Poverty in the US

[oilfanforever]

Don't riducule me, just watching oprah on poverty in the US, pretty alarming stuff.
I'm sure we all know there's the poor and what not, but to the extent that people live in poverty, honestly is sickening, and furthermore the shere numbers of people. Makes yah wonder!

[Cube Inmate]

<snicker>...watching Oprah...

:P

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

It is a sad day when Oprah has to remind people that poverty does exist.

Although you have to remember she does sensationalize issues a great deal in order to achieve ratings. I call her the Geraldo Rivera of daytime.... and she gives away cars.

[La Flames Fan]

The headline in USA Today today was "1-400 Americans homeless" that's shocking.

[oilfanforever]

Its true that she does sensationalize topics, however the contect of the show is more of a cnn 360, with the likes of anderson cooper, and maria schriver doing pieces for the show, i just find it alarming to to see towns outside major centers that resemble villiages in 3rd world countries. Also noted that there are more people living on poverty in the US then there are in Canada.

[StoneCole]

Originally posted by oilfanforever@Oct 12 2005, 09:47 PM
i just find it alarming to to see towns outside major centers that resemble villiages in 3rd world countries.

I find it alarming that there are villages in third world countries that resemble villages in third world countries.

[Cube Inmate]

I'd like to see an American city/town anywhere that has sewage flowing through the streets and houses made of aluminum sheeting. Even the worst slums are better than many 3rd-world shanty towns, aren't they?

There's homelessness, sure, but I think a comparison to 3rd-world conditions is unwarranted...although I'm open to evidence that it's realistic.

[Canada 02]

Originally posted by La Flames Fan@Oct 12 2005, 03:47 PM
The headline in USA Today today was "1-400 Americans homeless" that's shocking.

Is that a lot? In a city of 8 million (say NYC) that would be 20000 homeless. An idealist might think that 1 is too many, but 750000 homeless in all of the United States doesn't sound that high

Using those numbers, that would be equivalent to 2500 homeless in Calgary - I don't know what the real numbers are for Calgary, but if you've ever been down to the Mustard Seed or the foodbank, I wouldn't be surprised if 2500 is on the low side for Calgary.

[oly74]

LOL nice avatar Canada_02

[oilfanforever]

The numbers, aren't nessasarily geared towards homelesness, yet towards living below the poverty line. There's people with addresses, that live in trailers, that rival, those chanty town establisments people live in, in 3rd world countries. For example, no electricty, no running water..... ect. Pretty astonishing considering the wealth of the nation. I'm a liberal, and agree that there are people that have it worse elsewhere, but not by much... and that's the pathetic part.

[troutman]

Isn't Oprah the wealthiest celebrity in the world? She could reduce poverty in the US all on her own.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by troutman@Oct 12 2005, 03:46 PM
Isn't Oprah the wealthiest celebrity in the world? She could reduce poverty in the US all on her own.

So could the Pope . . . . he's sitting on billions.

Cowperson

[Patek23]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Oct 12 2005, 05:17 PM
So could the Pope . . . . he's sitting on billions.

Cowperson

haha, Cowperson and his hate for Popes, it's always good reading.

[CaramonLS]

Originally posted by La Flames Fan@Oct 12 2005, 09:47 PM
The headline in USA Today today was "1-400 Americans homeless" that's shocking.

The worst part is, so many of those people are "working homeless" as well, who have jobs, but don't make enough to afford a place to live.

That is so sad.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally posted by oilfanforever@Oct 12 2005, 10:25 PM
Don't riducule me, just watching oprah on poverty in the US, pretty alarming stuff.
I'm sure we all know there's the poor and what not, but to the extent that people live in poverty, honestly is sickening, and furthermore the shere numbers of people. Makes yah wonder!

Really?

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

— Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio.

— Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

— Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

— The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

— Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.

— Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions.

— Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

— Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.

Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family isn't hungry, and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, activists and politicians.

More info here and here.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty@Oct 13 2005, 06:26 PM
Really?

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

— Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio.

— Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

— Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

— The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

— Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.

— Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions.

— Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

— Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.

Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family isn't hungry, and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, activists and politicians.

More info here and here.

Why did I see this coming?


"he is able to get medical care" - isn't this the number one cause of bankrupcies in the US?

The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

Erm, yea, living space. I live in Tokyo, and would live in less space than most people in the states. Why? Room. Lots of people, no where to go but up. It's bunk to use that yardstick as it means nothing. People who live in these European small places have health care and food on the table, even if they do it in smaller spaces.

Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
what kind of car? One that works? Lots of people that are poor live in rural areas where cars are a necissity. I think if you address the issue of urban poor, you'll find a skew in those numbers.

Anyway, i've gotta go home to the squalor of my smallish place in Tokyo. Interesting skewed piece of work again, FOD.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty@Oct 13 2005, 09:26 AM
Really?

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

— Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio.

— Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

— Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

— The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

— Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.

— Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions.

— Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

— Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.

Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family isn't hungry, and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, activists and politicians.

More info here and here.

Holy fudge! Do you have any credability left in these arguments? Quoting the Heritage Foundation for information on anything? Give me a break. These are the same clowns who back the PNAC and provide cover for Bush and Fox News. Brutal. Absolutely brutal!!!

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Flaming Homer@Oct 12 2005, 06:36 PM
haha, Cowperson and his hate for Popes, it's always good reading.

Cheese hates Popes. I don't hate Popes.

I just find their message mixed . . . . calling on governments - and hence ordinary citizens - to solve poverty while they sit on billions in assets, both real estate and liquid, protecting their power.

The Catholic Church does good deeds around the world - and that should be acknowledged - but sometimes those deeds have a price tag of their own and there is the other observation that they could go a lot further than they do if they really wanted to set an example.

Cowperson

[Lanny_MacDonald]

— Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio.



— Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.




— Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

DVD player, $29 @ Best Buy. Big ticket item.



— Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher

[Cowperson]

I've got pictures like that in my own house!!!

Cowperson