Do You Care about Poverty?

People are really hurting. Some how we miss the mark, being the worlds riches nation. We need to take a hard look at this situation and do our very best. Please share you views on this matter.

Poverty in America revised to 1 of 6
Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:44:01 GMT
Font size :

One of six American live in poverty, a new report finds, leading to the implication that the US poverty level is even worse than first believed.

The National Academy of Science (NAS) formula calculates the poverty rate to be at 15.8 percent, or nearly 1 in 6 Americans, according to new estimates released this week. That's higher than the 13.2 percent, or 39.8 million, figure made available recently under the original US government formula, the Associated Press reports.

That government formula was created in 1955 and does not factor in the rising costs of medical care, transportation, child care or the geographical variations of living. Nor does it consider the non-cash governmental aid when calculating income.

According to the revised NAS formula, nearly 18.7 percent of Americans, 65 and older, or nearly 7.1 million, live in poverty, compared to the 9.7 percent, or 3.7 million figure, under the traditional formula. Approximately 14.3 percent of people 18 to 64, or 27 million, live in poverty in the US, compared to 11.7 percent under the traditional calculations. Many of the new poor are the low-income, working people with transportation and child-care costs.

Food stamp assistance is currently at an all-time high of about 36 million.

VA/MB

Print | Send by E-Mail
Share : Del.icio.us Digg Facebook Newsvine Reddit Technorati


Comment
Note:

Why Do We Need Money?

Recently, the question was raised as to why do we need money? After receiving some rather interesting feedback I must share some of the thinking discussed. The main idea that impressed me the most was on Star Trek (about the future) there will be no need for money.

Nevertheless, the majority of the responses stated we need money to live. Food, housing and of course the bills all need to be satisfied with money. Given the intensity of this recession, people are struggling to make ends meet. Large corporations and businesses are suffering to hold on and need government assistance.

The average person is at a real lost because the institutions we trust i.e. the banks are also shaky. Perhaps money is not what we thought it was or is, and we need new thinking about the whole idea.

I asked the question, if we had no money in the future ,would we still have poverty? The response was yes. People will still be poor and suffering. One astute person stated that in the future we will have a resource driven economy. Information will be the key. Must people and nations are in debt. The more I owe the more I have.

In conclusion, one person stated that when people lived in caves they did not need all these things. Perhaps we should all live in caves. But for now, I will get all the money I can get my hands on for now and the future. However, I would try to end poverty and ignorance at all cost. Please respond to help me on this question...