Soaring Poverty Casts Spotlight on ‘Lost Decade’

[Mass]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/us/14census.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

WASHINGTON — Another 2.6 million people slipped into poverty in the United States last year, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday, and the number of Americans living below the official poverty line, 46.2 million people, was the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has been publishing figures on it.

And in new signs of distress among the middle class, median household incomes fell last year to levels last seen in 1997.

...
The report said the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line last year, 15.1 percent, was the highest level since 1993. (The poverty line in 2010 for a family of four was $22,314.)

...
The past decade was also marked by a growing gap between the very top and very bottom of the income ladder. Median household income for the bottom tenth of the income spectrum fell by 12 percent from a peak in 1999, while the top 90th percentile dropped by just 1.5 percent. Overall, median household income adjusted for inflation declined by 2.3 percent in 2010 from the previous year, to $49,445. That was 7 percent less than the peak of $53,252 in 1999. Part of the income decline over time is because of the smaller size of the American family.

So, could pols stop talking about the middle class and start caring about those who are below that. Certainly, we can avoid more poverty by helping this "middle class" falling into poverty, but WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE TOO. So, stop talking about the middle class and start talking about poor vs rich....

More data here

http://www.nwlc.org/press-release/nwlc-analysis-new-census-data-shows-record-numbers-women-poverty-without-health-insura

[OHdem10]

1. Today Morning Joe formally laid the problem at the feet of

Globalization. Of course he did not dare mention
Republican Trade Policies.

It appears the GOP will make it look as some great
force with no one to bleame.

They began to talk about the latest report on Poverty.
as if the Republicans will do something about it.

When they believe the poor are poor because they
are either lazy, drug or alochol addicted, just have
no drive to improve their lot, it is hard to believe
the GOP will come up with any solution.

IMO, the GOP will have no problem with permanent
underclasses of White, Black and Hispanics.