That 'Official' Poverty Rate? It's Much Worse than You Think

[G_j]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/148255/that_%27official%27_poverty_rate_it%27s_much_worse_than_you_think?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=alternet

AlterNet / By David DeGraw

That 'Official' Poverty Rate? It's Much Worse than You Think

The shocking poverty statistics released last week tell only part of the story.

September 23, 2010 |

While the shocking new poverty statistics from the Census Bureau indicating that a record 43.6 million Americans lived in poverty in 2009 emphatically demonstrates the severity of the economic crisis, the Census is drastically undercounting this demographic. Apparently the government's poverty statistics are as accurate as its unemployment statistics.

<snip>

So the Census poverty rate increase of 3.8 million people will put the 2009 National Academy of Science (NAS) number at a minimum of 51.2 million Americans. And if the margin of discrepancy is equivalent to the 7.6 million of 2008, we are looking at a NAS number of at least 52 million people for 2009.

Let’s also consider the fact that more than 20 million people were on unemployment benefits last year. A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis concluded that unemployment insurance temporarily kept 3.3 million people out of poverty. Food stamp assistance kept another 2.3 million people out of poverty. If we were to include all of these people, we'd be looking at almost 60 million Americans living in poverty. Which means the government number doesn't account for over 14.1 million Americans in poverty.

Now let’s look at the poverty line these numbers are based on: $22,050 for a family of four. Let me repeat that: $22,050 for a family of four. That breaks down to $5,513 per person, per year. I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine living in the United States on $459 per month. That amount will barely get you a good health insurance policy, never mind food, clothes and a roof over your head. No wonder why a record 50.7 million Americans do not have health insurance. (Beware: 50.7 million Americans without health insurance is a government-based number. If you had health insurance for only one day last year, you are not counted in this total.)

<snip>

[xchrom]

1. either we do something concrete about this -- or these numbers will create an energy all their own

that will leave us all stunned.

[G_j]

2. it's amazing the way they play w/ numbers

that represent the bottom line of people's lives.

[Bigmack]

3. The poor either are or are going to get really pissed...

at some point. The Teabaggers are already pissed off.

Hell, I'm pissed off.

Do the Powers That Be somehow think this situation is just going to stabilize itself?

Somebody better do something.

[G_j]

4. k

[Dappleganger]

5. k&r

[G_j]

6. --