The Changing Face of Poverty CNN.com

[flygal]

But at least more and more people will be say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".

http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/22/news/economy/poverty_overview/index.htm

snip

Fear and hunger walk hand in hand with poverty, and last year 12.6 million American households -- 11.2 percent of all American homes -- were afraid they might not be able to put enough food on the table, according to the Census Bureau. That's up more than 1.6 million households from the year 2000.

How are these families coping? They eat less varied meals, visit shelters and get food assistance from food banks and emergency kitchens. Of these families, 3.9 million said that one or more members of the family actually went hungry last year -- an 18.2 percent increase from 2000.

A recent report by the outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas found that many food banks are in "crisis mode." In Ohio, for example, the Ohio Food Bank has seen the number of people requiring assistance jump 17 to 20 percent this year, "with a significant increase in the number of working poor."

Millions of working Americans are struggling to find adequate food, health care and housing for their families. Unable to earn a living wage, many have resorted to food banks and community centers for help. But according to the Challenger report, many of those institutions say that making the increased demand even worse is the fact that "donations and government funding are at all-time lows."

[Hippo_Tron]

1. Unbelievable that this is coming from the Certainly Not News network

Somebody over there must have a heart... and a brain too.

[flygal]

2. There's is actually a whole series on CNN.com

http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/poverty/

I actually like the CNN/Money page.

[EmpireWeAre]

21. This story won't stick.

To use Jon Stewart's analogy, we won't be carpet bombed with this story. Media will say "well we covered the story, no one paid attention".
Garbage gets carpet bombed; Laci, Kobe, Michael Jackson, sports fights...
Real news gets an hour at best and media has an out for the complacency charges leveled against it.

[Chipper Chat]

29. Your garbage list left out......

all those over-hyped entertaiment gossip segments and which movies are crap but Carol Lin loves them, etc:
I love Julia Roberts but I'm so tired of hearing about her every 5 minutes. (The SNL-clone morning gals on MSNBC are notorious for this also).

[purduejake]

3. The working poor?!? How do ya like that?

I'm going to be one of them soon... working an $8/hr job with car payments, car insurance, health insurance, rent, food, student loans, credit card bills. I'm so glad I went for that 4 year degree! woohoo!

[mhr]

4. Unemployed 55 Months Now - Two College Degrees Worthless

eom

[Lost4words]

5. same here, my american dream was stolen.

when I snap the closest repuklikan is a gonner!

[AgadorSparticus]

7. i cannot imagine graduating from college at this time.

the economy sucks and i cannot think of one "hot" industry left in the US. what are kids majoring in nowadays that will "guarantee" them a job? besides nursing, that is...

[gorbal]

11. Um...nursing

Or you could just train as a nursing assistant, seeing as nobody can afford "nurses" anymore.:cry:

[phylny]

19. Speech-Language Pathology (although it requires a Masters)

I've moved twice since earning my degree, and I am always continually inundated with job offers. I got two calls just this week from companies wanting to hire me.

[AgadorSparticus]

35. don't buy into that crap. they most certainly can afford nurses.

they just don't WANT to. if they can get nursing assistants to do ALL the work, they would. it would cut down on their payroll costs at the expense of patients. patients deserve and should demand better than that.

the healthcare industry is a racket. helping people is just a byproduct. if it happens, then great. if not, so be it. they are first and foremost greedy little monsters. plus the nursing association will never allow the hospitals to eliminate RN's. all the nurses will go on strike before that will happen. and the liability on the hospitals would be too great. another reason they will 'miraculously' be able to afford nursing staff--it is cheaper than class action lawsuits.

i don't know where you are but nursing positions are plentiful in most places i've checked. In fact, so many places are clamoring for nurses. Unless people stop getting sick, there will always be a need/demand for nurses.

[juajen]

41. didn't I read somewhere that they were going to import nurses

from So. Africa to cut down on the shortage here (read that to mean cut the salaries of our nurses, as they flood the market!) I could have the wrong country, but I did read this, and I believe there was a television news story on it somewhere.

[AgadorSparticus]

42. i haven't heard that. most of the nurses come from either canada or

the phillipines (that i've seen). and they are able to bring in these nurses to help alleviate the critical shortage at this time. but trust me, if there were home grown nurses not getting jobs because all the nursing jobs are given to those from abroad, you'd see the ANA step in. There would be a flat out strike.

[gorbal]

52. No, some can't

Some places depend on funding from the state.

[Skittles]

58. nursing, like teaching, is a calling

one cannot simply DECIDE to be a nurse or teacher if your heart is not in it

[L.A.dweller]

37. Perhaps law school

Although, there have been a rise in applicants for law school.
And to top it off "letters of acceptence" are limited.

