Poverty at 32-Year High

Exactly. I haven't been able to afford my meds for almost a year now- and although doing without them won't kill me- it does mean that I hurt a lot worse and cannot sleep nearly as well (not to mention having all of the other symptoms becoming more frequent and my weight is starting to go up again- it is medically caused!) I know intimately what it is like to not be able to afford a decent diet, and how embarrassing it is to have to get help from a homeless shelter just so we can eat! We’ve also gone without electricity for 3 months because of our situation (my health problems).

People (including that evil judge who denied us any assistance) don't seem to understand that if I could have worked I would have- it would have been a lot easier and a LOT LESS PAINFUL!

I may have personal reasons for trying to get people's attention to the reality of the poor in America, but I am also motivated by the things I have learned and the research I've done. The majority of Americans are only TWO paychecks from homelessness! The gulf between the rich and poor has increased significantly- between the 60's and today, the top 10% went from possessing around 40% of the resources in America to possessing somewhere over 70% (with the top 1% owning 32.7% of the total wealth), while the poor lost ground significantly. [source: “From World War to Class War: The Rebound of the Rich” by Robert G. Evens. Healthcare Policy Vol. 2 No. 1 2006 pg 14 combined with “report of the apa task force on Socioeconomic Status” published by the American Psychological Association 2007] Most of the extreme poor are also dealing with chronic medical issues- and despite ADA, most cannot find jobs where their limitations are compensated for- the business owners are not willing to spend a penny or be creative in finding ways around limitations! Yet they are expected to survive somehow- and the system is set up to deny, not help people! Many have hidden disabilities, and people as a rule do not cut any slack for others who do not have obvious problems. This sort of attitudinal problem is growing in the US- but at the same time is very old.

The worst thing that poor people have to deal with is the attitudes towards them. I've been told to my face "Get a job" and ordered to think about what I did that created our problems (and I’ve been told that loosing weight would fix everything- when obesity is often a SYMPTOM of medical problems - as well as of a cheap and unhealthy diet!). Almost all of the programs created since the '60's are designed to fix people- but the reality is that the problem isn't the people, it is structural!!! For instance, a person learns a trade (or goes to college and gets a degree), and starts working for a company. To increase profits, the company decides to either "outsource" or close the local plant and move to a place where they (1) don't have to pay decent wages, and (2) don't have to treat people like human beings. Yet almost all of the programs consider poverty to be the fault of the person- and not because some rich bast*** decided they wanted to cut costs and raise profits- or throw some poor soul out on the street so they can bulldoze their home and put up an expensive condo (again for profit). Don’t think it is happening… well, I suggest you get out into the real world.

By the way- I also suggest that you don't believe the claim about competitiveness being the reason for moving to areas of cheap labor- it is an excuse for raising profits and cutting pay!

Regarding the Bush administration- when they spout lies, look only at the "research" that supports their beliefs- even when it has been repeatedly disproved, and try to eliminate any of the social safety nets for people in the mantra of "cutting taxes", well, they are waging war ON the poor!!! His actions and plans only concentrate more of the wealth in the hands of the few, and put the burden of society (including supporting the rich) on the backs of the rest of the country.

Bob,

Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! The Christian DUTY is to expose the love of Mammon and Plutocratic sympathies for what they are-- a mark, as clear as Cain's, that indicate those who serve Satan (whether they recognize themselves as doing so or not). What was the measuring stick that The Master HIMSELF suggested would be used to separate The Sheep from The Goats? How we care for the poor, the sick, and the disenfranchised. The Master said "Woe to the rich, for they have their reward", and "It is easier for a camel to travel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven". And let us not forget the story of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus. The Master Himself proclaimed that one could not worship Mammon (the love of money and lust for power) and God. The greed in this nation is beyond nightmarish, and while the conservative "christians" cheer on the war-mongerers, and tear their hair out over gay marriage, stem-cell research, and evolution, their brothers and sisters in the TENS OF MILLIONS are going without basic necessities, healthcare coverage, and fair wages. These pseudo-patriots who have contrived an unholy (Satantic) wedding between Christianity and capitalism may one day find themselves in that place where there is much "wailing and gnashing of teeth". Indeed! Preach on Bob!!!!!! And God Bless You!!!!!!

