Gap between rich, poor widens in U.S.

[Ilsa]

I would post this in LBN, but it isn't really breaking news, is it.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6641518.html

By HOPE YEN Associated Press
Sept. 28, 2009, 4:15PM

WASHINGTON — The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

The wealthiest 10 percent of Americans — those making more than $138,000 each year — earned 11.4 times the roughly $12,000 made by those living near or below the poverty line in 2008, according to newly released census figures. That ratio was an increase from 11.2 in 2007 and the previous high of 11.22 in 2003.

Household income declined across all groups, but at sharper percentage levels for middle-income and poor Americans. Median income fell last year from $52,163 to $50,303, wiping out a decade’s worth of gains to hit the lowest level since 1997.

Poverty jumped sharply to 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

SNIP

Some idiots in Houston are enjoying blaming Obama for this in the comments section.

[Mari333]

1. I expect it to get worse

no one is holding the thieves accountable.

[DJ13]

2. No wonder the stock markets rallied today

[girl gone mad]

5. Check out the volume in the markets.

It's kind of freaky watching a rally so completely dominated by a few computer programs.

[Toucano]

3. Blaming Obama = Asleep for 8 years and unable to read.

The numbers are for 2008.

[MichiganVote]

4. And into the hole the country will fall.