America's "poor people" are the richest poor people in the entire world. Where else can they be given free luxury housing, free utilities, free food, free health care, free chauffeured transportation, etc etc etc, and not be expected to do anything in return for it? They can remain idle for generations and continue to receive a life of luxury for free.
Think so? Volunteer for a govt subsidized life. It ain't so great.
6
So the majority of people who escaped poverty (1.4MM) did so without having a job? Someone please let me know if I'm understanding the chart correctly.
Lore Ipsum (a downstream commenter) sets the right tone for understanding this article.
He urges readers to think of Churchill's words after the victory at El Alamein:
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
This article is not triumphalism. We have not entered the land of milk and honey.
But the data shows some progress. After a long dark period without much progress.
So this may well be the "end of the beginning"
He urges readers to think of Churchill's words after the victory at El Alamein:
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
This article is not triumphalism. We have not entered the land of milk and honey.
But the data shows some progress. After a long dark period without much progress.
So this may well be the "end of the beginning"
And GDP growth could have been so much better had the nation's economy not suffered under the most anti-business administration in our history. Obama's legacy is one of constantly demeaning America's businesses; and levying ever greater taxes and regulations on those who create jobs. Under Obama millions of jobs have left America's shores, corporations hold trillions in foreign bank accounts, and investment here is paltry.
Oh - and Hillary promises more of the same - except worse! It's sad - truly sad - that the US has averaged about 1.2% annual growth under Obama. That kind of growth does not allow for a "tightening" of the job market and a subsequent wage inflation. The complaint of excessive corporate profits is belied by the fact that S&P500 corporations have now gone through seven quarters of declining profits. The US now sits in a precarious economy sustained by an absurd Fed policy of dangerously low interest rates and a budget busting president taking the US debt to twenty trillion dollars; more than all previous administrations combined.
Oh - and Hillary promises more of the same - except worse! It's sad - truly sad - that the US has averaged about 1.2% annual growth under Obama. That kind of growth does not allow for a "tightening" of the job market and a subsequent wage inflation. The complaint of excessive corporate profits is belied by the fact that S&P500 corporations have now gone through seven quarters of declining profits. The US now sits in a precarious economy sustained by an absurd Fed policy of dangerously low interest rates and a budget busting president taking the US debt to twenty trillion dollars; more than all previous administrations combined.
CEOs don't create jobs just because they have more after tax income. They only create jobs when demand exceeds their maximum output. When their demand exceeds their maximum output, it is pretty easy for them to get investment cash.
To grow the economy, you need more demand. To get more demand, a large percentage of the population needs higher incomes, so they can afford to buy more stuff. Having the 1% buy a few more yachts is not nearly enough. Only broad based income growth can make the economy grow. Supply side economics is a lie told by people that know better, because that is what the billionaires pay them to do, cut their taxes.
Growing the demand leads to shortages and higher prices, bringing up investment and supply. Growing supply when people can't pay for it, leads to hours which lead to lay offs. (See the fossil fuel industry, right now.)
Stop trickling down my back and telling me it's raining. This global propaganda campaign had worn out its welcome.
To grow the economy, you need more demand. To get more demand, a large percentage of the population needs higher incomes, so they can afford to buy more stuff. Having the 1% buy a few more yachts is not nearly enough. Only broad based income growth can make the economy grow. Supply side economics is a lie told by people that know better, because that is what the billionaires pay them to do, cut their taxes.
Growing the demand leads to shortages and higher prices, bringing up investment and supply. Growing supply when people can't pay for it, leads to hours which lead to lay offs. (See the fossil fuel industry, right now.)
Stop trickling down my back and telling me it's raining. This global propaganda campaign had worn out its welcome.
Raising your head above the poverty line is still in poverty. Forty thousand a year for a family of 4 is a joke. Of course I have to ask, why was he and his wife having children if he didn't have a job which could support them?
More smoke & mirrors from the crooked Obama regime....
Hello,
You're being deceived.
The trick is that they are using household income, not individual income.
More and more people are squeezing into each home. Middle-aged children still live with mom and dad, the poor are taking renters who pay to live in an open bedroom, and so forth. With more and more workers live together in each home, of course the household income is rising.
While take-home pay continues to shrink due to payroll deductions and "benefits" for which deductions are subtracted from the worker's pay.
Just My Thoughts,
Bill Moore
You're being deceived.
The trick is that they are using household income, not individual income.
More and more people are squeezing into each home. Middle-aged children still live with mom and dad, the poor are taking renters who pay to live in an open bedroom, and so forth. With more and more workers live together in each home, of course the household income is rising.
While take-home pay continues to shrink due to payroll deductions and "benefits" for which deductions are subtracted from the worker's pay.
Just My Thoughts,
Bill Moore
So the poverty rate is lower than it was under Reagan, yet that's where Trump wants to take us back to ?
More crime, more poverty ... why on Earth does anyone want to go back to that ?
More crime, more poverty ... why on Earth does anyone want to go back to that ?
despite our malfunctioning political system!
I'd cheer but people earning a couple of dollars over the poverty level is embarrassing.
8
A poverty line of USD 34,300 for a family of four breaks down to USD 16.64 per day in termss of consumption power: Compare this fact with this perspective: https://www.academia.edu/28686601/TRUTHOUT_The_solid_wall_between_the_1_...
3
Try getting a union job in Texas, which is primarily a non union, hire/fire at will state! Although my BA is in English and my A.A.S. is in E.E.T., I worked hi tech manufacturing until laid off (like many others) in 2006. Two painful foot surgeries pushed me into disability for two long years-thank God for my parents and the short and long term disability coverage that I had paid for! I somehow made the transition to hospital maintenance, but could endure only 4 years of evening/night shift work as the ONLY mnt. man in a 99 bed hospital for ALL TRADES, including the plant! I escaped that salt mine to a lesser paying job with the same hospital corporation , only to get another cut in pay/benefits due to being contracted out to another firm working for the same hospital! This same hospital corporation made the news in a local free press due to their terminating high tenure nurses for minor infractions just to keep the nurses from retiring with full benefits! If this is how health care workers are being treated in the US, I can only begin to imagine how other workers are being treated! BTW, I can put it ALL in perspective, as my sister, a tenured professor in Canada, belongs to a strong union and the skilled trades in Canada also have access to strong unions! Corporate greed knows no boundaries here in the good ol' USA, where the CEO's keep getting richer, and the middle and lower classes keep getting poorer!
9
No one should forget there are millions of Americans who are forced into poverty by draconian federal and state laws on disability insurance. The rising tide documented here does nothing for the disabled, other than to leave them further impoverished as costs, along with wages, rise.
5
Poverty is impacted most by unskilled jobs. Many unskilled jobs that must be done domestically are filled by illegal labor which significantly depresses the labor for the jobs that remain.
5
I, just turned 60, am climbing down to poverty. First time ever. Age bias in the workplace is rampant. Bad timing for me.
14
and it doesn't help that you're a woman - my friends and i are right behind you...
The Official Poverty level of $24,300 for a family of four is by any measure and any standard a ludicrously small amount of money on which to live on and raise a family and equates to each of the 2 Adults in that 4 person Household earning a paltry $233 a week or a combined $466 a week to meet all basic needs.
$24,300 is such a low annual income for a family of 4 to survive on, that even if those supposed 3.5 Million rose above that official Poverty figure by increasing their annual income by a whopping 20%, it would still only mean they would be earning $29,100 a year which is still a very meagre income for a family of 4 to live on.
And whilst the article optimistically states that Employers are being compelled to reach deeper into untapped pools of labor, create more jobs and paying higher wages to attract workers as well as meet new minimum wage requirements, it is more a desired hope than actual reality and a quick look at the minimum wage actuals referred to in the article show only 3 states increasing minimum wages in 2015 from July 1st and at a fairly small rate.
Most of the minimum wage hikes are yet to come into effect with most gradually rising and not fully reaching the desired $15 an hour until 2022.
Even if these 3.5 Million people did rise above the Poverty line, it represents no great victory or triumph, but just a start on the long and hard journey so many must go on, to the decent living that is yet to be theirs.
There is so much more to be done.
$24,300 is such a low annual income for a family of 4 to survive on, that even if those supposed 3.5 Million rose above that official Poverty figure by increasing their annual income by a whopping 20%, it would still only mean they would be earning $29,100 a year which is still a very meagre income for a family of 4 to live on.
And whilst the article optimistically states that Employers are being compelled to reach deeper into untapped pools of labor, create more jobs and paying higher wages to attract workers as well as meet new minimum wage requirements, it is more a desired hope than actual reality and a quick look at the minimum wage actuals referred to in the article show only 3 states increasing minimum wages in 2015 from July 1st and at a fairly small rate.
Most of the minimum wage hikes are yet to come into effect with most gradually rising and not fully reaching the desired $15 an hour until 2022.
Even if these 3.5 Million people did rise above the Poverty line, it represents no great victory or triumph, but just a start on the long and hard journey so many must go on, to the decent living that is yet to be theirs.
There is so much more to be done.
8
The problem is not just people having food, water, indoor bathroom, electricity and a place to sleep in at night. It is also mobility, and a middle class status matching one's productivity, educational, experiential and talent capabilities.
When PhDs are living in apartments up until they are 50, with no ability to buy a decent house or even manage a decent retirement, while some corrupt jerks are buying four and five houses, some of them mansions (with 12 bedrooms), there is a serious problem about who is making money, who is moving forward or upward and who is gaming the system.
When Wells Fargo CEO and upper management do not know that 5000 of their own employees are using their customer's account illegally or unethically why the heck is the CEO & upper management receiving millions of dollars in pay and severance pay?
American poverty, except for a small few, is not as acute or chronic as it is in countries like India...where people have to urinate and defecate outside because they don't have a bathroom in their tiny shack, not even a stinky shared one. But mobility is a problem in the US. Mobility is not occurring.
Much of America is either employed without working or working without getting paid and some, like my wife, are overqualified, over working and under appreciated and are forced into poverty, not starvation poverty, but poverty.
System sucks, mobility has almost disappeared, middle class is shrinking and poverty is increasing.
When PhDs are living in apartments up until they are 50, with no ability to buy a decent house or even manage a decent retirement, while some corrupt jerks are buying four and five houses, some of them mansions (with 12 bedrooms), there is a serious problem about who is making money, who is moving forward or upward and who is gaming the system.
When Wells Fargo CEO and upper management do not know that 5000 of their own employees are using their customer's account illegally or unethically why the heck is the CEO & upper management receiving millions of dollars in pay and severance pay?
American poverty, except for a small few, is not as acute or chronic as it is in countries like India...where people have to urinate and defecate outside because they don't have a bathroom in their tiny shack, not even a stinky shared one. But mobility is a problem in the US. Mobility is not occurring.
Much of America is either employed without working or working without getting paid and some, like my wife, are overqualified, over working and under appreciated and are forced into poverty, not starvation poverty, but poverty.
System sucks, mobility has almost disappeared, middle class is shrinking and poverty is increasing.
8
Let me get this straight. He's making 40k a year, and he has a family, wife and kids. Must be pretty cheap to live there. In Chicago, that won't cut it for a single person, if your want something decent, and I'm not taking extravagant. I'm amazed at this so called logic that defines poverty. With the price of food, clothing, rent, utilities, translation, etc., that salary, after taxes is poverty level. What a pack of lies. Anything under 75k for a family of four is poverty, meaning most are in poverty or extreme poverty. Just like the lies about the job market, conveniently not counting those who have given up looking.
13
I moved here with a wife, 2 young kids, and a cushy job at Hewlett-Packard in 1987 for $40,000 a year. Got a small condo close to work for $182,000. Wife did not work for about 5 years, then impecuniously as a substitute teacher. We lived well, helped by lots of natural scenery to recreate in, at no cost.
2
Jimmy -- Alex Caicedo lives near Gaithersburg MD -- didn't you read the article? That's the outskirts of DC, near the beltway. It's not cheap there.
How he's doing it isn't clear ... subsidized housing? Wife works?
How he's doing it isn't clear ... subsidized housing? Wife works?