Peace and Blessings,
Brother Damien

Bob and Brother Damien,
While I agree with you in principle, I would like to offer some specific proposals to get the ball rolling.
1.) Serious Campaign Finance Reform: The McCain- Feingold Act, IMO, didn't go far enough. Until we can limit the "money buys access" crowd and return our system to people of all classes, we will get nowhere.
2.) Electoral Reform: I believe that we need to break the stranglehold that the Republicrats have on our political system. It is too difficult for alternative parties not only to field their candidates but also to get their message out. Open the gates and may the best ideas win.
3.) Increase Access to Opportunities: There has been a steady assault on Small Business since the Reagan Administration. We have gone from an entreprenurial capitalist model to a monopolistic capitalist model and in the process have impoverished and in some cases even destroyed communities.
Remember, my friends, that one of the great and/or scary things about democracy is that the people get the kind of government that they deserve.
We deserve far better then what we have.

I have several to add to the list.

Cut off corporate welfare. COMPLETELY. Trillions are going to support big businesses that don't need it. Indeed, a good chunk of the money for Iraq could be considered corporate welfare!

Get business owners (big business) to realize that if they make more than they spent- they've made a profit. They do NOT have to increase profits every year to be sucessful!!!

Enact legislation that punishes companies that ships jobs overseas. The fact is, they don't have to do that to be profitable! They're just looking to get rich on the backs of the poor- and this has been proven!

Cut taxes and regulations for small businesses (I regularly paid over... get this... 50% of GROSS in taxes and fees when I had my business!) Provide help and support to businesses and people who need it, not just those who can easily pay it back!!!

Reestablish the laws against usury and limit the interest that a bank can charge.

Enact and ENFORCE laws that forbid charging the poor more than the rich. It is unnecessary and EVIL when a grocery store charges the poor 10 to 30% more for food than the do the rich- and research indicates that theft is more common at the RICH stores than the poor!!!

Stop destroying public housing. FIX it!!! Julius Wilson has been shown to be wrong- you can't "fix" the poor by throwing them out of their homes!!!

People have a right to good health (and this makes good sense!) Yes, I'm talking about socialized medicine- or at least universal health insurance. People should not have their health held hostage to profit!!!

These are just a few ideas that would revolutionize society- for the better!!!

One of my colleagues just emailed around an article that shows the blind shortsightedness of the present system.

A family lost a young son because they couldn't get help for a ~$800 tooth operation (and it may have been cheaper!)
The boy had a infected tooth- and the infection spread to his brain. The operations to TRY to save this child's life cost over $200,000!!!

So in trying to pinch pennies by cutting services to the poor, the state has ended up spending enough for over 200 tooth operations!!!

The parents had been concerned for the boys older brother- who has 6 rotten teeth. As far as I know, they haven't been fixed yet (and knowing the system as well as I do, I doubt that they will be- "gotta punish those wicked poor people".

And I doubt that personal hygene had anything to do with the rotten teeth!

Every study I have seen on the subject has demonstrated that the US could save huge amounts of money if it invested in public preventative health care (universal health coverate), as opposed to waiting until medical issues facing the uninsured become emergent, as it does now.

But when it comes to corporate profit, we need to nuance our dialogue more. Companies do have to make profit to be successful. Profit is divided and returned to shareholders as dividends. If investors are not recieving dividends (or other signs of "healthy growth"), they'll sell their shares and ruin the company. And these investors aren't just the ultra-wealthy who live off trust funds, they're our 401k plans, our insurance companies (health, but also home, auto, and life), the endowments of our colleges (which many of us relied on for scholarships and financial aide), the foundations which fund huge numbers of social services and arts projects, etc.

We're locked in a paradigm which demands constant growth, which requires us to constantly consume, spend more, and buy more and more frequently. In view of that, I think its worthwhile to break down our concerns into the categories of 1) changes that can be made within our current paradigm, and 2) changes that help us to change paradigms to one that is more sustainable and just. Universal health coverage is definately in number 1. Shifting away from a profit driven model is number 2, and while I'd love to see that, I'd also love to hear a realistic plan to bring it about.

Simple enough. Dividends should be based upon regular profit (gross minus expenses), not upon growth. People need to be less greedy for more!more!more!

If they don't have the choice of going to a company driven by today's greed and growth-based model, then they will be more accepting of their dividends and less likely to "jump ship".

