Number of Americans in poverty hits record high

[Generic Other]

The number of Americans living in poverty rose to 46.2 million last year, nearly one in six people, according to the US Census Bureau's annual report.

The 2010 data shows the poverty rate at 15.1%, from 14.3% in 2009. The number of Americans without health insurance also rose slightly to 49.9 million.

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The number of Americans living below the poverty line has now risen for four years in a row.

The US definition of poverty is an annual income of $22,314 (£14,129), or less for a family of four, and $11,139 for a single person.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14903732

[tblue]

And it's more than a statistic.

It's real human suffering.

[gateley]

1. yurbud posted the diff between the BBC and CNN coverage:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1935301

[coalition_unwilling]

2. 1% of the population controls 40% of the productive assets of

this country. And 10% control 80%.

And there are some on this board who still dare to defend capitalism, who still claim that capitalism offers anything like morality or justice to the masses.

Whatever.

[sam11111]

3. dollar a day wage for all, maximizes profit. "To compete with India accept that wage here"

Tarriffs are the answer.

Otherwise we are looking toward a world of poor people, one billionaire and the same fake democracy we have now.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Reagan continues to acheive his dream of no more middle class...

...and people still vote for it, somehow.