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Poverty rate spikes to 1960s level
This post Poverty rate spikes to 1960s level originally appeared on Truth About Bills
New reports are from the Census Bureau show that the US poverty rate has jumped to numbers not seen since the 1960s. This comes as bad news for most Americans and President Obama who is starting his second term.
How bad is Poverty in the United States?
The U.S. Census Bureau puts the number of Americans in poverty at levels not seen since the mid-1960s when President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the federal government’s so-called War on Poverty. As President Barack Obama began his second term in January, nearly 50 million Americans — one in six — were living below the income line that defines poverty, according to the bureau. A family of four that earns less than $23,021 a year is listed as living in poverty according to the Poverty Level Income for 2012. The bureau said 20 percent of the country’s children are poor.
Poverty among African Americans is above the national average.
The U.S. Census Bureau determined that 25.1 percent of African-American households and 29.2 percent of households with children are food insecure.“While there are indicators that the economy is recovering, children and ethnic minorities that were disproportionately impacted during the recession continue to struggle and lag behind in the recovery,” explained Leonetta Elaiho, director of Youth and Community Engagement, U.S. Programs at World Vision, in an email statement to The Christian Post.
With the economy crawling along with little growth, new unemployment claims still above 350,000, and food stamp usage continuing to increase by the day it would seem that our current poverty levels are likely to be with us for at least the near future. The big question now becomes with Washington unable to pass a budget or help make a friendly climate for businesses to grow, how will we help solve our current poverty rate. Should we continue to turn to private charities that are also having problems making ends meet or should we do nothing at all? Only time will tell if we can help turn the tides of our high poverty rate.
This post Poverty rate spikes to 1960s level originally appeared on Truth About Bills
2013-04-03 08:47:13
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