Reply #64: One of the very best personal outlooks on "poverty" I have ever read.

[pattmarty]

I am a white male 61 yo now and grew up in the 50's & 60' in the (white)suburbs of Chicago. I am not blowing smoke up your ass when I say that was THE BEST PIECE so far that I have read on DU. I grew up as I call it in the lower middle class and still see myself as the same. My wife and I together made 65K that last year before we retired. We were able to buy our first house when my mother died and left a small amount (less than 100k split between myself & my sister) that I put down on a small (68K) house. After reading your piece I felt like I grew up rich. My father was a union man and I also am one (thank god) and that is the ONLY reason I could retire on a small income. thanks again for sharing, and I hope more people here and on other "liberal/progressive" sites begin to understand that the MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE US don't make 100K a year and drive a new SUV.