The tremendous difference between the incomes at the top and bottom also need to be addressed. When the CEO makes 100-200 (and often higher) times the pay that the bottom employees make, that is just plain wrong and immoral- especially when to give the rich their perks, the working stiffs are denied any benefits.

There is a difference between profit (which is value neutral) and greed. I have never begrudged a company a fair profit (which means that they don't hurt people in making it and they don't prey on the poor- and they don't stiff their employees); There is solid data that shows that many of the abuses that we fight are based upon greed and desire for more profit for the top 10% and I DO resent and oppose that. The data and research show that most of today's big business are not driven just by profit- they're driven by greed and maximizing profit. This is wrong.

I also get angry when the poor are charged more for food and services based upon the disproved belief that theft and so on is more common in their neighborhoods.

I saw this recently- I went to two different Publix supermarkets, one in a rich neighborhood and one that served a less affluent (but by no means poor) neighborhood. The rich were paying on average about 5-10% less for the same items, and for a few items much less.

I read a study some time ago that showed that if anything, theft and problems were slightly higher at stores in rich neighborhoods than in poor (and the increase was so small that it might not be significant). However, because of the stereotypical view towards poor people, they are the ones that get all of the security- thus more people are caught. This fits right in with what I believe- that the poor are no less moral or trustworthy than the rich.

There are many changes that can be made to this country- and actually, I think where we need to start is the attitudes towards the poor. We need to eliminate the false ones (bad work ethic, lazy, drugs, alcohol, not careful with money or good at budgeting) and get people to understand that the poor are just like everyone else, and that if given the same opportunities and access to things like reasonable credit and employment, their outcomes would be the same.

In other words, the poor are
people just like the rich. We're all human!

Worse is not better, except in the U.S. More & more of the lower-middle class [what's left of it, anyway] & the working poor are closer than two or even one paycheck from belly-up. The old rule of thumb for home ownership from the FHA was & has been two (2) months savings for hard times or between jobs, which would avoid calamity striking & keeping the roof over one's head, but that has been a casualty to the loss of job security & worse for a long time now; even the well to do are having a hard time maintaining that standard in this environment. The HHS release of 2/28/07 that our homeless level is now a whopping 754,000 is a disgrace but true. And the UNICEF report of Valentine's Day used 40 foci for evaluating children's welfare, poverty being one. The two English-speaking nations in their 21 country ranking were dead last & next to dead last, Britain & the U.S.A., each while commandering the greatest assets.

When William Booth founded the Salvation Army in 1871, 30.7% of the population lived in poverty, and his effort can in part be noted as an anti-poverty one. In Will Hutton's book, THE STATE WE'RE IN [LONDON:Random House UK, 1995; New York: Vintage Books, 1996], he noted that 30% of the working population were "structurally unemployed." To say that the cards are stacked against them is a euphemism indeed! And when a recent graduate takes a "paying your dues" job as a fill-in until something in his line of preparation opens up, his being "over-qualified" in that space has just kicked downward one who really needed that job to survive. Add to that the assault on unionization & job security, including old time pension qualifications, and the U.S. must realistically be pegged as Third World. I traveled to Corpus Christi, TX two or three weeks ago for a visit & found that what used to be "The Sparkling City By The Sea" is now blighted & decaying because of illegal immigration & consequences thereof. We should never seek a bargain at the expense of someone's survival, but short-term profit is what drives the U.S. market. Goods & services trump people & the human condition regularly. Health care, education, housing & so on rather than being an overpowering concern is no better than step-child status in our present system. One used to need to travel to experience the Third World, but no more is this true. If it's not in your neighborhood now, it's not too far from it. Who was willing to be John the Baptist crying in the wilderness when 90% of the wealth was shifting [or being shifted?] to the top 10% bracket? Being physically poor most often overlaps with spiritual poverty, especially as educational abilities decline. Who suffers most in all this? Children. What a sorry lot we have become!

Absolutely on target, Arden!

This nation likes to prattle how great it is, but if you look at how it REALLY is, AMERICA IS WICKED AND EVIL.

This isn't a new thing either- from the confiscation of our lands and the murder of my people, to the enslavement of innocent Africans, to the impoverishment of today's working people, this country has a history of harming those who do not deserve it in any form or fashion. All in the name of maximizing profit!!!

