Update on Congressional Efforts to Combat Poverty (3/24/08)

[LiveLiberally]

A very informative article on Congresswoman Barbara Lee's recent efforts to introduce legislation to combat poverty was posted today on The Nation's website. Lee compliments John Edwards for his leadership on this issue and says both remaining contenders must do more to push an anti-poverty agenda.

Beginning of article:

Recently, Congresswoman Barbara Lee said to me, "This is a moment when people are suffering. They are one paycheck -- if they have a paycheck -- away from poverty."

That's why Lee has maintained a laser-like focus on addressing poverty. One in eight Americans -- approximately 37 million people -- now live below the federal poverty line of $19,971 for a family of four. (A woefully inadequate measure that is 42 years old and fails to account for basic necessities.) That's 4.9 million more people than in 2000 and the poverty rate for children is the highest of all age groups. Nearly 60 million people live just above the poverty line. Using the British standard of measurement, approximately 30 percent of Americans -- and 40 percent of American children -- are living in poverty.

In January, Lee introduced House Concurrent Resolution 198 to get her colleagues on record saying that the US should set a national goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years. The resolution stated that "policy initiatives addressing poverty have not kept pace with the needs of millions of Americans" and that "the United States has a moral responsibility to meet the needs of those persons, groups, and communities that are impoverished, disadvantaged or otherwise in poverty."

Rest of article: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut/?pid=301907

[midnight]

1. This is the most important issue facing America.....I love it that

Congresswomen Lee is giving this issue a voice...

[waiting for hope]

2. She took the Food Stamp Challenge -

http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/

All of these congress persons should be commended for doing this. I first heard about on NPR and thought, there is no way anyone can live off of 21.00 a week, 3.00 a day, $1.00 per meal. It was gut wrenching to realize how many of Americans do this, daily. And for children, it's a national shame - the nutrient value in what you can get for 21.00 a week is almost nothing. Thanks for posting this - I just wish GD would be more receptive to posts like these.

[bobbolink]

3. " I just wish GD would be more receptive to posts like these."

Poverty just isn't "sexy" enough.

It's not the "cool" issue for "progressives".

I was in a liberal Christian bookstore last week, and noticed a dearth of poverty books on their "Social Issues" shelves.

I asked about that, and they said they've had many discussions about why those books don't sell, and don't know what to do about it.

It's not important at DU, it's not important in churches, it's not important at Dem groups. It wasn't even important at the One Corps group I went to!!

So, many of us will just die, and that will be fine with most people.

:shrug:

[waiting for hope]

4. So many of us are one to two

paychecks away from living in poverty. I know my family would be seriously screwed if one of us lost our jobs, I'm in one right now I do not particularly enjoy because I can't afford to look, I can't afford to take that chance. There will be an uprising, when more and more are living on a Food Stamp program that only pays 21.00 a week.

[Two Americas]

5. yes

This is *why* people do not want to talk about this subject, ironically. They are afraid to admit how close they are to the edge themselves.

[bobbolink]

6. It's part of it. It's not the whole story. There's the "sexy" factor.

When all the cool people are protesting the war, and there aren't any "cool" people being activists for poverty, most want to be in the cool kids group.

It's much more fun to put on a silly hat and meet your friends at the protest.

[Two Americas]

7. ah good point

I see what you are saying.




Now, where *did* I put my pink tiara, anyway?

[bobbolink]

8. If I'd comb my hair right, it wouldn't show.

:rofl:

I didn't guess you for the pink tiara type..... more like the gorilla type... :hi:

[glowing]

9. To add to that, poor people can't afford to travel to protest in Washington

when they can barely afford the bus fair accross town.

[midnight]

10. The month that Katrina destroyed NOLA I was in Phoenix. I

spent an evening working at a mission that serves meals, 3 times a day, seven days a week. They bring in donations from many resturants, and grocery stores. I was able to see people just like me slip into this chaos. I had no idea that the poverty level in America was so high.