50% of us are poor and low income; what are we doing about this?

Reference; http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d2...e America/id-bad007531a194408a6d60b504b92959c

Census shows 1 in 2 people are poor or low-income

"Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans — nearly 1 in 2 — have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income.

The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as unemployment stays high and the government's safety net frays. The new numbers follow years of stagnating wages for the middle class that have hurt millions of workers and families."

What might be the reasons why 1 in 2 people are considered poor or low-income?

Is it the recession?

Is it inflation?

Is it unemployment?

Is it low wages because of lower job skills?

Is it a lack of education and job skills?

Is it a geographic issue?

Is it an aging issue?

Is it a population issue?

Other ideas??

"There's no doubt the recession has thrown a lot of people out of work and incomes have fallen," Rector said. "As we come out of recession, it will be important that these programs promote self-sufficiency rather than dependence and encourage people to look for work."

Depending on the reasons listed above, can all of them be overcome by our citizenry in order to promote self-sufficiency rather than dependence on others and government? IMO I don't believe most of us can do this...

Comments??

 

You can't fix demographics. Japan's unemployment is 4% and that place is miserable. At least the older generation over there saved money.

 

First, find the root cause:

 

too much economic freedom? interesting choice.

 

We are free to trade directly with the Asian markets?

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did anyone say we were?

 

What are WE doing about this? Well WE are trying to make sure that Presidebt Obonehead is a one term president.

 

Then, we are not blessed with "too much economic freedom".

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Why does everyone's solution always fall towards protectionism?

I thought the general prevailing wisdom is:

Protectionism = Bad

 

I don't know about that. China is protecting their markets, and they seem to be doing better than us.

Remember, before the income tax scam, tariffs funded our federal gov't.


"History

Responding to the urgent need for revenue following the American Revolutionary War, the First United States Congress passed and President George Washington signed the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789, which authorized the collection of duties on imported goods. Four weeks later, on July 31, the fifth act of Congress established the United States Customs Service and its ports of entry.

As part of this new government agency, a new role was created for government officials which was known as "Customs Collector." In this role, one person would have responsibility to supervise the collection of custom duties in a particular city or region.

For over 100 years after its birth, the U.S. Customs Service was the primary source of funds for the entire government, and paid for the nation's early growth and infrastructure. Purchases include the Louisiana and Oregon territories; Florida and Alaska; funding the National Road and the Transcontinental Railroad; building many of the nation's lighthouses; the U.S. Military and Naval academies, and Washington D.C."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Customs_Service
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No one is poor or low income, you're all just greedy consumers. Wait until 16 trillion chickens come home to roost.

We pampered, bombed, regulated, and free trade agreement'd ourselves out of business.

 

Our "poor" gather by the thousands to buy $200.00 tennis shoes.

 

Good points everyone. Our version of poor is rich in the rest of the world.

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943

Posted Jul 26, 2010



These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs and captions are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.



The Faro Caudill family eating dinner in their dugout. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress #



A Fourth of July celebration. St. Helena Island, South Carolina, 1939. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress #

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/
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Yes, I know but that isn't possible in today's world.

The US Economy is 1 trillion a year richer because of globalization, but there are costs and there are losers. The problem is the losers in America, are incapable of doing anything but losing because they are culturally spoiled on the idea that even the most unskilled simpleton should be able to live a middle class lifestyle, with all the perks and privileges thereof while flipping burgers at McDonald's.

 

I don't accept that we have to stay on this path.

Who is richer?


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Raise your children properly?

Most of the poor are so because of lack of ambition, not opportunity.

And our poor are kings in other countries. People should visit the third world sometime.

"I don't know where my next tv dinner is coming from... I guess I'll just play xbox."

 

It's a case of shopping madness for hundreds who want the newest Air Jordan shoes.

December 23, 2011 - 02:32 pm

A shoe store damaged at a Prince George's County mall. (Photo courtesy JSmoov024)

More on this story

Last-minute shoppers get set for final gift rush


At 5 a.m., police were called to the St. Charles Town Center after hundreds of people forced their way inside three of the mall's entrances to be among the first in line to purchase the new Air Jordan Retro Concord tennis shoes, scheduled to go on sale at 6 a.m.

Once inside, several fights broke out as customers jockeyed for position in line. No customers were injured but an officer injured his hand while making an arrest.

In all, four juveniles and two adults were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault.

Earlier this morning, hundreds of people were turned away from the Westfield Annapolis Mall after customers gathered to buy Air Jordans.

Security called local police after a crowd of about 200 wouldn’t return to their vehicles. The crowd ballooned to about 500 by 5:30 a.m.

Mall management decided that the stores pre-selling the sneakers had to cancel the event. The crowd left without incident.

Nike aficionados lined up in the very early morning hours at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Fair Oaks Mall and Westfield Annapolis Mall to get their hands on a pair of Jordans.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/12/air-jordan-madness-hits-local-malls-70686.html


Now they could have bought American made Nike tennis shoes for a 1/4 the price and put Americans to work.

 

If you had said that 3-4 years ago, I would fully agree with you, but that's not the case today. There are hundreds of thousands of highly educated, skilled people out there wanting a job that can't get one. I blame much of it on Free Trade. We have lost more than a million jobs to Free Trade.

 

U.S. trade officials are “very disappointed” in China’s decision to impose new import tariffs on several U.S. auto manufacturers, including Ford, GM and Chrysler, a spokesperson for the U.S. Trade representative wrote in a statement on Wednesday. The pointed response comes after the Chinese trade ministry announced the new duties, adding a new trade dispute to the growing friction between the world’s largest economy and the world’s most populous nation.

China accuses the U.S. of unfairly subsidizing it own automakers, as well as foreign companies with U.S.-based production facilities — a policy that inflicts “substantial damage to China’s domestic industry,” according to a trade ministry statement cited by Reuters.

“We are very disappointed in this action by China,” U.S.T.R spokesperson Carol J. Guthrie said in a statement. “We will be discussing this latest action with both our stakeholders and Congress to determine the best course going forward.”



Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2011/12/1...chinas-new-auto-import-tariffs/#ixzz1hOXBgY92

 

This is your entire summation why 1 in 2 in the USA are poor or low-income?

If you believe this, how about a couple of thoughts how China has caused this?

 

What exactly do you believe 'Presidebt Obonehead' has done, or not done, to allow 1 in 2 to be poor or low-income?

 

Maybe because average people cannot think through the scenario of having increased protectionism? Most Americans demand instant gratification and have little interest in the complexity of things...

 

Do you have, or have you read some data which shows that free trade agreements are negative or positive to the US economy?

Regulation can be a factor; do you have 2 or 3 examples we can talk about?

How can we turn-around the pampering or government dependence?

 

I'm sorry, but I posted more than you did.

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