America’s Hidden Poverty May 8, 2006
When we were young, we were taught to help the poor, since we were American and privileged to be part of this great nation. We raised money, food and clothing to send through the Red Cross to countries such as India, Bangladesh, China, South America, and Mexico. Somewhere along the way, our nation neglected the poor among the Americans. An article in today’s NY Times about America’s Near Poor shows the vulnerability of middle and lower class Americans. Climbing poverty rates and rising level of debt suggests a deepening insecurity. More people work in jobs without health care or insurance. Because many of us, myself included, come from privileged backgrounds, we don’t notice the millions of Americans living in poverty. The article states:
About 37 million Americans lived below the poverty line in 2004, set at $19,157 a year for a family of four. But far more people, another 54 million, were in households earning between the poverty line and double the poverty line.
That’s a total of 91 million Americans earning $38,314 (double the poverty line) or lower. Our previous discussion of economic classes highlighted the growing gap between upper class and lower class. It’s sad to hear that approximately 1 out of 4 families earn less than $40,000. Americans are at a period of growth, but at the expense of the lower class. We still have the thought of kids with distended stomachs in India as the picture of poverty. But the tables have turned and it’s countries like China and India who are supporting Americans with our debt addiction. We can’t ignore/hide these problems in our own backyard.
Source:
America’s ‘Near Poor’ Are Increasingly at Economic Risk, Experts Say
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: May 8, 2006