Want to hear me post about some good news, for a change? :)

[Political Heretic]

Source: Democracy Now!

Admin to Adopt Second Measure of US Poverty Rate
The Obama administration has announced plans to adopt an alternative formula for measuring poverty in the United States. Under the new approach, expenses including housing, utilities, childcare and medical treatment will also be factored in. The new standard won’t replace the current federal formula, which is based on the cost of food and family income.

Now, what the government will do this this second measure, is unclear. If history is any indicator, the answer is: not much, and nothing that would in anyway re-prioritize meeting the wants and whims of the financial elite in any way.

And of course, its not going to replace the "official" calculation which is universally agreed to be wildly inaccurate and arcane, but DOES deliver a lower poverty number than any accurate calculation would (and by "lower" we mean still highest in the world among our industrialized peer nations.)

But, no previous administration has taken this step. And if the government is tracking poverty using a far more accurate calculation, the resulting data might just shock some people into action...

[county worker]

1. I heard on NPR that the government will still use the old method to determine who is eligible for

Medicaid.

[Political Heretic]

2. I didn't say it was "Great" news. :)~

[county worker]

7. I understand and was not debating you. I thought you asked if the goverment was still

going to use the old method or not.

[Political Heretic]

9. No, I know that they are not. No politicians want a double digit rise in poverty on their watch...

...and that's what it would be if we ever got serious about calculating poverty in responsible ways.

But, its still nice that buried beneath the surface there may be an actual government indicator that's more responsible. Sort of like the U6 unemployment number. Hardly anyone reports it, but its still there.

[dflprincess]

5. I don't imagine they'll use it to determine who is eligible for premium subsidies

if the insurance scam becomes law either.

[Cerridwen]

3. At the risk of detracting from what I agree is good news,

if we could now get them to adjust the Federal poverty income guidelines and calculations used to determine social safety net access, we'd really be getting somewhere.

Perhaps this is a baby step toward that? Yeah, I'm still hopeful. Some cynic I am. *snort*

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. A journey starts with one small step.

I hope hope hope this is that step.

[EFerrari]

6. That is good news. Thanks.

[DevonRex]

8. Thank you for posting this. I had read something about it earlier

today but couldn't remember where.