4
Wish I was one of these people. My household is in a constant squeeze play to pay its bills. We have not had a salary increase in YEARS, but medical expenses have gone WAY with the introduction of Obamacare. Years ago if you have surgery and had insurance paid virtually nothing. Now you're going to owe hundreds of dollars.
Just not buying this, sorry.
Just not buying this, sorry.
8
Good news but only a start.
In the 1930s my dad took whatever work he could find, until he got a job as a surveyor that sustained the family until he died of cancer in his forties. That bootstrapped the family and my mother, who worked as a clerk, was very careful and managed to save enough to have her own small house and help me, her youngest child, make it through college - the first in our family to have done so.
There are things that trouble me about our current situation: housing prices that have skyrocketed, executive "compensation" that has become obscene, college costs that would have made it impossible for me if they had pertained when I was growing up. Nevertheless we do not need to "Make America great again". We are great and will continue to be.
In the 1930s my dad took whatever work he could find, until he got a job as a surveyor that sustained the family until he died of cancer in his forties. That bootstrapped the family and my mother, who worked as a clerk, was very careful and managed to save enough to have her own small house and help me, her youngest child, make it through college - the first in our family to have done so.
There are things that trouble me about our current situation: housing prices that have skyrocketed, executive "compensation" that has become obscene, college costs that would have made it impossible for me if they had pertained when I was growing up. Nevertheless we do not need to "Make America great again". We are great and will continue to be.
3
As Donald Trump's current ad says: We can't "continue" with Hillary Clinton's "destructive policies." WHAT destructive policies? You mean the one's that help the average American? No, I guess some in the the rich, and middle classes, believe that these "destructive policies" will take something AWAY from them, even though Hillary Clinton has not been in a position to enact such policies for at least the past 8 years. Not sure what those policies would be, but that's what they seem to think. Do lower income citizens object to their new found good fortune?
4
Man, good to know. All my troubles are behind me. Hell, I think I might stumble on down to Wells Fargo and set fire to my fictitious saving account. That thing is just getting too big to manage.
15
It is funny that people seem to have forgotten that jobs and wages always recover last following a recession. The Republican revolution gave us a rough one. A lot of wealthy people gained the system at everyone else's expense, were bailed out by the well-lubricated Congress and, now, finally the little guy is getting something--a small amount of something. That is some good news.
7
If you belief this, they will next sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. We have a long way to go, contrary to associated stats here, for so many to be pulled out of or worked their way out of poverty. I simply do not except this information as true.
6
Joyce: Unlike some news outlets, the New York Times has a well-deserved reputation for reporting facts, and the basis for the report is cited. Why do you not think that this report is true?
To be sure, this is only a start - but it is a good start, and would undoubtedly be better if the Republicans in Congress had ever worked for the country instead of against President Obama.
To be sure, this is only a start - but it is a good start, and would undoubtedly be better if the Republicans in Congress had ever worked for the country instead of against President Obama.
7
I have been reading the NYTimes for over thirty years since I was an undergraduate student, for your information. However, the New York Times reportage is not the Bible, and even the Bible is not the Bible to many people. So with all due respect, I stand by my statement. You of course can believe what you wish. Thank you for your comment.
2
YAY! Happy times are here again! Obama and his great Democratic coalition have magically increased employment in the weakest recovery in history by adding a trillion dollars a year to the national debt over the last 8 years. Maybe with Hillary and a Democratic Congress, we could increase the national debt by two trillion dollars a year and achieve even more prosperity. It's only those nasty Republicans who stand in the way.
7
Alex: Please read "American Amnesia", a book by Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson that is a very credible explanation of why cooperative government has been a good thing for the country. President Obama inherited a disaster from the Bush administration and has steered our course as well as he could in the face of recalcitrant Republicans.
6
They are all Republican. There has not been a Democratic party since 1980.
1
Who in the world do you think still believes in this Potemkin recovery, NYTimes? Beginning to think the only reason Sanders didn't take Jill Stein up on her offer to head the Green ticket is that he wanted to be sure he was in a position of power -- and have much of the military on his side (thanks to all the veterans who voted and worked for his campaign!) -- when the peasants start to revolt for real.
4
See! I TOLD you this was Obama's fault! Worst president ever! Not like us, a socialist, golfing all the time, snobby, Anti-American!
Wait. What was this article about, again?
Wait. What was this article about, again?
4
The poverty line is a political tool used to generated the desired numbers. This year, the desired number is to get Hilary elected. Funny, though, that in the last 7 years of a republican congress writing laws, the economy has started to recover.
6
Really? The Republican Congress writing laws to help the poor. I was not aware that the Republican Congress was writing ANY laws, much less laws to help the poor. Do you have any evidence, or is this just more Republican smoke-blowing?
13
Where's YOUR evidence, David?
Maybe if the Republican run states that have refused to accept the expanded Medicaid from the ACA for purely political reasons would do what's best for their people, the poverty rate would go down in those states as well.
12
According to the article, "There are different roads out of poverty, said Sheldon Danziger, president of the Russell Sage Foundation, a social science research institution, but today, one of the most promising is to “go somewhere where they raised the minimum wage.”
And yet, here in Seattle the "Emerald City", our mayor recently declared a state of emergency because of the huge explosion of homeless people with our social service agencies absolutely inadequate to deal with the crush.
One of our social service agencies does an annual one-night count of homeless. This past January, over 4,000 persons were found sleeping outside — a 19% increase over 2015.
While things may be improving - as the article illustrates, we're hardly out of the woods. The workers featured in the article have experienced some economic relief - but they're hardly secure.
And yet, here in Seattle the "Emerald City", our mayor recently declared a state of emergency because of the huge explosion of homeless people with our social service agencies absolutely inadequate to deal with the crush.
One of our social service agencies does an annual one-night count of homeless. This past January, over 4,000 persons were found sleeping outside — a 19% increase over 2015.
While things may be improving - as the article illustrates, we're hardly out of the woods. The workers featured in the article have experienced some economic relief - but they're hardly secure.
9
Because Republican governors are busily cutting funding for the poor, the disabled and the elderly...
1
These numbers are an outrage, poor whites, blacks, Hispanics are all doing worse than they were when Bush junior was inaugurated. And call me cynical, but since your endorsement of Ms. Clinton I get the feeling this story is supposed to be a talking point at the debate, something she can be proud of as former senator of New York, where upstate is far enough away. Lot of poor white people up there. Nobody wants to see that.
11
Just look at Schenectady, Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo.
7
Or, look at where all the new prisons were built -- upstate. Just as in California and NM: in impoverished rural areas, our versions of Appalachia, senor.
3
None of them have done anything. It's amazing how the sheep from both parties are completely blind. Regardless to which party that's in, they are puppets of the elites.
4
52 states, and the poverty rate has stayed the same in 39 of them, which means the recovery that our politicians keep telling us is occurring, aided by their media mouthpieces, has yet to occur even though we are almost 10 years on, since the orchestrated financial collapse.
And for those who are fortunate, if one can call this excerpt description that, terrific, but this does nothing to bring back the manufacturing jobs which were the soul of the dying middle-class.
Article excerpt, all about realizing minimum wages and service jobs, in America ..., in the 21st century; feudalism is here.
"More than seven years after the recession ended, employers are finally being compelled to reach deeper into the pools of untapped labor, creating more jobs, especially among retailers, restaurants and hotels, and paying higher wages to attract workers and meet new minimum wage requirements."
And for those who are fortunate, if one can call this excerpt description that, terrific, but this does nothing to bring back the manufacturing jobs which were the soul of the dying middle-class.
Article excerpt, all about realizing minimum wages and service jobs, in America ..., in the 21st century; feudalism is here.
"More than seven years after the recession ended, employers are finally being compelled to reach deeper into the pools of untapped labor, creating more jobs, especially among retailers, restaurants and hotels, and paying higher wages to attract workers and meet new minimum wage requirements."
7
Don't you mean serfdon?
2
Yes, I do Jimmy; Feudalism can't exist without "we the always ready, willing, and able serfs"
It's extraordinary how far we've fallen, and we are almost entirely to blame.
The media mouthpieces of our corporate owned government quote statistic after statistic, statistics which are themselves developed using numbers set so low even the most obtuse sense the attempt to lie, and manage perception.
Americans are not easily fooled anymore, and the powers that be are coming to realize this, and are fearfully watching as their control lessens.
Tough times ahead, but I predict the people, the very angry abused people, will set things right.
It's extraordinary how far we've fallen, and we are almost entirely to blame.
The media mouthpieces of our corporate owned government quote statistic after statistic, statistics which are themselves developed using numbers set so low even the most obtuse sense the attempt to lie, and manage perception.
Americans are not easily fooled anymore, and the powers that be are coming to realize this, and are fearfully watching as their control lessens.
Tough times ahead, but I predict the people, the very angry abused people, will set things right.
When you say 52 states do you mean to include Puerto Rico and the District of Colombia?
Am I doing handsprings? No reasonable person is. Instead I'm recalling Churchill's words after the victory at El Alamein:
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
10
Thanks, Obama
8
These gains will be reversed and then erased if Trump wins this election.
13
This data is encouraging but I fear this data will be used to divert attention away from the fact income inequality gaps are still increasing, and top-level mangagement positions are still paid many many times over low level workers. Sure, less people might be living in poverty but there is still no excuse for the huge income gaps present in the nation with the largest economy on earth.
6
If Hillary "debates" in the same manner my wife does, Donald is toast. The poor man. I got tired of sleeping on the couch, and adopted amenable views, in due course.
4
We really should increase trade school training for those high school students that are not college-bound. When I was in Germany, you would see these young apprentices working hard at bakeries or mom-and-pop grocery stores. The government supports the training and students graduate with marketable skills plus no student debt.
15
I've used old-school European trained electricians and prefer them over most of the US trained ones. The confidence is striking.
Steps in the correct direction, although not quickly enough.
President Obama and the Democrats in the Senate and the house deserve the thanks and blessings for this step in the correct directions.
The ones who do not deserve thanks and blessings are the Republicans in the House and the Senate, including the Tea Party, including Paul Ryan, who, maybe unbeknownst to him, practices an hypocritical Catholicism.
And, also, if Trump gets in, or Trump Republicans, then greed and vanity will rule. And, thus, those who are living in poverty or close to - - will suffer big time.
President Obama and the Democrats in the Senate and the house deserve the thanks and blessings for this step in the correct directions.
The ones who do not deserve thanks and blessings are the Republicans in the House and the Senate, including the Tea Party, including Paul Ryan, who, maybe unbeknownst to him, practices an hypocritical Catholicism.
And, also, if Trump gets in, or Trump Republicans, then greed and vanity will rule. And, thus, those who are living in poverty or close to - - will suffer big time.
11
I think the people from "The Times" should get out a bit more. Lies, damn lies and statistics. Take a quick trip to upstate NY.
11
I have read this article, and I don't think it says, "Poverty eliminated!" Poverty still exists, and it's still a national disgrace. I see plenty of it in my own neighborhood in Providence, RI. However, we can celebrate incremental improvement when it happens, and more importantly, try to analyze why it occurs and learn how to achieve more of it.
13
The numbers in this article have been cooked and played with, to make it appear that there are less poor people today than when Obama started his first term. Truth is, there are MORE poor people today than before 2008, thanks to the failed economic policies of the Obama administration.
12
Bill : Agree. One does not get an unbiased article on The New York Times which is totally in the back pocket of the Democrat Party. Unfortunately.
9
What the article says is that the poverty RATE is going down. That is good news no matter how you look at it.
1
planetary occupant - the RATE is NOT going down. It's going UP. But if you choose to believe the wordplay of the NYT, then it's your own choice.
Just perused that great map. REALLY?! - Vermont & Michigan are among the 6 or so states presented with the lowest percentage of poor people? The others in that select circle aren't nearly so surprising - and good ol' Mississip bringing up the rear is altogether as expected.
What (if it isn't a mis-colored map) am I missing?
What (if it isn't a mis-colored map) am I missing?
