Beware the Wrong Lessons from Poverty and Income Data

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.newdeal20.org/2011/09/21/beware-the-wrong-lessons-from-poverty-and-income-data-59188/

The poverty data released by the Census Bureau last week may well be the straw that broke the camel’s back — the camel being those deliberately blind people who can’t seem to acknowledge that most Americans are doing poorly. Average Americans should not be the ones who have to shoulder the burden of balancing the budget, even if it needed balancing soon.

The poverty rate is now as high as it was during the war on poverty of the 1960s — about 15 percent. The Census also revealed that median household income went nowhere under George W. Bush and is now down to its lowest level since 1997, essentially before the Clinton boom.

Even more deplorable, the young in America have been hit hardest. Economists at Northeastern University have been showing for years how low wages are for those in their twenties, if they can find a job at all. Now they calculate that 37 percent of young families with children live in poverty — more than one in three. It was one in five when Bush came to office.

But the reason I am writing this is not merely that it gives the “New Obama” some fuel — that is, the Obama who now insists on raising taxes and has resisted some of the worst ideas for cutting Social Security and Medicare, like raising the eligibility age. What concerns me is that some in the media are highlighting the fact that the elderly have taken a far smaller hit than the rest. Is this going to be the new argument for reducing Social Security and Medicare benefits?

MORE at the link --

[CarmanK]

1. I find the conditions at the AMAZON.com warehouse disgusting!

SS and Medicare are stable programs and it is up to the DEMS to preserve that status. The reason the poor and elderly are stable, is because those programs exist. They are doing what they are supposed to do and that is something to be proud of as a nation. As for inflicting more pain on the poor and the elderly, that is ridiculous. They are living near the edge, a move to change those benefits, could well be the tipping point. The US needs to tax the wealthiest, their fair share and to make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Someone tried to say erroneously, that the govt wastes 51 cents of every taxpayer dollar. I don't believe it!! There may be agencies, like defense which feels privileged and not as responsible for taxpayer expenditures. And of course, we know there are health care providers out there who have no problem bilking the system out of millions of dollars and then run for GOV. of FL.
Corporate AMERICA has no loyalty to country, it is border less. They go where the money is and they will extract every available dollar, by hook or crook. The idea revealed about the working conditions of a multi-million dollar company like Amazon is a national disgrace. These PIGS have been allowed to disrespect and abuse american citizens, like they are some kind of serfs without rights. I will not buy another thing from AMAZON.com and anyone who cares about the future of this democracy will join me in that boycott. I love my kindle, but it is being retired in favor of the NOOK.

[valerief]

2. I was going to give myself a Kindle for Xmas but now I'll get a Nook instead. nt

[mdmc]

3. ..

[xchrom]

4. Kick