Census: In Alabama, cities plagued with poverty

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Jan. 05, 2004

Census: In Alabama, cities plagued with poverty
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BIRMINGHAM - Alabama's major cities suffered a rise in poverty and a decline in quality of life conditions measured by a national survey in 2002, with Huntsville ahead of the pack with the highest household incomes.

U.S. Census figures, released in December, show that south Alabama metro areas were among the poorest and least educated in the United States in 2002.

The Montgomery metro area had the 10th highest percentage of people living in poverty, according to the 2002 American Community Survey results published Sunday in The Birmingham News.

Montgomery was only slightly better when it came to children, ranking 14th highest of 157 cities surveyed in the percentage of children living in poverty. The Mobile metro area posted the 11th highest rank for people living in poverty, and the 12th highest position for children in poverty.

The Birmingham area ranked 49th in poverty and 39th in the percentage of child poverty.
(snip/...)

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/7634508.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More tax cuts needed? :eyes:

[tedoll78]

1. Well..

when you consider how that state collectively votes..

[lazarus]

11. 55-45

55 for Bush
45 for Gore

Let's not abandon the 45% of the state that's Democratic, okay?

[bamademo]

15. Speaking of us 45%...

There's a Clark meetup in Huntsville tonight at Humphries. Starts at
6:00 I think.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

16. Is Humphries in Madison? n/t

[bamademo]

17. Downtown Huntsville

On Washington Street. Where Bubba's used to be.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

19. Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that... When I first moved back

to Huntsville, I got quite a laugh at the "Bubba's Sushi" sign. It really seemed incongruous.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

26. Just checked... 7:00

[bamademo]

2. I live in Huntsville...

I tend to forget how poor the rest of the state is. When I do have occasion to go outside the Huntsville area, I'm appalled. My city is so different from the rest of the state with the exception of Birmingham in regards to education.

I was unemployed for 1 1/2 years here due to the glut of high-tech workers. I'm now working for $15000 less a year than I made before.
I know web-masters working at donut shops. The problem here is factory closings. Steel plants, Goodyear and Dunlap tire factories, textile plants, they've all shut down in the past year with no chance of re-opening. Those people are really the ones in a world of hurt.
They belonged to unions and worked in those plants right out of high school. They have no higher education and the state doesn't have funds to retrain them.

BTW, I've talked to a lot of people who voted for Bush who now despise him.

[demsrule4life]

3. Nice to see a fellow DU'er close to me

I live near Ardmore, work in Huntsville.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. I also live in Huntsville...you've given an accurate report for sure.

[bamademo]

7. We should have a Huntsville DU meeting

I had no idea there were so many but now I know of at least 5.

[demsrule4life]

8. Sounds good to me

I will buy the first round, of course have to do this in Madison Co.

[bamademo]

10. Downtown Huntsville

Humphreys, Kaffeeklatch or Furniture Factory. Can you guess what I like to drink from my avatar? :-)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

21. Think I'll head to Humphries this evening to check out the Clark meetup.

[Judi Lynn]

22. That should be interesting!

It'd be great knowing how the Democratic cause is faring in Alabama, for sure.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

23. I saw Dean when he visited a few months ago... It seems that

there are more Dems than many think (at least in North Alabama).

I'll be interested in hearing Clark supporters in person and first hand.

Who am I for? The man or woman that wins the Primary. I just hope that Joe stays home :evilgrin:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

12. In Harvest, here... 12 miles from Ardmore.

Plenty of die hard repugs but like Bamademo, have spoken with some displeased with Bush.

[bleedingheart]

4. Ah...and yet Guns God and Abortion are painted as more important

than jobs...

[cthrumatrix]

6. Another reason why sending $87B to Iraq ...we need help here at home too!

[OHdem10]

9. It gets to be frustrating

when I constantly observe the Southern States and some of those Red Western States are the absolutely poorest in the Nation. For years they continuously put Republicans in office. When will they ever see
"we are going nowhere fast--let us try something different"

2ond frustration. In all the latest Gov. elections in each stat, Miss, La, Kty--Less than half of elgible voters particpated. The Republicans have won the Southern states by mkinimal particpation of the electorate and our party has graciously said"its ok--you can have the south."

3rd Frustration. The real issues are not discussed in election . God, Guns Gays and yes Race are used as wedge issues rathe than
substantive debate on what is best for state.

[bushisanidiot]

13. 'Bamans Better Wake Up And Vote for Democrats If They Want Any Real Change

instead of the false promises from the idiot in chief.

[mistertrickster]

14. This is the state that spends the least on education, isn't it?

You get what you pay for . . .

[QC]

25. No.

http://www.nea.org/newsreleases/2003/nr030521.html#t5

[Unforgiven]

27. I'm Crushed

I thought that was Jebworld (Formerly Florida)

[bvar22]

18. One Issue..hammered Home over and over....

bush* and the republicans are sending YOUR MONEY to Iraq. Building free schools, free hospitals, and free housing!!!

Its time to throw the republicans OUT!

[Just Me]

20. I've seen more and more news of such realities,...

,...and, perhaps it hits home even harder than before being a person who personally invested in a LOT of education yet has joined the ranks of the impoverished in this country. We definitely have our problems and shouldn't be going around trying to re-build other sovereignties when we haven't adequately addressed the re-building efforts needed right here at home.

[Just Me]

24. Top Ten Reasons *LOL*

I am a highly educated adult who, just today, accepted a temporary, part-time minimum wage position to make "any" money. My son wanted to cheer me up and on,...I HAD to cooperate,...SOOOO,...we created the following:

Top Ten Reasons A "Highly Educated Adult" Should BE VERY HAPPY Accepting a Minimum Wage Job in the USA

10) You can upgrade from a Bush-lite to a foreign beer

9) You won't humbly have to ask for gas money

8) It's better than nothing

7) You won't have to fear becoming one of those people you've seen standing on a street corner with a tin cup

6) You can feel more confident about sleeping under blankets rather than newspapers or leaves

5) Your parents will encourage you stating with a smile, "well,...you know, any job makes you more employable"

4) You can offer yourself as living "proof" that cross-class endeavors really are possible

3) It's better than a manufacturing job in India

2) The wind will be taken out of all those "critics" sails who assualt you with remarks like "you're not trying hard enough", "you must be doing something wrong", or "you're being too proud by not taking whatever you can get".

1) IT'S BETTER THAN LIVING IN IRAQ!!!!