4
Great propaganda for the punters and the masses…designed as a pre-election jab in the arm of medicinal hopey-changey-aspiration, served up with a "vote for Hillary" arm band and a get-out-of-jail pass for the Banksters and Wall Street looters and pillagers.
Believe this claptrap and I've got some swamp land for sale in the Okefenokee…
Believe this claptrap and I've got some swamp land for sale in the Okefenokee…
11
Why does Bush and every other Republican who gave the "banksters and Wall Street looters and pillagers" the legal advantages in the first place, get free passes while Democrats get blamed? How would you have cleaned up Bush's prolific messes??
12
You're going to have a lot of Trump voters living on that swamp land since they seem to believe anything that comes out of his mouth without a shred of evidence to back it up.
7
Intuition trumps evidence every time, Phillip. It's way past time for a deep structural change, and "I alone can do it," our cynosure says. At least dapper Don did not tell us we could keep our doctor, and that Afghanistan is the right war, and that Cuba was an amazing Foreign Policy success.
1
Sheryl Sandberg said "Lean In!," and America responded. Now we deserve legal pot/hash/mushrooms, come Nov. 8th.
We might need such medicinal relief when Trump assumes the throne
3
1.2 percent? Great...only 97.8 percent to go.
8
This reminds me of a similar message posted on government-control newspapers and news sources: Under the leadership of the Party and Chairman, our people's lives are prosperous with healthcare and financial stability.
What's next? Under the leadership of the Democratic Party and Obama, American people happiness has gone through the roof.
What's next? Under the leadership of the Democratic Party and Obama, American people happiness has gone through the roof.
9
Close to $25K for a family of FOUR...disgusting, for our grossly mismanaged and private equity driven economy...and because these primarily service driven low wage workers can get "above" a subjective definition of "poverty" narrowly...they are "relieved" of the "P" label...fine...though like its been mentioned in this forum...the point is sustainability....nearly 100% won't have enough to SAVE $$...they'll be helping pump our glacial-paced economic growth...example - WALMART will be happy with this deceiving headline..but not Saks or Neiman Marcus...they'll keep this lower rung of the ladder demo...."down" the first run...and reap the profits...for the top mgmt ranks...while retail margins get ever harder to sustain on a decent level..even corporate earnings are down for the past (6) quarters...so what gives... unfortunate, but true.
3
Climbing out of poverty...to what? A constipated middle class? The 1% have slammed the door on the middle class, since the time of Chimp Buddy Reagan. Non of our pols have managed to right the ship. We need a revolution in America, and maybe not even the kind that Bernie Sanders talked about. Maybe the kind where we are able to get rid of our oligarchy of oppressors. How would that happen? What would that look like? There are plenty of models in history.
10
I keep on thinking that same thing.....we are overdue.
It is always wonderful to hear than anyone is doing better than before; the growth model is exciting.
This said, what are the answers and solutions to poverty prevention? The economy growing is sleek, inviting, feels and sounds nice; however, the economy, like all things is cyclical, and like we have come around....and the upside is present, what is going to happen during the downside?
Let's be happy for where we are, and prepare for where we will eventually go.
This said, what are the answers and solutions to poverty prevention? The economy growing is sleek, inviting, feels and sounds nice; however, the economy, like all things is cyclical, and like we have come around....and the upside is present, what is going to happen during the downside?
Let's be happy for where we are, and prepare for where we will eventually go.
2
Major investments in education must come next. It is the fuel to our economy, any economy. It also is the closest thing to a guarantee for individual progress, whether digging out of poverty or staying out of it when in the middle class. A close second is accessible health care, particularly a system much better addressing mental health.
3
School vouchers must come next. TRILLION$ have been peed away in urban Teachers Union satrapies, with little result. When I was a HS teacher, it was the profession most abandoned by year 5 of employment. I almost became a nurse.
3
we're paying 3 times as much and getting half as much out of the education system as we were in the 70's. Pouring money into schools has been a catastrophic failure.
I'm a high school teacher. The explosion of useless administrators keeps pressing me to teach the test. This is, unfortunately, an improvement, over handing out A's. More money will only bring us more useless administrators.
I'm a high school teacher. The explosion of useless administrators keeps pressing me to teach the test. This is, unfortunately, an improvement, over handing out A's. More money will only bring us more useless administrators.
3
An election time headline indeed. Don't believe everything a biased Hillary-Obama Media hands you.
11
This is empirically validated data from the US Census Bureau. It has nothing to do with the "bogeyman media." Sometimes REALITY simply does not align itself with a particular political ideology. It's not a conspiracy. It's not some alleged mainstream liberal media. Often, it is very simple fact.
6
It's hype regardless. Cherry -picking a few who benefited doesn't negate marginal gains for the majority.
Gimme a break. What a load of pre-election PR. The poverty rate is an absolute insulting joke in the first place. Nobody barely overcoming the absurdly low income designated as poor is doing well. This is absolute baloney.
14
Tell that to these people listed. Tell it also to countless more I and my adult kids have seen from our work with the needy. No question we have a long way to go, but there is also no question we are headed in the right direction and seeing unprecedented results. God forbid we fall back into the cataclysmic policies of the Right.
4
I refuse to believe in a fantasy world of major improvement while every statistic points to a growing vast gulf between wealthy and poor. That trend is long lived and shows absolutely no sign of change. I live off of fumes sir, and I see many people doing exactly the same despite a recent spate of over optimistic headlines. I said nothing about who to vote for.
4
You tell 'em, Carlos!
Yes, hard work and determination can pay off but let's not kid ourselves that resources provided by government and nonprofit programs didn't also make a pretty significant difference in the lives of people profiled in this article. I have two advanced degrees and a stable upper middle class lifestyle. Did having access to resources of a well-connected daddy who paid for my undergraduate and most of my graduate school education help? Of course it did. He also gave me three cars while I worked in a low paying field of my choice and helped me save for the downpayment on my first house. My bank executive sister gave me guidance on taking out a loan, which probably saved me thousands. All that without an ounce of grit or determination on my part. Also tremendously helpful, all the checks and food boxes from Omaha Steak Company they sent our way when my husband was out of work for 10 months. We still accumulated lots of credit card debt but our credit rating wasn't obliterated, and we never had to sell all our possessions and sleep in our cars.
Government and nonprofit programs are a godsend to people who don't have ready access to resources. They are the thing that allows a lot of people to persevere and take steps forward. As a social worker, I can tell you they are not easy to access, are not without eligibility requirements that screen many out, and are insufficently funded to cover all the need. Never needed them but grateful they exist.
Government and nonprofit programs are a godsend to people who don't have ready access to resources. They are the thing that allows a lot of people to persevere and take steps forward. As a social worker, I can tell you they are not easy to access, are not without eligibility requirements that screen many out, and are insufficently funded to cover all the need. Never needed them but grateful they exist.
10
Karen, you explained it beautifully for those who think there's singe kind of easy hand out.
1
from the pages of the NYT; what is the first thing to be raised when wages go up? Housing. This is otherwise known as treading water.
6
I had to laugh at the headline on this "article. How many time in the last 7+ years have we heard these type figures spewed out by the Administration's trolls only to find several months later that they had been revised downward once again???
Barracky and his Tzars will still be lying the day they kick the whole lot out of the White House and the federal government.
Barracky and his Tzars will still be lying the day they kick the whole lot out of the White House and the federal government.
8
Hey, poor people are finally catching a break and seeing their incomes rise. That's great! Why don't we nip that in the bud, by importing millions more unskilled workers to compete with them for jobs?
11
Yes, so many are "competing" for no health insurance, abuse and no money...
We are in for 8 more years of the elite status quo. Good for the rich, Bad for everyone else. The Democratic party is no longer the party of the people. It is the party of Ivy League educated wealthy people with every advantage a person could have. So in 23 states things a slightly better but what about the rest of the country? The Democratic party tried to end Social Security and most don't know. Monica intervened for us. Newt Gingrich was helping Bill Clinton with this trick. Hillary wants to finish it. She is far more dangerous than Trump although we have no idea what he would do. Hillary is a neoliberal as is Obama and was Bill C. Google the word. It does not mean New Liberal. It means freedom and no regulations for Corporations. Just think the food industry will be free to poison as many of us as they please. It means the privatization of all publicly owned parks, land, monuments, schools and much more. The vote yesterday in England might slow neoliberalism there but not here. We need to do that ourselves. Don't vote for neolliberal candidates like Hillary no matter how much she pretends to be a liberal. She is not.
4
newswire: "Mylan’s EpiPen Pretax Profits 60% Higher Than Number Told to Congress" .... company applied 37.5% tax rate onto the profits it revealed to a House committee hearing last week.
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More CEO kleptomania. If you actually manage to get out of Poverty, try to avoid getting sick. In the 8th year of Obama, corporations remain supreme. No wonder there was no Tort Reform in ObamaCare: the Democrat ambulance chasers did not allow it. Worse, you didn't even get to keep your doctor....
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More CEO kleptomania. If you actually manage to get out of Poverty, try to avoid getting sick. In the 8th year of Obama, corporations remain supreme. No wonder there was no Tort Reform in ObamaCare: the Democrat ambulance chasers did not allow it. Worse, you didn't even get to keep your doctor....
6
OK, so once again, this is a Democrat's fault? Were you awake when Obama wanted universal health care? (Hint: The Republicans refused to do anything. The party of NO just sat there, while people died).
1
I've come to believe nothing from the Obama regime's Executive Branch. The FB under Comey, IRS under Koskinen, Department of Defense under Ashton Carter and the DOJ under Lynch and Holder, all corrupt, are now agencies who work to one end only, supporting Obama's agenda and false narratives, so why should I believe any statistics from that vile administration? If there are fewer people in poverty it's because so many are being subsidized by the government. While they may now not be considered poor, it's only because the government hasn't raised the poverty line again.
9
But Bush never lied! That administration really benefitted this country, right? And now Trump will make America "great again"? How? By using taxpayer money to search for non-existent WMDs? By creating wars that don't solve anything? By abandoning veterans when they come home broken? If "the government" under Republicans is so sterling, why do so many bad things happen whenever they are in office?
2
Bush tripled Bill Clinton's $5 million in African AIDS Relief to $15 million. That's why Bill Clinton so publicly adopted Barbara Bush as his surrogate mother, to make amends. And because he likes strong women.
Not $5 million, $15 million--it was $5 BILLION and $15 BILLION
I wish we would have seen more stories like this before now. And your graphs clearly show that the increase in poverty began well before Obama took office. Then it was accelerated by the Bush Crash. We need to keep doing what we're doing only more so.
9
Yeah, the truth is in the graphs...
3
I don't know about climbing out of poverty, but I have noticed an increase of people climbing out of dumpsters.
10
If you believe these numbers you probably believed also that Bernie and Trump had a snowball's chance in hell this year.
1
Interesting that an African American born and raised in LA, is hampered from finding a job because the only language spoken on the construction sites was Spanish.
13
Yay! Diversity!
3
This is great news and belies the doom and gloom and lack of opportunity and fairness preached by Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.
I have a problem with this article, though. It talks repeatedly about "the economy," "the recovery," etc., and there's nothing about the human beings that made this happen. These abstractions leave the impression that it's a force of nature like rainfall that made this happen. It wasn't. It was the ingenuity, resourcefulness, risk-taking, and hard work of business owners and managers, not just American but among our trading partners as well. It is individuals who made this happen.
I have a problem with this article, though. It talks repeatedly about "the economy," "the recovery," etc., and there's nothing about the human beings that made this happen. These abstractions leave the impression that it's a force of nature like rainfall that made this happen. It wasn't. It was the ingenuity, resourcefulness, risk-taking, and hard work of business owners and managers, not just American but among our trading partners as well. It is individuals who made this happen.
1
I am puzzled by part of your chart regarding individuals moving out of poverty who are NOT working e.g. "did not work" as that number represents a significant number of individuals. Even if receiving SSDI- I assume some part of this group must be in this category as the total number is higher than number under age 18- SSDI does NOT pay enough for an average family of say 4 to pull any one out of poverty. Can someone clarify please.