The "illegal immigrant" issue is also a deliberately contrived situation. You go to the countries where these people come from, and you find American corporations abusing and exploiting them in terms that cause extreme misery and poverty. You find that with US government complicity, the local businesses and companies are being driven out of business so that some greedy a**hole in this country can make a few cents more. You will even find government complicity in SLAVERY (although yes, the people are paid- pennies a day and they cannot survive on what they make!)

The fundies prattle about repentance- but this nation is one that needs to not only repent- but bewail and renounce it's wickedness over the generations!

Plato told a story about Atlantis, a society that
was well advanced of all other nations. The society flourished with trade, production, and advanced technology over all other nations. It was a peacful and progressive place, a wonderful
land to live in. However, as time went by certain
men began to seek more and more wealth and power.
Soon they began to fight with each other because of the despairity of wealth and poverty and the
society began to fail. Eventually the island nation sank beneath the seas and ceased to exist.

Was Plato"s Atlantis real or was he just trying to
teach a moral and philosophical lesson? In either case this should be a warning to the USA,
because we are dominated by greed and the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Soon we will sink beneath a tidal wave
of repression and hatred and America as we know it will cease to exists. This capitalist, imperialism will collapse on it's self.
Leonard D. Adams

"This capitalist, imperialism will collapse on it's self."

That has been predicted- but I fear that the outcome would be worse for the average person. I would rather see this society CHANGE- peacefully and deliberately, into something far more just and equal. We have a good foundation (the Constitution), but it doesn't go far enough... and it can be used by the elites to maintain hegemony.

One of the richest people in this country is somewhat on the right track- a PROGRESSIVE income tax. I'd add to that cutting taxes for anyone under middle income, and start the taxes at that point. Also include strict protections for the average person (against big business) and absolutely strict oversight and control over business- this also progressive! Most small businesses are being buried already and they need to have the taxes and regulations LIFTED (speaking from experience!)

Redistribution of resources has always been part of governmental structures. Sometimes that redistribution is very evil, taking from the poor and giving to the rich (which is actually what is taking place in today's society- the taxes on the average person provide services and money for big business and the rich!) This needs to be turned around- to make society more equitable.

Too use and expand; on Bob's favorite word usury, and expanding it to cover making money, by using money; like the stock market; that is crooked as The Republican Party; like insider trading; the stock market is only a gamble to the poor. At least in Nevada the house don't know when the dice will come up craps or who will get black jack

You know, Monte- one of the basic ideas behind neoliberalism (which is what we are actually fighting) is that the free market fixes everything.

But as you probably realize, the markets are not free. The elites manipulate and control them for profit. So the foundation is rotten- and if the foundation is rotten, how can the rest be any more sound?

Neoliberalism is not only endemic to the Republicans ( who also are infected with neoconservativism- and you can be both at the same time), but it is also a problem with some of the elite Democrats as well.

People don't realize that the anti-poverty programs that started in (or even before) the '30's have been the biggest influence in creating a vibrant middle class and reducing poverty in this nation. Business only acerbates the problem- but the so-called "big government" programs of between 1930 and 1970 (when the neoliberals started tearing everything down) actually worked in making life better for the poor and reduced poverty.

Another influence that improved the lot of the poor was unions. They forced the elites to make do with a little less greed and improved wages, working conditions, and life in general for most of the population.

Bob you forgot the important thing. BING JUST TO THE POOR IS THE GODLIEST THING YOU CAN DO.

Along these lines- today's paper says that Publix supermarkets are cutting the pay for it's employees so as to get them to give better service.

Go figure.

It all comes down to this- we need to pass a living wage law.

I am SICK AND TIRED of corporate greed!!!

(That is the reason why there is so much poverty in the US!)

My honest to God Opinion, is that the government had a good idea with our four fathers. Yet little did they know that when our government seperated church and state they took god out the country. Poverty is caused by everyone eles who isnt in a poor state. There are people who collect 1.5 million dollers just to throw one football, shoot one basket, and to putt one hole. Why do we pay to much, when we have people in our country dieing for a piece of bread. We have the ability to change our country as christians. Still you can drive in any city and any town and find homeless and jobs and wonder why. GOD is the only way and those who seek god and find him, will do his will and change things. Change starts with us and begins thorough Jesus Christ.