How Poor Are America's Poor?

[Indy Coug]

To get the discussion rolling, start with reading this article.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/01/news/economy/poor-income/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3

[Moliere]

To get the discussion rolling, start with reading this article.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/01/news....htm?hpt=hp_t3

Poverty is relative, which is why the truly poor of the world would be appalled at the complaints of the poor in the US. I'm not saying either is right or wrong, just that poor is relative.

Now it's time for the Dems to push their eschatological view that the poor are getting poorer.

[Uncle Ted]

I wouldn't consider myself poor (nor would the author of this article) but I didn't own a flat screen TV until last week. My big *ss tube TV that I have had for the last 12 years wouldn't fit into the cabinet space of my new house. I had to break down and buy a flat screen. I guess I am joining the ranks of the poor.

[Moliere]

I wouldn't consider myself poor (nor would the author of this article) but I didn't own a flat screen TV until last week. My big *ss tube TV that I have had for the last 12 years wouldn't fit into the cabinet space of my new house. I had to break down and buy a flat screen. I guess I am joining the ranks of the poor.

I own 2 TVs. One is a 19inch tube TV MJ and I bought the week after our marriage. The other is a 39 incher flat screen we got 6 year ago. I think it's time to upgrade so I don't fall into the "poor and downtrodden" class.

[ERCougar]

Most striking to me:
62% of lowest income bracket own between 2 and 4 televisions and 33% own either LCD or plasma TV.
while
52% do not own a computer.

There's a decision-making issue here.

[wuapinmon]

That's a very poor metric for determining poverty. I have seen abject shock-you poverty in my lifetime, and even in the worst slums in this hemisphere, people have fancy televisions. The poor are often poorer because they make uneducated decisions about how to spend their money.

Make no mistake, there is awful awful poverty here in America. The Gulf States have areas that would make many people uncomfortable. Were it not for the Food Stamp program, America would have massive poverty and malnutrition.

[Indy Coug]

Most striking to me:
62% of lowest income bracket own between 2 and 4 televisions and 33% own either LCD or plasma TV.
while
52% do not own a computer.

There's a decision-making issue here.

That, by far, was the biggest item that stood out for me in that article.

[ERCougar]

That's a very poor metric for determining poverty. I have seen abject shock-you poverty in my lifetime, and even in the worst slums in this hemisphere, people have fancy televisions. The poor are often poorer because they make uneducated decisions about how to spend their money.

Make no mistake, there is awful awful poverty here in America. The Gulf States have areas that would make many people uncomfortable. Were it not for the Food Stamp program, America would have massive poverty and malnutrition.

Well, that's sort of a silly statement. Even the biggest welfare opponents support food stamps.

There's an interesting podcast somewhere (I think freakonomics?) that basically states that happiness has more to do with comparison with neighbors than any absolute measures. I think poverty is similar.

[Uncle Ted]

That's a very poor metric for determining poverty. I have seen abject shock-you poverty in my lifetime, and even in the worst slums in this hemisphere, people have fancy televisions. The poor are often poorer because they make uneducated decisions about how to spend their money.

Make no mistake, there is awful awful poverty here in America. The Gulf States have areas that would make many people uncomfortable. Were it not for the Food Stamp program, America would have massive poverty and malnutrition.

I agree with the above. Poor people make terrible (or "poor") decisions about how to spend their money.

A lot people that have a high net worth don't live like they are rich. They work hard, buy good quality but not big expensive homes, take cheap and infrequent vacations, and drink inexpensive beer like a lot of average Americans. The authors of the book The Millionaire Next Door interviewed a lot of these people. One interesting part of the book is the authors offer a bunch of money to high net worth individuals good money come to a nice hotel to be interviewed for this book. They had the hotel cater the event with a lots of expensive food and alcohol. The beer and the less expensive foods were consumed. Most of the very expensive food and alcohol was left untouched.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Thomas-Stanley/dp/0671015206"]Amazon.com: The Millionaire Next Door (9780671015206): Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21LiILnlkNL.@@AMEPARAM@@21LiILnlkNL[/ame]

[wuapinmon]

Well, that's sort of a silly statement. Even the biggest welfare opponents support food stamps.

I was attempting to denote that the absence of such programs in many countries is a root cause of many of Sally Struthers's many tears.

[Paperback Writer]

There's a decision-making issue here.

I think a big "elephant" in the room that directly effects poverty is the decision to have children.

[SeattleUte]

To get the discussion rolling, start with reading this article.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/01/news....htm?hpt=hp_t3

I am not going to listen to someone who laughs at a heart transplant patient about what is or is not poor.

[Indy Coug]

I am not going to listen to someone who laughs at a heart transplant patient about what is or is not poor.

[Omaha 680]

I think a big "elephant" in the room that directly effects poverty is the decision to have children.

If you wait to have children until you are married and you graduate from high school, you have a very high probability of not being poor in the USA. Poor in the context of this staement means needing significant government assistance for a large portion of your life.

[Paperback Writer]

If you wait to have children until you are married and you graduate from high school, you have a very high probability of not being poor in the USA. Poor in the context of this staement means needing significant government assistance for a large portion of your life.

Not to mention if you wait to have children until you are married and graduate from college, you have a very high probability of being able to afford child care, transportation, and have a job that provides insurance.