3
The headline of this article is quite optimistic, but just because they are out of "poverty" doesn't mean they aren't out of trouble. They may have crept over the political benchmark for poverty in terms of earning, but there not earning nearly enough to remain comfortabel whatsoever.
7
Something is wrong with your analysis. We have too many living on the edge or in poverty. Another of your articles just today notes murders have surged. Come on, our society is way to stressed - check your propaganda and make this a question for the candidates tonight, yes??
7
George Gilder, in "Wealth and Poverty," demonstrated forever the connection between the dependency inculcated by the Democrat Welfare State, and why the War on Poverty could never be won. Baltimore, Oakland, Newark et al. were still salvageable, then. He went further into the social pathologies in "Men and Marriage." Who's your daddy? "I dunno."
9
There's something all this governmental self-congratulation (because this article reads as if it were written by the current administration) overlooks is that a lot of people, not the cherry-picked profiles in the story, will use their meager gains to play catch-up after years of deprivation. Appliance repair or replacement, home maintenance, replacing clothing that's worn out or outgrown can eat up the extras very quickly. Postponed dental work and updated eyeglass prescriptions, as well as car repairs, can easily dispose of thousands of dollars. With a nominal increase in funds, it can take literally years to catch up. One setback can blow it all.
I'd also like to know the bottom line for the people who no longer qualify for government or NGO benefits. Are they actually better off overall, or do the losses in health care, SNAP, utility and heating subsidies, and other life-saving benefits actually mean they're personally worse off, despite the increase in income?
I'd also like to know the bottom line for the people who no longer qualify for government or NGO benefits. Are they actually better off overall, or do the losses in health care, SNAP, utility and heating subsidies, and other life-saving benefits actually mean they're personally worse off, despite the increase in income?
23
Many people can NEVER catch up. The examples in this self-serving, partisan article are all quite young.
What about the 50 year old, who lost their job in 2009-2014, and either never found another one -- found something, but lesser paying -- was forced to take a demeaning McCrap McJob -- and lost out on 6-8 years of saving for retirement, SS credits, equity in their home (if they did not outright lose that home!), seniority, etc? What if they had to use up their IRAs and 401K plans just to have something to live on? And now, they are 55-62 -- not exactly a prime age to start over.
Many saw their savings and homes ripped away, and not enough years to EVER get back what they lost!
What about the 50 year old, who lost their job in 2009-2014, and either never found another one -- found something, but lesser paying -- was forced to take a demeaning McCrap McJob -- and lost out on 6-8 years of saving for retirement, SS credits, equity in their home (if they did not outright lose that home!), seniority, etc? What if they had to use up their IRAs and 401K plans just to have something to live on? And now, they are 55-62 -- not exactly a prime age to start over.
Many saw their savings and homes ripped away, and not enough years to EVER get back what they lost!
22
Maybe they should have been more prudent in the first place.
When I was house shopping 20 years ago I could have easily gotten a mortgage for the 10-room Victorian I wanted. Instead I purchased the 1,000 square foot 1940s bungalow for 1/3 the price. Making sure the house payment was something I could support on a McD wage if need be. It also has been more economical to heat and maintain all these years.
Same with my car - drove an older clunker for nearly 16 years; it wasn't pretty but got 35mpg the day I sold it, was cheap to insure and didn't need repairs all that often.
No one lost his/her home if they were prudent like me, and no one lost his/her retirement savings if they didn't cash out soon after the crash. If they had saved an e-fund they wouldn't have had to tap it. I saved while others went to Disney, Vegas, dined out umpteen times a month, had umpteen kids, etc. etc. -- I didn't complain then, so not really interested in their complaints now.
I have no sympathy for people who lived to the hilt and then whine because job loss, economic recession, etc. derail them - those events happen in most lifetimes and can be planned for and guarded against. Grasshopper or ant, your choice.
When I was house shopping 20 years ago I could have easily gotten a mortgage for the 10-room Victorian I wanted. Instead I purchased the 1,000 square foot 1940s bungalow for 1/3 the price. Making sure the house payment was something I could support on a McD wage if need be. It also has been more economical to heat and maintain all these years.
Same with my car - drove an older clunker for nearly 16 years; it wasn't pretty but got 35mpg the day I sold it, was cheap to insure and didn't need repairs all that often.
No one lost his/her home if they were prudent like me, and no one lost his/her retirement savings if they didn't cash out soon after the crash. If they had saved an e-fund they wouldn't have had to tap it. I saved while others went to Disney, Vegas, dined out umpteen times a month, had umpteen kids, etc. etc. -- I didn't complain then, so not really interested in their complaints now.
I have no sympathy for people who lived to the hilt and then whine because job loss, economic recession, etc. derail them - those events happen in most lifetimes and can be planned for and guarded against. Grasshopper or ant, your choice.
6
and your point is?
3
NYT: "Many poor people, saddled with a deficient education, inadequate health care and few marketable skills, find small setbacks can quickly set off a downward spiral..."
---------------
Actually, many of the cases seen on TV are of established working-class families newly impoverished by corporate layoffs. Ford's decision to build a new car factory in... Mexico.... is not inapt. How many layoffs were announced in the past several weeks by Cisco and others? Very many. And their laid-off employees are ineligible for welfare, housing subsidies, ADC, WIP, etc., beyond a time-limited unemployment check.
---------------
Actually, many of the cases seen on TV are of established working-class families newly impoverished by corporate layoffs. Ford's decision to build a new car factory in... Mexico.... is not inapt. How many layoffs were announced in the past several weeks by Cisco and others? Very many. And their laid-off employees are ineligible for welfare, housing subsidies, ADC, WIP, etc., beyond a time-limited unemployment check.
16
How about Carrier moving 2000 jobs from Indiana to Mexico?
This publication pretends this outward migration of jobs is all our heads, or some "lie" told by a politician they don't like. But American workers know it is very, very real.
This publication pretends this outward migration of jobs is all our heads, or some "lie" told by a politician they don't like. But American workers know it is very, very real.
16
Benton Harbor, Michigan was devastated by the loss of Whirlpool. The cost in drug addiction, alcoholism, murder-suicide, suicide, rancor, and hopelessness in towns like that is incalculable. I saw the same in Camden, NJ when RCA bailed out and Campbell Soup scaled back, despite vibrant Philly right across the river.
14
You're right, basically, but there are these 2 small (but significant) points -
1) Different states DO deal with this common situation in different ways - some offer retraining or money to make it more practical.
2) Different administrations and Congresses and eras have dealt (and will likely deal) with this situation differently. At a minimum - and just as a for instance - Obamacare's goal of at least significantly loosening the knot that joined employment and health care might make a difference for some people whose "next job with good benefits" could be a year or 5 in the future.
But I have to agree with many other posters who - whether very radical or very conservative economically - say that there's an awful lot of "survival of the fittest" (however defined) in our capitalist system. And if it was once possible for a "Ford" to say, "Yeah, we COULD offshore this, but it would be a body blow to Pontiac or Flint or wherever" ... and choose the communitarian path...
Now - and for getting on to 50 years - they "have to worry" about Toyota and Hyundai and lots of others.
And I think that most of us recognize - just thinking in terms of our own "best interest" or even the country's - that there is a downside to "building a wall" (or trying to) around our economy.
Maybe, part of the reason that there is SOME "light" in the poverty picture is that bottom-of-the-totem-pole jobs are both hard to automate and the payback time for robotic dishwashers is on the lengthy side.
1) Different states DO deal with this common situation in different ways - some offer retraining or money to make it more practical.
2) Different administrations and Congresses and eras have dealt (and will likely deal) with this situation differently. At a minimum - and just as a for instance - Obamacare's goal of at least significantly loosening the knot that joined employment and health care might make a difference for some people whose "next job with good benefits" could be a year or 5 in the future.
But I have to agree with many other posters who - whether very radical or very conservative economically - say that there's an awful lot of "survival of the fittest" (however defined) in our capitalist system. And if it was once possible for a "Ford" to say, "Yeah, we COULD offshore this, but it would be a body blow to Pontiac or Flint or wherever" ... and choose the communitarian path...
Now - and for getting on to 50 years - they "have to worry" about Toyota and Hyundai and lots of others.
And I think that most of us recognize - just thinking in terms of our own "best interest" or even the country's - that there is a downside to "building a wall" (or trying to) around our economy.
Maybe, part of the reason that there is SOME "light" in the poverty picture is that bottom-of-the-totem-pole jobs are both hard to automate and the payback time for robotic dishwashers is on the lengthy side.
3
Good that you have mentioned low oil prices as being crucial to bring down poverty. And yet, Democrats and the administration are doing their best to destroy the oil industry which still lays a crucial role in the US economy.
8
Oil prices are low, because of fracking.
Fracking has made us come pretty close to energy independence.
But Democrats and liberals HATE HATE HATE fracking. They hate oil pipelines. They hate tar sands.
The only thing they like is solar power, with panels made in China by slave labor at 40 cents an hour -- and of course, solar is near useless in cold, snowy climates.
Democrats and liberals will not be happy until we are freezing to death in the dark.
Fracking has made us come pretty close to energy independence.
But Democrats and liberals HATE HATE HATE fracking. They hate oil pipelines. They hate tar sands.
The only thing they like is solar power, with panels made in China by slave labor at 40 cents an hour -- and of course, solar is near useless in cold, snowy climates.
Democrats and liberals will not be happy until we are freezing to death in the dark.
6
Your idea of energy "independence" comes at a long-term cost that is detrimental to the future of America.
Petroleum is a dated solution for energy that needs replacing sooner than later, when it really is too late to account for its negative effects upon the world environment – effects that will affect all political parties.
Petroleum is a dated solution for energy that needs replacing sooner than later, when it really is too late to account for its negative effects upon the world environment – effects that will affect all political parties.
5
Please enlighten me, how are the Democrats and this administration "destroying" the oil industry? We have the highest oil porduction in history.
4
"Good news, there's no need to worry about the little people anymore!"
On the heels of your proclamation that the middle class is also doing great from last month, I have to ask: what's with the extreme tendency to overstate very small gains? Or did you bring the Economics editor over from Fox News?
This article is nothing more than a bombastic proclamation from the New York Times to elites: don't worry! The poor are okay - and aren't likely coming for you because they're doing better now! (And if they do, just show them this article in the New York Times.) Millions are doing soooo much better (by 1.2%!). Just ask the American Enterprise Institute, a leading conservative thinktank dedicated to the eradication of the poor, oops, I mean, poverty.
It's great that the Times has a "Public Editor" now, whose job is "to supervise the implementation of proper journalism ethics at a newspaper, and to identify and examine critical errors or omissions, and to act as a liaison to the public."
I'd like the Times to implement the ability for the public to flag articles for the attention of the Public Editor. This is one that truly needs it.
On the heels of your proclamation that the middle class is also doing great from last month, I have to ask: what's with the extreme tendency to overstate very small gains? Or did you bring the Economics editor over from Fox News?
This article is nothing more than a bombastic proclamation from the New York Times to elites: don't worry! The poor are okay - and aren't likely coming for you because they're doing better now! (And if they do, just show them this article in the New York Times.) Millions are doing soooo much better (by 1.2%!). Just ask the American Enterprise Institute, a leading conservative thinktank dedicated to the eradication of the poor, oops, I mean, poverty.
It's great that the Times has a "Public Editor" now, whose job is "to supervise the implementation of proper journalism ethics at a newspaper, and to identify and examine critical errors or omissions, and to act as a liaison to the public."
I'd like the Times to implement the ability for the public to flag articles for the attention of the Public Editor. This is one that truly needs it.
16
"...Recently, he was promoted to his salaried position and now drives a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. His wife was able to leave her job at a clothing store and take care of their four children..."
Good to hear, but many of these people are still living above their means, as if coming into a decent-paying job means to immediately upgrade everything in your life.
Children are expensive and four children are very expensive - hardly news. Once people decide to have a lot of children, they should be very careful with how they spend their disposable income.
Good to hear, but many of these people are still living above their means, as if coming into a decent-paying job means to immediately upgrade everything in your life.
Children are expensive and four children are very expensive - hardly news. Once people decide to have a lot of children, they should be very careful with how they spend their disposable income.
