Poverty Figures Are Higher Than Previously Thought

According to the Department of Agriculture figures, we recently learned that 14% of the total American population is now on food stamps.   That would make sense given that the latest government figures for those considered to be living in poverty is about 14.3% (or about 43.6 million Americans).   That makes it look like most people in poverty are receiving government help.   Sadly that is not the case.

The new census figures show that there are more people living in poverty than the government admits.   This is because the government definition of poverty is based on "a 1955 cost of an emergency food diet and does not factor in other living costs."   When the other living costs are figured in, especially out-of-pocket medical expenses, the number of those currently living in poverty rises significantly.

The new census shows that there are actually about 47.8 million Americans living in poverty (or about 15.7% of the total population).   That's an additional 4.2 million people.   And a lot more of the elderly in this country are living in poverty than previously thought.   Government figures had about 8.9% of the elderly classified as poor, but the new census nearly doubles that figure -- the actual number of the elderly living in poverty is 16.1%.   This shows just how ridiculous the talk of cutting Social Security benefits really is.

And cutting other programs designed to help the poor would also be very destructive to this country.   The census shows that doing away with food stamps would raise the poverty rate to 17.2%.   Eliminating the earned income tax credit would raise the poverty rate to 17.7%.

Here are the poverty rates by region of the country:
West...............19.2%
South...............16.1%
Northeast...............14.3%
Midwest...............12.5%

There are those who say that the poor will always be with us, but in a country as rich (even in recession) as the United States it is inexcusable for nearly 15% of out total population to be living in poverty.   Even more inexcusable is the fact that politicians talk about cutting government programs while giving the rich massive tax cuts.   Cuts to programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Unemployment benefits and others would not only be disastrous for those already in poverty (about 1 in 6 Americans), but would throw millions more into poverty.

Of course the politicians still tell us that the millions they are giving to the rich will someday trickle down to the rest of America -- even though it has never done so in the past.   Is it any wonder that many voters are disgusted with both political parties?   The Republicans care only for the rich, and the Democrats are too spineless to live up to their ideals.   Where are the poor (and those on the edge of poverty) to turn?