Poor people in this country really have it bad.

[Anonymous]

An examination of the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal government data found the following facts about the typical poor American family:

» The family lives in a home that is in good repair, not crowded and equipped with air conditioning, clothes washer and dryer, and cable or satellite TV service.

» The family prepares meals in a kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave as well as oven and stove.

» The family has use of two color TVs, a DVD player, VCR and -- if children are there -- an Xbox, PlayStation or other video game system.

» The family had enough money in the past year to meet essential needs, including adequate food and medical care.

[Anonymous]

and more living space than the typical European.

[Anonymous]

Did this come from a chain email you got today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did this come from a chain email you got today?

no, I actually read the newspaper at lunch. you?

[jsteele]

I read about that Heritage Foundation study and wondered how long it would take to bubble up here. I am pretty confident that if someone were to explore the study's methodology, they would find serious errors. I would guess that the author has found things that many poor families have and combined them to suggest that most poor families have all of those things. I think that paints a false picture. For instance, if poor families all have washers and dryers in their homes, why do laundry mats exist? CRT televisions are basically free to anyone that wants them these days. That's hardly a sign of wealth. I've made two recent trips to North Carolina and I can tell you that a huge number of people are living in trailers. Sure, they are not out on the street starving (would you be happier if they were?), but they are certainly not living well.

Are you really trying to suggest that there is no poverty in America?

[Anonymous]

What a farce, one of the worst things you could be in this country is one of the working poor. Once you are over the poverty line (which I guarantee none of us could live by) you have absolutely no help, nothing. You are on your own. I am also pretty sure that the majority of us don't even know anyone that is living under or close to the poverty line, otherwise most Americans would feel very different about our social policies (or lack thereof). I am very scared for the poor, and even lower middle class in our country, I think they are about to have the carpet whipped out from under them by the GOP

[Anonymous]

The post had a great article once about a free healthcare and dental clinic that they run in in think West Virginia. It was eye opening, so sad...people camped out for days just for basic healthcare needs

[Anonymous]

They also have 12 pairs of Nike's and big satelite dishes next to said trailer.

just sayin........o

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:They also have 12 pairs of Nike's and big satelite dishes next to said trailer.

just sayin........o

How do you know how many pairs of shoes they own? Also, I assume that you are aware that "big" satellite dishes are very old technology and mainly used to pick up free signals. I believe the stereotype that you meant to parrot is that they all have DirectTV antennas connected to their flat screens that they looted during the last natural disaster.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I read about that Heritage Foundation study and wondered how long it would take to bubble up here. I am pretty confident that if someone were to explore the study's methodology, they would find serious errors. I would guess that the author has found things that many poor families have and combined them to suggest that most poor families have all of those things. I think that paints a false picture. For instance, if poor families all have washers and dryers in their homes, why do laundry mats exist? CRT televisions are basically free to anyone that wants them these days. That's hardly a sign of wealth. I've made two recent trips to North Carolina and I can tell you that a huge number of people are living in trailers. Sure, they are not out on the street starving (would you be happier if they were?), but they are certainly not living well.

Are you really trying to suggest that there is no poverty in America?

what is wrong with a trailer? seriously. Most are pretty spacious, with separate sleeping, living and eating quarters. I have spent a lot of time in trailers.

[Anonymous]

The middle class has it worst of all.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
what is wrong with a trailer? seriously. Most are pretty spacious, with separate sleeping, living and eating quarters. I have spent a lot of time in trailers.

If you had seen the trailers that I was discussing, you wouldn't have to ask. Have you actually lived in a trailer with a family? "Spacious" is not the word that would immediately come to mind. Also, don't you put the bar pretty low? I mean, separate areas for sleeping, living, and eating? I've seen tents that have that. Does that mean tents are a symbol of wealth?

It appears that unless someone is actually living in a cardboard box (and it better not be divided into sleeping and eating areas), you are not willing to recognize them as poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They also have 12 pairs of Nike's and big satelite dishes next to said trailer.

just sayin........o

You really need to educate yourself. Those people aren't poor, we are talking about the people who buy 1 pair of shoes a year, and they get them from the thrift store or they get them free from their church. People who are lined up around the block for a food drive (just saw this recently in silver spring, it was heartbreaking, most of them had small children too. Just wait until they can't get birth control pills, then things will get really interesting (not mad max intereting but still)

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
what is wrong with a trailer? seriously. Most are pretty spacious, with separate sleeping, living and eating quarters. I have spent a lot of time in trailers.

If you had seen the trailers that I was discussing, you wouldn't have to ask. Have you actually lived in a trailer with a family? "Spacious" is not the word that would immediately come to mind. Also, don't you put the bar pretty low? I mean, separate areas for sleeping, living, and eating? I've seen tents that have that. Does that mean tents are a symbol of wealth?

It appears that unless someone is actually living in a cardboard box (and it better not be divided into sleeping and eating areas), you are not willing to recognize them as poor.

yes, I have lived in a trailer it was before I had a family, and just for a summer. I have an uncle that lives in a trailer now in Southern Maryland. But I find your response enlightening. Of course it is not a sign of wealth, and of course I am setting the bar low. These are the poorest of the poor in this country. But that is the point - if the poorest of the poor have X square feet on average, own a car, multiple televisions, clothes washers, dish washers, cable or satellite tv, a mobile phone, etc., then are they really suffering? What quality of housing do you think a citizen is entitled to?

Comparing a trailer to a cardboard box is ludicrous.

[Anonymous]

Well I am sure that no Republican can agree to this study. The poverty level is $21,000 for a family of four.

But as Republicans have reminded us, $250,000 income is flat out middle class.

But apparently $21,000 plus some appliances makes you middle class, too.

Yes, I guess those people are the same.