19
The gentleman in the article, Mr. Caicedo, is only 32 and already has FOUR children -- all of them conceived BEFORE he had his present $40K job.
He had 4 children while earning $12 an hour or less.
He only got this good job last year, and was only promoted very recently. I wish him the best, but that is not a guarantee you will always earn $40K. The pizza parlor could go bust, and then what? Many fast food manager jobs pay in the 20s.
I also not that the SECOND his job situation improved -- literally, it's only been about half a year -- his wife quit her job, and he went out and bought a $35,000 car (foreign made, natch).
I cannot make the numbers work on that math. The costs of 4 children alone are staggering. A Pathfinder is a car that gets low mileage and Consumer Reports ranks it has having a poor repair history. A stay-at-home wife? Many families with far greater income cannot indulge in that luxury!
Yes, he makes $40,000....to support SIX PEOPLE.
Do the math. It doesn't work out.
He had 4 children while earning $12 an hour or less.
He only got this good job last year, and was only promoted very recently. I wish him the best, but that is not a guarantee you will always earn $40K. The pizza parlor could go bust, and then what? Many fast food manager jobs pay in the 20s.
I also not that the SECOND his job situation improved -- literally, it's only been about half a year -- his wife quit her job, and he went out and bought a $35,000 car (foreign made, natch).
I cannot make the numbers work on that math. The costs of 4 children alone are staggering. A Pathfinder is a car that gets low mileage and Consumer Reports ranks it has having a poor repair history. A stay-at-home wife? Many families with far greater income cannot indulge in that luxury!
Yes, he makes $40,000....to support SIX PEOPLE.
Do the math. It doesn't work out.
18
You're just upset because he's driving a less-used car than yours. And how dare he!
2
I was driving a 15.5 year old Ford Escort and earning $100K+ each year. It blows my mind that someone making only $40K would buy a $30,000 vehicle. And to father four children is reprehensible on any income, given global climate concerns, but to do so on a low wage is even worse. I am sure we all are happy to contribute to his Earned Income Tax "credit" of several thousand dollars a year.
7
I've had the distinct privilege of spending my entire professional career working towards assisting those members of our community that have been somehow aggrieved: disabled, employment discrimination, (now) down payment assistance for low-income families working towards home ownership and I&R for the last 8-years.
For a low-income individual/family (as determined by city/region) in order to become eligible there are income limits based on the number of people living in the household. HUD requires an 8-hour Home Buyer's Education class be taken; a certificate is issued at the end of the class/upon completion that is valid for one-year.
As the Scheduling Coordinator, the thousands of people I speak to every year that I have the detailed down to the day and time we spoke for each month dating back to August '08, it amazes me to see the determination of individuals who have signed up for our free class three and four years in a row and continue working with our free Credit/Budgeting counseling service.
You needn't be disabled, black or Hispanic to live in poverty. Often stereotyped and ridiculed. Discrimination plays a large part but not much as the public's attitude towards it.
For a low-income individual/family (as determined by city/region) in order to become eligible there are income limits based on the number of people living in the household. HUD requires an 8-hour Home Buyer's Education class be taken; a certificate is issued at the end of the class/upon completion that is valid for one-year.
As the Scheduling Coordinator, the thousands of people I speak to every year that I have the detailed down to the day and time we spoke for each month dating back to August '08, it amazes me to see the determination of individuals who have signed up for our free class three and four years in a row and continue working with our free Credit/Budgeting counseling service.
You needn't be disabled, black or Hispanic to live in poverty. Often stereotyped and ridiculed. Discrimination plays a large part but not much as the public's attitude towards it.
7
And in two months these numbers will be adjusted down. Just like every metric in every month or quarter during this administration.
Must be near an election.
Must be near an election.
18
Even nearer to a Debate.
16
Remains to be seen if this will sustain itself. Most of our economic "recovery" has been built on the QE and ZIR bubble, and the lease derivative, credit card, and student loan bubbles threaten to bring it all to its knees all over again. I know many will "credit" Obama for the improvement here, but most of this is the result of the Fed -- the good and the bad. Just as it was under Bush.
4
Millions more will climb out of Poverty when the military-industrial complex is at full tilt, about 3 years from now, no matter who is President. It's show time! North Korea, Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan.... a target-rich environment. As seen on "60 Minutes" last night, and last Sunday night, about our nuclear readiness. Russia is keen to use small nukes to take back Latvia and Estonia.
Millions in U.S. CLimb Out of Poverty, at Long Last"?
Hopefully, more in the future will. As long as a we use our common sense and reason and don't choose for a president someone whose rhetoric and ideology will take us to another war, it will continue to happen.
A bellicose country doesn't get out of the hole is in...
Hopefully, more in the future will. As long as a we use our common sense and reason and don't choose for a president someone whose rhetoric and ideology will take us to another war, it will continue to happen.
A bellicose country doesn't get out of the hole is in...
3
The last war was taken TO us, not to them. Did you prefer to surrender, like a Wilson/FDR Democrat isolationist? The war now brewing is the same: Play the hand we're dealt. If Obama was at the helm in 2001, we'd be speaking Farsi by now.
3
I wonder if this story is being reported on Fox News.
4
Fox News is known for being objective, which is why 20% of its viewers profess to be Democrats. Clinton News Network (CNN) remains an also-ran.
3
Don't say this too loudly, it's important we keep up the story that only the rich are improving.
1
How convenient that this has occurred just in time to give Hillary an advantage in the election, because she is part of the current administration's democrat establishment whose policies that she will presumably continue! But next week if fits the NY Times editors narrative of the day they will cherry pick a "study" to prove just the opposite in some convoluted attack on Trump. As usual just more NY Times open borders propaganda, with the subtext that all native born Americans are lazy, racist, uppity (know their rights) xenophobes who should "move aside" for harder-working more innovative, 'compliant' slave-worker immigrants. And more of the one world globalization to Utopia fantasy that the violation of American citizen sovereignty rights by importing 10's of millions of legal immigrants and allowing 12 million illegals to stay in violation of the popular will, and sending 11 million manufacturing jobs overseas (killing wages and many millions of jobs) has actually been a good thing and helped raise Americans out of poverty. Yeah right! Look for Hillary to sneak off a year after the election and approve TPP, sell out us uppity "basket" Americans she hates so much yet again, because we don't think she is a God and refuse to bow down to her.
14
Is there a seat available in the basket?
7
Wow, Winthrop, all that, and you still can't refute the data. I guess when facts and numbers aren't on your side, a meaningless jab at Clinton, the Times, and anyone else who isn't pro-Trump is all that's left.
Hysterical.
Hysterical.
7
Facts and numbers are never irrefutable: get out of elementary arithmetic and logic
When you define poverty as a minimum income, then rising incomes are identical to falling rates of poverty. But - if you define class as something more than mere income, it leads to what appears to be our situation. Fewer in poverty BUT also fewer in the middle class. Knowledge, lifestyle, resource management - are not these more accurate markers of the escape from poverty than $?
4
I applaud the Caicedo family and others who have improved their incomes. However, $40K is not enough to raise a family without government programs and charity. They are all still very much living in poverty. The so called "poverty line" is just an arbitrary number that some official has cooked up. Every social worker and case manager knows how ridiculous it is and when they take on a new client, they help "manage" their clients' income and assets to help them qualify for benefits. A person working at or below the poverty line does not even make enough to pay rent a one bedroom apartment. They work under the table to afford clothes, food and transportation. Meanwhile, the cost of living goes up, not only because of inflation, in particular, the fast rising cost of housing, but because of technology and social changes. Nowadays, employers won't even consider hiring someone who doesn't own a smart phone and a computer, even for a $10/hr day laborer job, because timesheet apps integrate with bookkeeping programs. To those who complain about the poor having cable TV, you should be informed that bundling TV with internet lowers your monthly bill. More and more we are returning to the "company store" model of employment that returns workers' wages to the company and keeps them in a state of indentured servitude -- and endless poverty. I wish these articles on poverty could be written by someone who has actually lived in poverty and understands how people like Trump rig the system.
7
When I see fewer people living out of their cars and vans in the nearby Home Depot lot, I'll know the economy has improved, and Jerry Brown and Barack Obama can exult. Success has MANY fathers.
6
Alex, you make 40g a year and drive a Pathfinder? save up the money for the kids, and drive an older used car !
15
How do you know what he paid for that vehicle, what condition it is (was) in, etc ? Chances are he did not drive into a new car dealership and plunk down 40k for a brand new car. Truth is those who are forced by financial conditions to buy used cars end up spending more due to the need for constant repairs. Another burden on those who are hardworking but not getting ahead - like most of us.
1
I actually laughed out loud after reading the statement of how lower gas prices enable people to take a minimum wage job. Min wage doesn't put anyone but a single wage earner over the poverty threshold.
The Obama administration is cooking the books by including subjective data in the salary survey. Not surprising to see it released just prior to the election. Same types of data scams they pulled in 2012.
The Obama administration is cooking the books by including subjective data in the salary survey. Not surprising to see it released just prior to the election. Same types of data scams they pulled in 2012.
16
Thanks due to rising wages not new jobs. This deals with how many workers climbed above the poverty line not the net increase/decrease. How many people also fell below the poverty line. This is a general format NYT article in which information / data is mined for the good news for liberal Democrats but not balancing the entire story.
8
This is god news. The question to be asked .... did these millions climb out of poverty through their ambition, hard work, and dedication to improve their skills and the life of their family .... OR was it just the government's doing? Who's responsible for this success?
1
Obviously you have never been poor....
You can spin all you want about how the stock market etc. has rebounded, but I will always see it as money that was stolen from me that I will never get back. I mean, 8 years to claw back to where you started is no prize. Not to mention the fact that if you are over 40 you are essentially forced to retire. Everyone in this article is young. There are no success stories for anyone who is older. And yes, I make less than I did in 1991 which was the peak of my earnings. Am I still angry? You bet. We would need 10 job openings for every worker for it to get some idiot employer to hire a 55 year old woman.
15
Hey, after a reverse 10 for 1 split, the Citi shares that were once worth $50 each are now about $50. for what had been 10 shares. So that is 10% and while the Citi C-level feels no pain, I know I'll never get that 90% back. That money was stolen. Bill Clinton helped.
4
How is it 'stolen' if a person foolishly invested in an individual stock that later tanked?
It is hardly news that retirement accounts should be fully diversified and invested in low fee index funds.
A fool and their money...
It is hardly news that retirement accounts should be fully diversified and invested in low fee index funds.
A fool and their money...
2
Maybe not 40, but if you lost your job at 50 or older -- good luck. Chances are very good you will NEVER AGAIN work in the same field at a professional job with benefits.
You may find work, but it will be a couple of part-time McCrap McJobs with no health insurance.
If you are over 58 or so....expect to have to retire MUCH earlier than planned, which means starting retirement out at a 30% cut in SS benefits FOR LIFE, and probably you had to use up your 401K and IRAs just to survive until 62. (And no Medicare until 65, and Obamacare charges oldsters a 300% premium over young folks.)
You may find work, but it will be a couple of part-time McCrap McJobs with no health insurance.
If you are over 58 or so....expect to have to retire MUCH earlier than planned, which means starting retirement out at a 30% cut in SS benefits FOR LIFE, and probably you had to use up your 401K and IRAs just to survive until 62. (And no Medicare until 65, and Obamacare charges oldsters a 300% premium over young folks.)
8
In many ways, this is a companion piece to yesterday's "Your Local 1-Percenters May Not Be as Rich as You Think". That story provided a link to a study that looked at income inequality done by the Economic Policy Institute. That website allowed you to look at each state and see the degree to which income inequality was occurring. Looking at the data, 8 of the top 10 states with the greatest income inequality were in fact 2012 "Blue" States (NY, CT, NV, FL, MA, CA, NJ, IL). So, Red states have greater amounts of Poverty, but the greatest income inequality is found in Blue states? What kind of policies do you create to address that? I would love to know how the candidates plan on addressing poverty, and if they even think income inequality is an issue.
