Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

onetime2 · 02-17-2004, 06:15 AM

As usual, this is a complicated subject. People tend to make assumptions without understanding all facets of the discussion. I don't pretend to know everything on this subject but let me point out a few things.

1. Living on $9,000 in a metropolitan area is far different from living on it in the back woods of TN. Poverty figures are overall figures and take into account all areas of the country.

2. Income is only one factor that should be used to determine a family's ability to survive in America today and is relied on too heavily in the definition of poverty. For example, a retired person who owns their own home, has medical coverage, and substantial financial holdings can be considered "poor" if they choose not to dip into their savings and live, instead, on their social security to pay minimal bills. Yet these same poverty stricken individuals can leave millions to heirs/charity when they die.

3. Incomes are not adjusted to incorporate government programs which boost a household's buying power.
4. If you look at the chart from the Commerce Department, povery hit a low around 1972 and has been rising ever since. Statements like, "for the second year in a row poverty levels rose" completely mischaracterize the situation by dismissing the 30 year trend towards increasing "poverty".

There are countless other points that need to be taken into consideration when debating poverty levels.

02-17-2004, 06:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	As usual, this is a complicated subject. People tend to make assumptions without understanding all facets of the discussion. I don't pretend to know everything on this subject but let me point out a few things. 1. Living on $9,000 in a metropolitan area is far different from living on it in the back woods of TN. Poverty figures are overall figures and take into account all areas of the country. 2. Income is only one factor that should be used to determine a family's ability to survive in America today and is relied on too heavily in the definition of poverty. For example, a retired person who owns their own home, has medical coverage, and substantial financial holdings can be considered "poor" if they choose not to dip into their savings and live, instead, on their social security to pay minimal bills. Yet these same poverty stricken individuals can leave millions to heirs/charity when they die. 3. Incomes are not adjusted to incorporate government programs which boost a household's buying power. 4. If you look at the chart from the Commerce Department, povery hit a low around 1972 and has been rising ever since. Statements like, "for the second year in a row poverty levels rose" completely mischaracterize the situation by dismissing the 30 year trend towards increasing "poverty". There are countless other points that need to be taken into consideration when debating poverty levels. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant. Last edited by onetime2; 02-17-2004 at 06:19 AM..