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. Special Education

If you can stand the intrusion of NCLB, there is at least job security.

[hraka]

55. Politics and world domination

That and oil.

[hfojvt]

13. I would not feel so all alone

By why have you not taken a temp job?
My college degrees are worthless too, and most people think it is my fault.
I do blame myself for not getting the right major. I thought college degrees were supposed to get you jobs unless you majored in English or History. Instead, I found that you need a major in a field that is in demand, or some kind of certification.

[mhr]

14. I Worked Several Part-Time Jobs - None Of Them Have Led To

Full-time employment.

I have over 2,500 resumes out the door. I stopped counting last June, too depressing.

My CV includes 15 + years of professional work experience.
BSEE
MBA
Commercial Pilot
Honorably Dsicharged Naval Officer

I have not heard from an employer in well over a year now.

[shanti]

45. may i ask

how old you are? this probably has more bearing on your unemployment than anything, from people i've known in your circumstances. sucks, but it's true.

[mhr]

59. 47 - Yes Age Discrimination Is Alive And Well In America

eom

[ExclamationPoint]

18. And to think....

Hicks who find oil reserves or inherit money are billionares amd scholars get 8$ an hour. Wonderful.

[Nobody]

22. Ex IT computer techie with certifications up the assterisk

And it was getting those certifications that cost me my job. Company was required to have a certain number of MCSEs on staff or lose its Microsoft Solution Provider status. To make sure enough of us were certified, there was a policy in place to pay for our certs and give us a modest raise when we passed a major hurdle.

I took them up on it and look where it got me.

I'm making far less now at my permatemp* job. As far as I can tell, that's what companies are doing these days. They only hire temps and then don't bring them on full time.

(beginning rant now)

And then you tell your story and some sanctimonious clod tells you that you should go back to school (for what? what if I can't afford to?) and that what you're doing now isn't worth paying a living wage for (and some oaf in the White House who ran three companies into the ground is worth the billions those companies paid him. At least I can do my job competently.) The contempt some people have for the working poor makes my blood boil. At least that person making 8 dollars an hour is doing something, trying the best they can on what little they are suffered to have.

(/rant)

footnote
---
Permatemp* - Having been temping with the same company for over a year with no change in status.

[Sirveri]

31. at least you have two degrees. I dropped out of college.

Had good times during the Clinton era, then in 2/02 lost my job and have basically been screwed as far as employment goes. Managed to be employed for a total of 9 months since then though, doing shitty jobs that paid 10k less a year than I was previously making.

[seekinguniqueness]

48. 55 Months...?

Ever think about moving?

[Forkboy]

49. how can someone move if they have no money?

If you're really seeking uniqueness try not spouting the same tired line every repub spouts.

[TwentyFive]

16. You must live in a red state

Lack of unions depress wages for all. Even business owners have to charge less for goods & services.

[jwirr]

33. $8/Hr. is working poor in most of the country.

[4_TN_TITANS]

43. Hang in there.....

I was able to score a whopping $10.00/hr. with my four year degree!

[kineneb]

53. With you at $10/hr

in California, for two people (Hubby is has serious health problems), qualifies us for MediCal and energy discounts. Can't get health insurance for insulin-dep. diabetic. Working poor - friends bought our groceries for Christmas dinner...we couldn't pay utility bills and buy food, too. Hubby skipping pills for several days to make it to Jan. Insane State "share-of-cost" costs us $513/mo for medical services, before taxes.

Given up on American dream, and almost have MA (short the thesis).

[BiggJawn]

6. "Less varied meals" means more fat and starch...

So these poor wind up looking like "Before" pictures for Atkins. Then people say "Why, LOOK at 'em! they're SLOBS! They just lay around and EAT all day!"

Some times you're forced to make unhealthy choices, Heat Bill, or Veggies?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. And they end up with diseases like diabetes

because their diet consists of white flour and sugar. When Ramen Noodles are 10/$1 and broccoli is $3/lb and you have a family to feed, guess which one goes farther. Unfortunately, one is full of sodium and preservatives which make anyone that's insulin-sensitive blow up and gain weight.

I have seen that sentiment on DU about fat poor people, and it makes my blood boil.

[Ms_Mary]

10. And the kids, the kids suffer for it even more. Childhood obesity,

juvenile diabetes, high blood pressure in children... Not to mention, that when you eat crap foods, you don't have the same ability to concentrate. For kids who have undiagnosed food allergies, it's a nightmare. They can get free food at school, but the school food is just as unhealthy. It's a serious crisis and we WILL be paying for it in a lot of days.

[BiggJawn]

28. And I'm the poster child.

In 1980, I weighed about 230 pounds, which on a large 6' 4" frame, looked pretty good.