5
The poverty line is artificial and meaningful only to politicos. Many in the U.S. are below that line by choice, slogging it out in various attempts to make it in difficult businesses, like entertainment or art. Also, economic class status in the U.S. is very, very mobile. The number of people is far less important than which ones are still there after 5-10 years... which is mysteriously absent from every left-leaning discussion (like all meaningful data points; political types HATE disconfirmation of their ideas, while real truth seekers primarily are pursuing disconfirmation, as the most efficient path to real insight and knowledge). NYT's job is to tell stories, not to get it right.
2
Indeed, if you are raising children, the most common situation is to choose to have the minimum possible income. You need to earn around 75,000 dollars to begin to exceed what is available through the poverty reward system. From housing to medical care, to the value of your time. Many poverty families consume over 100,000 dollars of products and services yearly. Our system requires and practically lionizes non-marriage and poverty. Only a wealthy society could come up with something so insane.
8
Thanks for the news. I am a retired school teacher and am living at about the poverty level with my retirement. The best part is that my government took away most of my Social Security payment because I became a teacher later in life, after contributing to Social Security for 25 years. I do remember, however, that it was easier to live on less income years ago. Sam Clemens was right about statistics.
4
Tax the top bracket 5% more, invest in infrastructure and you will see another 10% drop in poverty. Is American voter smart enough to figure that out?
I don't think so!
By electing Bush Americans screwed Clinton's prosperity and now, by electing Trump, they will screw the recovery again....
I don't think so!
By electing Bush Americans screwed Clinton's prosperity and now, by electing Trump, they will screw the recovery again....
5
Clinton prosperity = Subprime mortgage meltdown, courtesy of Barney Frank, Jack Reed, Chris Dodd, Charlie Rangel, and Clinton's dismantling of Glass-Stegall, turning insurers and banks into casino-style entrepreneurs.
4
It appears that the economic arguments against raising the minimum wage were exaggerated in recent labor markets. Supposedly, raising the minimum wage would set an artificial wage above the market clearing equilibrium wage. As a result, the demand curve for workers at this higher minimum wage could not keep pace with the supply curve for workers, and a large surplus of unemployable workers would result. This scenario has not happened. The higher minimum wages seem to have combined with cheaper gasoline prices to multiply the impact of this additional consumer spending. Thus, a "virtuous" economic cycle seems to be currently reinforcing itself where this higher consumption spending has increased the demand for workers among certain regional businesses. Many of the voters in these more successful regions are confident enough in their productivity and ability to generate marginal revenue product to vote for an increased minimum wage. Simply put, this derived demand for labor from this increased consumer spending has been sufficient to cover the increased labor costs from the minimum wage hikes. Those regions unwilling to risk such an economic bet overall, probably remained stalled in status quo ante economies, a la the map by states, of comparative poverty. With the recent turbulence in ACA insurance markets including requests for rate hike increases, and its importance to consumers' welfare, this item will surely continue to be an item of political contention.
M 9/26 11:43a
M 9/26 11:43a
If we allow Trump to be elected, we will sink back into a recession. Our progress in race relations across this country will be set back 50 years. You will see radical right wingers placed in the judiciary across this country. It is a terrifying thought and I beg Hillary Clinton to get out there on the trail nonstop from here on in. Trump is winning the media war right now. Roger Ailes and Fox News have commandeered even MSNBC, which is depressing.
3
Our progress in race relations across this country will be set back 50 years
--------------------------
You can thank Obama for that, it's been rock bottom racially since long before Trump's candidacy.
--------------------------
You can thank Obama for that, it's been rock bottom racially since long before Trump's candidacy.
8
Ms. Cohen, you are comparing apples to oranges - it least as far as I can tell. The methodology of collected data that you are using to write this article has changed in 2013, so you really have only 2 or 3 years of data that you can honestly compare. There is no mentioning of this in the test of article except in a small legend of a graph, without any explanation. So this vaguely misleading sub-headline: "largest annual drop in poverty since 1999" seems like an ad for Clinton campaign, unless you can explain this change in methodology in detail.
Anyone can change methodology for collected data, and get "great results" very quickly, so it is important for you to tell the reader what this change in methodology is, so they can judge themselves if this is real or not.
Anyone can change methodology for collected data, and get "great results" very quickly, so it is important for you to tell the reader what this change in methodology is, so they can judge themselves if this is real or not.
7
While this is good news, it must be noted that the poverty line is artificially low. Surely many or all of these people who rose out of official poverty and are making just above poverty wages are one illness, accident, or other emergency away from poverty.
The article reports that the wife of the man profiled here quit her job so she could take care of her children. That means childcare is too expensive, and it also means his increase in income was not as large as it appeared, since she lost her income at the same time.
How can they save for a rainy day? For retirement?
In the San Francisco Bay Area, housing is so expensive that even the top 10% struggles to find a habitable apartment. How can a family survive on $40,000 if they barely make ends meet at $125,000? The traditional tools for measuring poverty are outdated. People are hurting, and policymakers are ignoring them.
Trump exploits people's pain and offers hollow promises, and the Democrats--the party that is supposed to provide government services--cowers in the face of Republicans' strident anti-tax rhetoric.
If taxes went to a true social safety net, Americans would feel safer and would have more faith in government. And we'd all be a lot better off.
The article reports that the wife of the man profiled here quit her job so she could take care of her children. That means childcare is too expensive, and it also means his increase in income was not as large as it appeared, since she lost her income at the same time.
How can they save for a rainy day? For retirement?
In the San Francisco Bay Area, housing is so expensive that even the top 10% struggles to find a habitable apartment. How can a family survive on $40,000 if they barely make ends meet at $125,000? The traditional tools for measuring poverty are outdated. People are hurting, and policymakers are ignoring them.
Trump exploits people's pain and offers hollow promises, and the Democrats--the party that is supposed to provide government services--cowers in the face of Republicans' strident anti-tax rhetoric.
If taxes went to a true social safety net, Americans would feel safer and would have more faith in government. And we'd all be a lot better off.
11
There is no possible way to have "affordable child care" for FOUR CHILDREN in a family. There is no way any society could ever afford to pay for this. What about the family with 10 children? The NYT did a magnificent piece on "Dasani: The Invisible Child" about 18 months ago. This was a family in a homeless shelter -- married couple in their early 30s -- neither had a job -- and they had TEN CHILDREN.
There is no job (short of "millionaire) that could pay for day care for TEN children. There is no social programs to give free or subsidized day care that would not cost MORE than what both adults could earn working full time (they are unskilled and illiterate).
Free day care would only encourage such people to have more and more children...why not? It is FREE and the government will raise them for you!
There is no job (short of "millionaire) that could pay for day care for TEN children. There is no social programs to give free or subsidized day care that would not cost MORE than what both adults could earn working full time (they are unskilled and illiterate).
Free day care would only encourage such people to have more and more children...why not? It is FREE and the government will raise them for you!
7
I agree that in this day and age, having four children is far too many. But many European countries provide free or affordable childcare, and birth rates there have declined, not risen. Development is complex.
1
@ Margaret
It is not 'complex'. If the government lets people know that the more children they have, the more welfare and other taxpayer-funded social services they will get, then many people will have children because they see them as a 'paycheck'.
Unfortunately, those kinds of people are least likely to be good parents and will raise their children to do the same thing, perpetuating the cycle of poverty through generations.
Whatever you reward, you get more of...
It is not 'complex'. If the government lets people know that the more children they have, the more welfare and other taxpayer-funded social services they will get, then many people will have children because they see them as a 'paycheck'.
Unfortunately, those kinds of people are least likely to be good parents and will raise their children to do the same thing, perpetuating the cycle of poverty through generations.
Whatever you reward, you get more of...
2
Congratulations to Mr. Caicedo on his new career and new success. But a family of six with a single $40,000 income is not exactly financially secure. One illness, one accident, and they could be back with in-laws. Helping people climb out of poverty permanently requires more than just a better job with better pay and benefits.
12
Perhaps people could think about that before they decide to become a "family of six".
7
A family of 6 in the Hispanic community is as routine as a family of 4 in the Jewish community, FSM. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
1
Right, FSM, only rich people are allowed to have a family, and they also aren't allowed to get sick, have a spouse die, or lose a job through no fault of their own. This attitude is exactly what leads to the success of a man who has five kids with three women to criticize whole swaths of the population for the same, simply because they did not inherit millions of dollars like he did.
4
Many commenters are bothered by drawing the poverty line at $25K for a family of four.
I was struck by another number recently. Hillary would make college tuition-free for families making up to $125K.
I can remember when I first made $125K in a year. I was very proud of myself and thought I was really getting somewhere.
Now $125K is some sort of lower middle class welfare line.
How things change!!!!! And, no, it isn't just inflation.
Americans want to live a very good life and most of us will probably not achieve that "very good life" status. Or we won't be able to hang on to it when we briefly achieve it.
To me it seems very alarming that we feel sorry for (and hence need to provide handouts for) folks at the $125K level.
I wonder if I am alone in this perception. Or do other NYT readers (many of whom are certainly at or above the $125K mark) share my sense that this is an odd marker of relative deprivation?????
I was struck by another number recently. Hillary would make college tuition-free for families making up to $125K.
I can remember when I first made $125K in a year. I was very proud of myself and thought I was really getting somewhere.
Now $125K is some sort of lower middle class welfare line.
How things change!!!!! And, no, it isn't just inflation.
Americans want to live a very good life and most of us will probably not achieve that "very good life" status. Or we won't be able to hang on to it when we briefly achieve it.
To me it seems very alarming that we feel sorry for (and hence need to provide handouts for) folks at the $125K level.
I wonder if I am alone in this perception. Or do other NYT readers (many of whom are certainly at or above the $125K mark) share my sense that this is an odd marker of relative deprivation?????
7
I understand why you say that $125k is an odd marker of deprivation, but for a family of 4 in NYC, let's say, with our high taxes and high everything and kids in college, that would be tight. Strange but true.
3
In my district, children get free breakfast and lunch at school with incomes up to $42,000 a family.
Apparently this is not enough to buy a box of Cheerios, a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly.
Apparently this is not enough to buy a box of Cheerios, a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly.
3
It's not about "deprivation," it's the reality of rising costs of living and tuition. In NYC, a family of four would be living a modest middle class lifestyle on $125,000/year. Full time childcare in NYC is upwards of $20,000 per year, and that's for regular "daycare," not some Montessori private preschool. Rent is at least that much for a modest apartment in an outer borough. I would imagine it's the same in other major urban metropolises. Even a family of four with an income of $250,000 is not living high on the hog in a major city if they themselves have student loan debt, or medical issues, or other major expenses aside from basic survival. I come from a much cheaper state and wouldn't have believed it were I not here to witness it myself.
Leaving all that aside, I simply don't think it makes sense for our future work force to be saddled with student debt, and not all wealthy parents are willing to help out their adult children. A lot of states no longer offer full ride academic scholarships, and tuition is far too expensive for a young person to work their way through while paying retail as many did in the past. It's a smart proposal and will allow people from all different backgrounds to succeed, not just the richest.
Leaving all that aside, I simply don't think it makes sense for our future work force to be saddled with student debt, and not all wealthy parents are willing to help out their adult children. A lot of states no longer offer full ride academic scholarships, and tuition is far too expensive for a young person to work their way through while paying retail as many did in the past. It's a smart proposal and will allow people from all different backgrounds to succeed, not just the richest.
1
IN BHO administration, claims of deficit cut by 70%, addition of several millions of jobs, and reduction in unemployment rate to 4.9% will be certainly vilified by the opposite party with its own coterie of economists, as Stephen Moore, and Larry Kudlow, just to name a few. They will probably waste no time in their vituperative vitriol against higher taxes, in general, embraced by the Dems. for the rich, although there is much more to it than that.
Another tocsin rung by many will be the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots. The tatterdemalion appearances of schools, some airports, bridges, and roads speak volumes about the GOP intransigence against infrastructure spending. Trickle down economics from less taxes have been despised and derided by a clique of economists as ''a myth''.
Nevertheless, for many non-economists, these numbers of poverty reduction can be a pleasant bolt from the blue. One only hopes these numbers are not fudged and are dismissed as ''just snoozers''.
