer/ghetto/barrio with a house full of fatherless, ferel children.
27
@ sugartit,
In your earlier posts, I thought you might actually have an interesting counter argument than the one Eli presented.
But I was mistaken. You appear to be nothing more than an angry old racist.
The poor envy the rich? The only one who's envious and jealous around here is you.
Would you like to be born in a ghetto? Despised and mistrusted by people like yourself, merely because you were born the "wrong color?" Grow up in a neighborhood that the rest of the country has abandoned?
No, you want to receive the benefits minorities receive but you don't want to experience the challenges they alone experience.
Well, that's not exactly correct, you don't even believe they DO experience any unique challenges. Nope, blacks have exactly the same opportunities that whites have, right? That's why the number of blacks in positions of power is equal to the number of whites in power, right? Of course they don't, but you claim it's not due to oppression, rather, that they just don't want it badly enough. That they don't work hard enough. In other words, you think it's in their disposition, that blacks are genetically inferior to whites.
You are a racist.
In your earlier posts, I thought you might actually have an interesting counter argument than the one Eli presented.
But I was mistaken. You appear to be nothing more than an angry old racist.
The poor envy the rich? The only one who's envious and jealous around here is you.
Would you like to be born in a ghetto? Despised and mistrusted by people like yourself, merely because you were born the "wrong color?" Grow up in a neighborhood that the rest of the country has abandoned?
No, you want to receive the benefits minorities receive but you don't want to experience the challenges they alone experience.
Well, that's not exactly correct, you don't even believe they DO experience any unique challenges. Nope, blacks have exactly the same opportunities that whites have, right? That's why the number of blacks in positions of power is equal to the number of whites in power, right? Of course they don't, but you claim it's not due to oppression, rather, that they just don't want it badly enough. That they don't work hard enough. In other words, you think it's in their disposition, that blacks are genetically inferior to whites.
You are a racist.
28
@27 I believe my comment " trailer/ghetto/barrio " covers all the major races. Since you don't have to worry about your hubcaps getting stolen in Chinatown, I've excluded Asians.
30
@ sugartit,
Bullshit. $1000 rims and $200 air jordans? Don't even pretend you weren't singling out blacks with that remark, it's a disservice to intelligent conversation.
Then you backtracked and said "oh no, no, I meant ALL minorities!" But you've already shown your racism.
Whatever, if you're a racist just own it. We all know it now what you are now anyway. Better to have your hatred out in the light.
@29,
There's a button at the top of the comments that lets you toggle unregistered comments on or off. I prefer to leave them on, as there are occasionally good point made, and I dislike forcing people to register. Often though, the unregistered comments are nothing but vile filth, which is why so many people choose to ignore them completely.
Bullshit. $1000 rims and $200 air jordans? Don't even pretend you weren't singling out blacks with that remark, it's a disservice to intelligent conversation.
Then you backtracked and said "oh no, no, I meant ALL minorities!" But you've already shown your racism.
Whatever, if you're a racist just own it. We all know it now what you are now anyway. Better to have your hatred out in the light.
@29,
There's a button at the top of the comments that lets you toggle unregistered comments on or off. I prefer to leave them on, as there are occasionally good point made, and I dislike forcing people to register. Often though, the unregistered comments are nothing but vile filth, which is why so many people choose to ignore them completely.
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