Then Ronaldus Rex was installed in the Oval Orfice, and by the time Bubba started turning things around and I could afford to re-aquaint myself with fresh produce, I had put on almost 100 pounds.I probably got to around 350 pounds, because by the time people started commenting on how I'd lost weight, I was still over 300. Then I was diagnosed with Diabetes.

And it don't come off as easilly as it goes on, I'll guarrantee you that.

I can afford to eat better for the present, but if the BFEE keeps jerking with the economy like they are, soon enough I'll be back on beans and cheap "Ground Beef"...

[Ladyhawk]

32. I already *have* diabetes and can't afford too much fresh produce.

The Death Clock told me I'd be dying in my mid-fifties.

It's hard to get healthy when you're on disability. :(

[hraka]

56. Yeah, like USDA hand outs

Processed cheese, rice, canned veges (with high sodium content), peanut butter, white bread. I'm lucky, if it ever comes to that again (been there, don't want to go there again), the food banks in my area are pretty well stocked with healthy foods. But what about the people who aren't so lucky to live in a progressive city-county?

I'd love to see our "elected" officials live for 6 months on what they consider the "healthy food" of donation centers. Add to that the lack of medication, depression caused by lack of work and the need to ask for charity, and the fact that the end is no where in sight. I've been there and it's degrading and demoralizing. Then to hear our government is spending $2 million to see about getting back the presidential yacht. http://yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_15692.shtml http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004/11/presidential-yacht.html

'nuf said

[area51]

8. kick. (n/t)

[stevebreeze]

12. Average hourly wage in 1972 ($9.02) today ($8.30)

This is in inflation adjusted 1982 dollars. Lets see who was president then? Nixon. The conservatives have been in charge more or less continuously since then. If you can name one successful progressive policy implemented since then I will be amazed. The only effort even tried was Clinton on health care.

[phylny]

20. My father and I had a discussion before the election, and he brought up

Nixon.

My dad is a staunch Democrat, but would register Republican in his area of Nassau County because "you had to" at the time (sixties, seventies). We were talking about past presidents, and he said, "I liked Nixon. Your mother hated him, but I liked him."

Perhaps this is why? We never had much money then, but we certainly had enough good food to eat, clothes (not a lot, but clothes nonetheless), transportation (usually beat up, used cars) and went on vacation once a year.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

15. kick

[Eric J in MN]

17. But "Money Magazine" is just a liberal rag (joke) nt

nt

[L.A.dweller]

38. I'm trying to e-mail this article but it won't let me

This "liberal rag" is trying to stop this bush-hurting
artcile from getting out.

[masjenkins]

23. I run an urban farm in nyc

We grow food specifically for food banks. I was so heart broken to get calls from three of them in November asking if we had anything for them. Fortunately we had a bit of things still growing. Things are REALLY bad out there.

[Megahurtz]

24. OMG!!! It's worse than I thought!

all this and does Der Fuhrer care?

Where's all that "compassion" ???

Oh yeah I forgot, compassion for the wealthy. :(

[agincourt]

25. funny how 4 years,

can make a bad situation that much worse. This is the neo-cons legacy. Nice to know that shit like Coulter, Rush-cyst, and O'Horly with his electric vibrater are making money hand over fist.

[Voltaire99]

26. Abandoned by the corporate Democratic Party

Let us have no hand-wringing about the poor; the time for that was before nominating Kerry, a darling of the corporations who are directly responsible for creating this huge class of working miserables.

Or much further back, before signing on to Saint Clinton's disastrous welfare "reform."

Indeed the time for conscience was before the rise of the Democratic Leadership Council in the 80s, of which Kerry and Clinton are leading exponents, and which has drained the party of its soul.

Democrats can't hope to capture much of anything again until the party is wrenched from the hands of the anemic DLC--the very heart of Liebermanism--and put back on the course of FDR-style economic populism.

Until that day, Dem party-hearties bleeding for the poor sound rather unbelievable and not a little bizarre. Not just to me, but to the real constituency--the working poor--whom the party has abandoned and who won't be stirred by trite messages such as "Bush sucks!" or "Take back our country!" into voting for the skin and bones of GOP lite.

[jwirr]

34. While I agree with you about some of this, I am wondering what

alternatives you are offering? I am one of the working poor. Yet until I am offered a guaranteed winning alternative party (from state to fed seats) I will have to stick with the Dems since repugs are no hope at all. I have been working in politics for 45 years and I have yet to see a 3rd party that offered me any hope of rescue, including Jesse V. who was governor of my state and did nothing but make it worse for us here on the bottom.