Now then, let's all try and look sedulous in achieving our prosperity goals with all the vivacity we have got.
Another tocsin rung by many will be the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots. The tatterdemalion appearances of schools, some airports, bridges, and roads speak volumes about the GOP intransigence against infrastructure spending. Trickle down economics from less taxes have been despised and derided by a clique of economists as ''a myth''.
Nevertheless, for many non-economists, these numbers of poverty reduction can be a pleasant bolt from the blue. One only hopes these numbers are not fudged and are dismissed as ''just snoozers''.
Now then, let's all try and look sedulous in achieving our prosperity goals with all the vivacity we have got.
1
"tatterdemalion tocsins".............now there is a NYT commenter with a distinct voice!!
These are not "rags to ricjes" stories. Many are merely "I've got the minimum I need to survive" stories. We've yet to once again attain the "boom" that started with Sputnik in the late 1950's and probably started to end in the early 1990's. Employment is improving, but not to the great degree we had with the demand for STEM wizards..
4
Trickle-down Economics was a conservative fantasy. Provide opportunities for employment, pay a living wage and you will see the economy take off. Lowering taxes on the top 1% will only further damage our economy. The current minimum wage when adjusted for inflation is lower then it was in 1970. This is great news. I like the comment below from Socrates "The Grand Old Poverty" GOP acronym. The only thing worse then Trump would be Herbert Hoover, or may be not?
5
A different map based on relative purchasing power would be more informative. Comparing San Francisco or NYC to Memphis or Albuquerque based on gross income relative to standard of living is meaningless.
10
Wow! Fudged Obama administration figures. Just as first debate begins.
What a surprise....not.
What a surprise....not.
12
Demographics need to be considered. The increasing movement of people out of rural areas with low costs of living to suburban and urban areas with higher living costs may mask the rate change of Americans living at impoverished living standards. This article is just pre-election, pre-debate propaganda.
10
What about the people in SS not receiving increase?
Who will change this true poverty?
Younger people can work or even get more hours but the older has no choices.
Who will change this true poverty?
Younger people can work or even get more hours but the older has no choices.
8
Means-testing of SS is long overdue. Very few of Florida's widows and widowers would then qualify, I'm sure.
2
As an advocate for very-low income children, I find most people want to work, to be productive, to earn a paycheck. Imagine a country of healthy people working and paying taxes. Is that too simple of a goal for our leaders to grasp?
13
Imagine a country of healthy people working and paying taxes and having stable lives and decent jobs before choosing to have children, as was the case even 40 years ago.
Is that too simple of a goal for anyone to grasp?
Is that too simple of a goal for anyone to grasp?
11
Thank the Democrats for this! If Republicans had their way, the rich would be even richer and the rest of us much poorer. A vote for Hillary, and all down ticket Democrats this election and the next will hopefully continue this trend.
Go Hillary!
Go Hillary!
5
I don't get the rah-rah attitude expressed here, sure, there are some winners in our Lotto culture. But we have far too many losers. The poverty line is a joke, $11,880 for individuals. $16,020 for a family of 2, and $24,300 for a family of four, when measured against the real cost of living and the real cost of groceries, and other necessities.
We have seen several near gleeful articles here in the Times recently derived from the census report but they ring hollow to me when the supposed gains are set side by side with an income level that allows people to live in dignity.
We have seen several near gleeful articles here in the Times recently derived from the census report but they ring hollow to me when the supposed gains are set side by side with an income level that allows people to live in dignity.
8
Yes, no doubt these are indeed tales of individuals overcoming the odds and many hardships along that long, arduous journey for untold millions. The sad hard truth is the backstory of finding even more stories to share...
3
Good news- but let's not squander this progress. Vote for HRC and Democratic for every election. Democratic party to move forward; GOP to go backwards- and speaking of backwards, you cannot get more backwards than Trump and the GOP.
No matter what the GOP pols say about Trump- he is still in step with traditional GOP values and working for the 1% at the expense of everyone else- and let's not forget, Trump says climate change is a hoax. We must not let Trump or any GOP pol get elected. They are all rich Neanderthals.
No matter what the GOP pols say about Trump- he is still in step with traditional GOP values and working for the 1% at the expense of everyone else- and let's not forget, Trump says climate change is a hoax. We must not let Trump or any GOP pol get elected. They are all rich Neanderthals.
7
Obama has been a boon for the 1%.
5
America has been a boom for the 1%.
Rs and Ds alike.
The rhetoric differs(slightly), but the results are the same for the 1%
Oddly, in this race it is The Donald who poses threat to the 1%.
He may well destroy the whole economy, bringing us all down.
Trump may the Great Inadvertent Equalizer!
Rs and Ds alike.
The rhetoric differs(slightly), but the results are the same for the 1%
Oddly, in this race it is The Donald who poses threat to the 1%.
He may well destroy the whole economy, bringing us all down.
Trump may the Great Inadvertent Equalizer!
2
If the 1% are your villain you should note that they are solidly aligned with HRC. Most of all Goldman Sachs, enablers of the Clintons from the beginning and locked with them in a state of financial symbiosis .
2
I don't know where this contributor's head's at, but she has no clue about the replacement jobs that are supposedly lifting people out of poverty. wages are still too low and, if you're working poor, you still have to work another low-wage job and live with others in the same boat. quit the propaganda, even the FED recognizes this fact (thank you, FED, for not raising rate again!).
9
Yes but in the exalted Age of Obama there are more black African Americans in prison and on welfare and unemployed than ever before. It is not meaningfully morally justly fairly relevant where their socioeconomic educational status ranks compared to their past.
The only relevant relationship is to their current white peers at every socioeconomic educational level. By that carefully colored carved measure all Americans are not divinely naturally created equal with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
See Matthew 25:31-46.
The only relevant relationship is to their current white peers at every socioeconomic educational level. By that carefully colored carved measure all Americans are not divinely naturally created equal with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
See Matthew 25:31-46.
3
Are you kidding, NYT? The wages since the economic crash in 2008 have not recovered by any means, while the cost of living skyrockets. Is this supposed to assuage the guilt of those who have theirs feel better about the wretched condition of our economy? Because it's not working. Income inequality is still the number one killer in America.
11
Although these numbers aren't "cooked", they are the product of a recent change in how the Census Bureau measures income. If you look solely at wage-based income gains, the picture is still positive, but barely so. The "record" gains being recorded are because the Census Bureau began including wages from questions that asked respondents to estimate income from non-wage sources.
The median is pretty sensitive to these changes, so it's no surprise the number rose substantially this year. However, the BLS statistics show a completely different picture. The NY Times is doing a predictably bad job of reporting this survey result.
The median is pretty sensitive to these changes, so it's no surprise the number rose substantially this year. However, the BLS statistics show a completely different picture. The NY Times is doing a predictably bad job of reporting this survey result.
9
This is good progress in the face of accelerating automation and Globalisation which are inevitable.
However it does demonstrate building demand is the preferred strategy to generate growth and reduce income inequality.
My to do list would be
Ensure Automation is safe and fair
Trade deals must ensure that they are fair in all aspects including penalties for currency manipulation and non compliance with climate change provisions.
Multi nationals must pay fair tax commensurate with their use of our resources.
Example if Apple earns 40 percent of its revenue in the USA it pays tax on 40 percent of global revenues.
Infrastructure investment funded by financial transaction tax , increase in excise tax on gasoline
Increase minimum wage, fair pay for all genders.
Reduce Drug prices, progress to universal health care.
Assistance for College for those in need.
Investment in Renewable energy , create industrial development areas to manufacture components , equipment for renewable energy.
Fair tax reform both personal and corporate.
Immigration and penal reform
Simple list, very doable and deal with chronic issues, health care, immigration, cost of college and our penal system
However it does demonstrate building demand is the preferred strategy to generate growth and reduce income inequality.
My to do list would be
Ensure Automation is safe and fair
Trade deals must ensure that they are fair in all aspects including penalties for currency manipulation and non compliance with climate change provisions.
Multi nationals must pay fair tax commensurate with their use of our resources.
Example if Apple earns 40 percent of its revenue in the USA it pays tax on 40 percent of global revenues.
Infrastructure investment funded by financial transaction tax , increase in excise tax on gasoline
Increase minimum wage, fair pay for all genders.
Reduce Drug prices, progress to universal health care.
Assistance for College for those in need.
Investment in Renewable energy , create industrial development areas to manufacture components , equipment for renewable energy.
Fair tax reform both personal and corporate.
Immigration and penal reform
Simple list, very doable and deal with chronic issues, health care, immigration, cost of college and our penal system
1
IN BHO administration, claims of deficit cut by 70%, addition of several millions of jobs, and reduction in unemployment rate to 4.9% will be certainly vilified by the opposite party with its own coterie of economists, as Stephen Moore, and Larry Kudlow, just to name a few. They will probably waste no time in their vituperative vitriol against higher taxes, in general, embraced by the Dems. for the rich, although there is much more to it than that.
Another tocsin rung by many will be the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots. The tatterdemalion appearances of schools, some airports, bridges, and roads speak volumes about the GOP intransigence against infrastructure spending. Trickle down economics from less taxes have been despised and derided by a clique of economists as ''a myth''.
Nevertheless, for many non-economists, these numbers of poverty reduction can be a pleasant bolt from the blue. One only hopes these numbers are not fudged and are dismissed as ''just snoozers''.
Now then, let's all try and look sedulous in achieving our prosperity goals with all the vivacity we have got.
Another tocsin rung by many will be the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots. The tatterdemalion appearances of schools, some airports, bridges, and roads speak volumes about the GOP intransigence against infrastructure spending. Trickle down economics from less taxes have been despised and derided by a clique of economists as ''a myth''.
Nevertheless, for many non-economists, these numbers of poverty reduction can be a pleasant bolt from the blue. One only hopes these numbers are not fudged and are dismissed as ''just snoozers''.
Now then, let's all try and look sedulous in achieving our prosperity goals with all the vivacity we have got.
1
Someone's got a thesaurus...
4
This article is just supposed to make liberal elites (e.i the New York Times target demo) feel better about themselves. The official poverty line is still poverty. You have to get to at least 150% of the poverty line to not be down right indigent. Also, even for relatively middle income people, the level of economic insecurity is still increasing with demand for longer hours, fewer and weaker retirement and health benefits, lower unionization rate, etc. As, recent article pointed out, few households in American can deal with any kind of unexpected bill of over 2000. 2000 could set many families on a downward spirl toward poverty and or bankruptcy.
10
Please, take a month and attempt to live at, maybe, $1,000 over the poverty line. And, earn this by working 2 and three jobs at "minimum" wage. THEN tell me whether or not this is a cause for celebration. It is not, of course. Until wealth in this country is distributed in a fair and reasonable fashion, the percentage of us who are poor will continue to skyrocket--ridiculous "poverty line" measures aside.
8
That worked great in Russia and Cuba. Great idea.
5
Define poverty. The federal poverty guidelines are a joke in many regions of the United States, where you can earn far above the guideline and not be able to afford unsubsidized housing, health insurance and groceries. Just childcare to be able to work can easily run $30K/yr. where I live, if you're not blessed with a grandparent who can and will do it for free.
14
But deciding when to have children and waiting until you can afford to support them is free.
8
Great news! Most Americans are probably unaware of it along with the increasing numbers who now have decent health care. Which raises the question: why haven't the NYT and other media been focusing on news like this instead of helping inflate the ego of Donald Trump over the past year?
1
President Obama...I do congratulate him for making the effort to initiate health insurance coverage for all. Previous administrations, which includes the husband whose wife is debating tonight, let it fall and die. However, our current administration did not have bipartisan cooperation to refine obamacare, keep working on it, and making it worthwhile for the people who really need it. A morass of bureaucratic ineptness and bloating that is an embarrassment. Not a legacy to leave behind. However, as the NYT has declared poverty has been eradicated under our current administration, and the NYT also wants Edward Snowden pardoned, they may have their wish on December 31, 2016
2
While the NYT and other media corw about how great the Economy is with 3 million lifted from poverty and a 5% bump up in the Media income think about this:
The Median income in 1967 was $44,000 and now is $56,000.