[blueraven95]

39. I don't think this is the alternative you are looking for...but..

I work for a progessive org in Maryland that is currently working on passing a living wage law for MD. It would apply to state contract employees and raise the minimum wage for them to above the poverty line. Its still not enough...but it is a start...and I believe that the org will continue to fight to raise minimum wage for everyone. Its pretty exciting right now, because we already passed the bill and, although the govenor vetoed it, it looks like we will override it in January (or maybe even sooner!) So, there are organizations working on changing policies that are slanted to hurt the poor...and I am sure there is one in your state. And if there isn't, maybe it is time to start one.

[hraka]

60. Does raising the min wage really hurt small business?

That is the biggest argument I hear for not raising the fed minimum wage. My state (Oregon) has a state minimum wage that is considerably higher than the fed but it's like pulling teeth everytime someone even suggests raising it. Opponents point to the feds as an excuse to keep it down. I work for a company that can afford to pay living wages even at the lower end, but they have cut other expenses (benefits) and "consolidated" regions to save capital.

[bleedingheart]

36. The "centrist" dems helped create this problem

and I agree that the party needs to listen to the workers not the corporate donors..

[intheflow]

27. But the economy's booming!

:grr:
The market numbers that seem to support this are invented and inflated just like they were during the robber baron era. Our economy is great at creating wealth but not at distributing wealth.

[NAO]

30. CNN may report poverty stats, but they will not tie it to * policy

They will not 'connect the dots' and show how *'s domestic policies are causing millions to fall into poverty.

I would not be too surprised to see Falwell or Dobson pontificating on how poverty is a result of a sinful lifestyle, and wealth is God's reward to the righteous. They really do believe that, you know.

[outrage]

47. Poor? It's your own damn fault according to fundies

The Heritage foundation has this great study "prooving" that poverty simply does not exist here in the USA, because most poor folk have TVs, dishwashers, and own their own homes. Understanding Poverty in America
And if you ask any right wing-nut, poor people are poor because they make immoral choices. It's amazing to me how the Good ol' Boy Party can twist reality to fit their extremist views.

[Nobody]

50. It'sall part of the contempt for the poor that is prevalent

Nick Coleman is a local reporter who did a column on homeless people. The responses he got showed such hostility that one guy actually came out and said that homeless people should all drop dead.

So then he did another column about the responses he got where he quoted that reponse and other much less extreme ones where the homeless were just considered blights on the community.

Since then there have been letters to the ed decrying all the attention shown to the plight of the homeless, including one guy that said that homeless people were homeless because of a series of bad decisions.

Some people are so devoid of charity that they'd charge their own grandmothers more rent than their social security checks will cover, and then tell granny its her own damn fault that she can't afford to pay.

[kineneb]

54. Which proves they are not Christians

After all Jesus says the rich can't get into heaven and to follow his teaching one should give up all their worldly possessions. Apparently the fundies don't read the Synoptic Gospels.


Seems Buddha advised the same thing about wealth. He also said the purpose of life is to recognize and mitigate suffering.

[solinvictus]

57. Lack of a father/single parent homes...

They did hit the nail on the head with that one. There are simply too many young women and girls having children without any support from the fathers. But, at the same time, these people would deny her sex ed to prevent it or the choice to an abortion all the while advocating cuts in state aid.

[4_TN_TITANS]

44. That 51% that voted for *

included many of the so-called working poor, especially in the Southern states. You can't help those who won't make decisions to help themselves.

[catmandu57]

46. Man, I don't know

we certainly don't have anyone speaking for us, and next year is going to be a real bitch for all of us have nots. we're going to get stomped on right out of the gate, in the past there was at least a token number of dems that could stand up and at least try to throw a shoulder block.

Now, well now they can just cram whatever te hell they want right down our throats, and we better like it or else they'll give us something to cry about.

Bankruptcy, which used to be an option, is going bye bye very soon, what social programs that are left will be cut to the bone, I'm hoping I can hold out.

Like many, I've got a college degree in a box somewhere, back during st. ronnie's turn at fucking us going to school was the only way to stay alive. Graduating during poppie's resession and given my age, appearance, and baggage, my degree was expensive toilet paper.

The only thing I've got going now is location, I can survive here, it may not be easy, but, it is doable.

edit: spelling

[hraka]

51. Add 1000's more to the welfare line...

AOL, HP, Cingular (post merger) all announced layoffs in Oct-Nov, with AOL and Cingular totalling over 7500 employees. (HP won't say how many, but they plan to spend $200 million over the next six months on staff reductions.) These are the companies with the largest cuts. There are dozens more that have announced cuts in their workforces, plus even more companies that have cut their benefits or are making employees paymore to keep their same level of benefits (my employer included).
And America is a safer place.