About a 25% raise.
Name other things that are only 25% more expensive than they were in 1967?
Back in 1967 we did not have Credit Default Swaps and were not seeing Financial Services as America's biggest growth industry.
We also had Unions.....and much higher tax rates on large incomes. Why do these stories about how good we are doing reveal that is is only compared to last year? They do not want working people to realize how the increased productivity and profits are cornered by CEO'a and Bankers.
The Median income in 1967 was $44,000 and now is $56,000.
About a 25% raise.
Name other things that are only 25% more expensive than they were in 1967?
Back in 1967 we did not have Credit Default Swaps and were not seeing Financial Services as America's biggest growth industry.
We also had Unions.....and much higher tax rates on large incomes. Why do these stories about how good we are doing reveal that is is only compared to last year? They do not want working people to realize how the increased productivity and profits are cornered by CEO'a and Bankers.
13
Misleading. The median income is in current inflation adjusted dollars. So the 1967 median income of 44,000 is in 2014 dollars, not 1967 dollars.
Which means there has been a large rise in "real dollar" median incomes.
Which means there has been a large rise in "real dollar" median incomes.
1
Everything's more expensive today than in 1967. That's why the $44K figure was already adjusted for inflation.
Here's my source:
http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/...
Now where's yours?
Here's my source:
http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/...
Now where's yours?
3
What about the other side of the economic ladder which is wealth accumulation?
9
Vote for Trump and kiss any progress good bye !!
8
"Millions in U.S. Climb Out of Poverty"
Now I understand why the GOP is trying to rescind the minimum wage and overtime laws.
Now I understand why the GOP is trying to rescind the minimum wage and overtime laws.
4
This amounts to a spit in the bucket.
Think how many more Americans would be above the poverty line if they weren't forced to compete with over 11 million (conservative estimate) illegals as well as thousands of HB-1 workers allowed into our country to lower wages paid to Americans.
Whose country is this, and whose side are the overlords, politicians, and media on?
Think how many more Americans would be above the poverty line if they weren't forced to compete with over 11 million (conservative estimate) illegals as well as thousands of HB-1 workers allowed into our country to lower wages paid to Americans.
Whose country is this, and whose side are the overlords, politicians, and media on?
15
Supply and demand, as always.
And both political parties keep increasing the supply of labor at the behest of their corporate donors, as always.
And both political parties keep increasing the supply of labor at the behest of their corporate donors, as always.
4
Nice little political endorsement for the Democratic Establishment on the morn of the first Big Debate.
What the Census, which relied up an unscientific poll of 95,000, didn't reveal is the big picture of the US economy.
The average American citizen's share of the mortgage on America's future is $57,000. The interest payment on that mortgage is $1,150 annually.
The Times' reliance on anecdotes is regrettable. But, it is all in on its candidate and other folks' legacies, so it will do whatever is necessary to smear lipstick on the porker.
What the Census, which relied up an unscientific poll of 95,000, didn't reveal is the big picture of the US economy.
The average American citizen's share of the mortgage on America's future is $57,000. The interest payment on that mortgage is $1,150 annually.
The Times' reliance on anecdotes is regrettable. But, it is all in on its candidate and other folks' legacies, so it will do whatever is necessary to smear lipstick on the porker.
11
Fewer people to look down your nose at. Yes, it's a very bad day in Donald J. Trump's America. SAD!
1
Actually a decline of 1.2 points in the national poverty rate is a decline of 8% in the number of people in poverty. The story could have had more clarity
5
Not feeling better. While positive news and great stories, the poverty line is so low to begin with, it truly is meaningless. The incomes these people are making are far from middle class given the family size. We do not know the other details of their finances. My best guess is that what they are making will cause them to go into debt once an emergency situation occurs and it will spiral out of control. What would really help is if we had a better health care system and lower college costs. In addition, more protection against discriminatory hiring and salaries is needed. My husband and I both went back to school to get our chance at the American dream and now we are drowning in debt. Age, sex, and ethnic discrimination has made it difficult for both of us to get jobs with incomes we thought we would be able to. My husband has had a temporary job for almost three years with no benefits or PTO. The company he works for is very profitable and very stable, of course. I am happy for these people but the fight is far from over.
17
Many have problems with the numbers, as well as when released. First, these are good numbers. Is poverty gone? Have the homeless found homes? Of course not. But to those who can and do strive, the situation is better, and improving at a faster clip. Add in the ACA has reduced the uninsured by 18 million, and peoples lives have improved. This means the middle class has improved even more. In fact the highly reported gains to the 1% at the beginning of the recovery, is now, due in part to policies of the Obsma administration. Is reversing the trend. Indeed, if you want this to continue then sticking with the current strategy seems best.
As to the timing of the release, these are scheduled releases, which haven't changed in years. This news is always published at this time. Further, these numbers are consistent with BEA and labor department policy, not influenced by politics. At least not yet.
As to the timing of the release, these are scheduled releases, which haven't changed in years. This news is always published at this time. Further, these numbers are consistent with BEA and labor department policy, not influenced by politics. At least not yet.
5
Service industry jobs. The ones that are shed first in an economic downturn. That's what this article is about.
Where are the jobs that affect our trade imbalance? The ones that can take on a life of their own as they generate the need for more service jobs?
Where are the jobs that affect our trade imbalance? The ones that can take on a life of their own as they generate the need for more service jobs?
12
I blame Obama.
2
Economists left, right, and center almost universally say Hillary Clinton will continue and expand this trend of job growth, increased opportunity to get better jobs, and wage increases.
They also say that her opponent would usher in a deep global recession. In fact the Economist "Global Threat Assessment" ranks him as tied for third as a threat to global economic stability,
One of the very many decisive factors this November.
They also say that her opponent would usher in a deep global recession. In fact the Economist "Global Threat Assessment" ranks him as tied for third as a threat to global economic stability,
One of the very many decisive factors this November.
6
SO, we keep pumping more and more people from the Third World in to our economy and then complain that they are living in poverty? Its absurd to even call what the bottom rung in America experiences as "poverty" when they have smart phones and cable TV. They are low income and we should certainly strive to improve the quality of their lives. But, its not poverty. This cycle of immigration and hyperbole is a Liberal racket. I think that is what Trump is getting at.
16
Back "home" where my extended family lives, and where my wife's extended family lives, there are no recent immigrants at all - none. Nobody resettled from the Middle East...no Mexican "rapists"...not even Canadians or Europeans...just generations of natural-born American citizens.
This is not a "liberal racket" - nor is it a conservative one. It's not a "cycle of immigration and hyperbole" either...there's nothing "liberal" about that, especially as most of them are self-proclaimed "conservatives."
If anything, the notion that the poor have smartphones and cable TV and therefore are not "in poverty" is a "conservative racket" - in this society, if you're not connected, if you don't have access to the online world (through at least a phone!) you're not even able to apply for many jobs, let alone be kept up-to-date with news and national affairs.
And in most places in this country there are no longer pay phones and far fewer landlines...so if you don't have a phone of your own, how do you communicate? How does a prospective employer give you a call-back for a second interview? Even TV provides a sense of "the world" in this country and, in both workplaces and places of recreation, knowledge of current events bonds you to society - which is necessary for "fitting into" a job and a place in a community.
As regards Mr. Trump, he can "get at" whatever he likes...it's just too bad that what he "gets at" is never even close to the truth.
This is not a "liberal racket" - nor is it a conservative one. It's not a "cycle of immigration and hyperbole" either...there's nothing "liberal" about that, especially as most of them are self-proclaimed "conservatives."
If anything, the notion that the poor have smartphones and cable TV and therefore are not "in poverty" is a "conservative racket" - in this society, if you're not connected, if you don't have access to the online world (through at least a phone!) you're not even able to apply for many jobs, let alone be kept up-to-date with news and national affairs.
And in most places in this country there are no longer pay phones and far fewer landlines...so if you don't have a phone of your own, how do you communicate? How does a prospective employer give you a call-back for a second interview? Even TV provides a sense of "the world" in this country and, in both workplaces and places of recreation, knowledge of current events bonds you to society - which is necessary for "fitting into" a job and a place in a community.
As regards Mr. Trump, he can "get at" whatever he likes...it's just too bad that what he "gets at" is never even close to the truth.
4
Sadly, the GOP has also increased immigration for decades, as the H1B visa program started under Bush Sr.
Both parties are complicit in the decimation of the working and middle classes, leaving Americans with no good choices.
Both parties are complicit in the decimation of the working and middle classes, leaving Americans with no good choices.
5
@Not Amused: I have a cellphone now, as a concession to what you say -- there are few if any pay phones.
However, what I have is a 4 year old "burner phone" that cost $10 at the dollar store. I buy a card with phone minutes every 2-3 months.
That is not what poor people have. I live in a mixed neighborhood with many on welfare and Section 8 -- they ALL HAVE fancy smartphones, the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy or whatever. They all have the fanciest data plans, and spend all day yakking and Facebooking. They are NOT "applying for jobs" -- they are socializing. Phones are for socializing and the other uses are just a sideline.
However, what I have is a 4 year old "burner phone" that cost $10 at the dollar store. I buy a card with phone minutes every 2-3 months.
That is not what poor people have. I live in a mixed neighborhood with many on welfare and Section 8 -- they ALL HAVE fancy smartphones, the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy or whatever. They all have the fanciest data plans, and spend all day yakking and Facebooking. They are NOT "applying for jobs" -- they are socializing. Phones are for socializing and the other uses are just a sideline.
3
It'll be great to hear about the growth of organizations (worker centers, companies) with similar goals.
3
But are we really getting people out of poverty permanently or will this be a blip that goes away when the next crisis occurs? With each recession more people find themselves in the hole of poverty, many for no reasons other than being unable to find a decent job. Our country has tilted so far in favor of corporations rights that they can manage to make a profit and avoid paying any taxes on it. There is too much of a gap between the minimum wage and what is needed to have a decent life in America.
We keep hearing how we're a rich country. How rich are we when we tell many who could benefit from welfare that they aren't poor enough? How rich are we when we refuse to have universal access single payor health care for all citizens on the grounds that healthcare is a for profit industry? We might have the best health research in the world, be the most innovative country for procedures but it means nothing if we cannot take advantage of these things because our wealthcare industry prices things out of our reach.
The same goes for other basics. What good is having a job if it doesn't cover the cost of housing and food? What good is housing if there are no jobs nearby? What's the point of living in a rich country if you are excluded from the mainstream, if you cannot afford a place to live or get a decent education? This would be more impressive if politicians and economists focused on people instead of statistics.
We keep hearing how we're a rich country. How rich are we when we tell many who could benefit from welfare that they aren't poor enough? How rich are we when we refuse to have universal access single payor health care for all citizens on the grounds that healthcare is a for profit industry? We might have the best health research in the world, be the most innovative country for procedures but it means nothing if we cannot take advantage of these things because our wealthcare industry prices things out of our reach.
The same goes for other basics. What good is having a job if it doesn't cover the cost of housing and food? What good is housing if there are no jobs nearby? What's the point of living in a rich country if you are excluded from the mainstream, if you cannot afford a place to live or get a decent education? This would be more impressive if politicians and economists focused on people instead of statistics.
11
Don't tell conservatives. They think things are getting worse. One should also note the facts. The climb is harder in red states.
3
"Started from the bottom now we're here" - Drake, 2012
3
It is amazing that all this good news from the US Census Bureau is coming out in time for the Presidential Election. Equally amazing is the Fed decision not to raise interest rates at this time. This administration has no credibility left, the IRS, the FBI, the Joint Chiefs etc., etc.
11
Good thing we still have Men Of Integrity like Chris "Traffic Trouble" Christie to Defend America! Right, Fort Lee?
1
Millions rising out of poverty? This could not be in any way the result of policies put forth under the auspices of the Obama administration. It must be the result of all the good legislation enacted by the current Republican Congress! Three cheers for Mitch and Paul. Go for the Gold guys!
1
Three million supposedly out of poverty, another 43,000,000, including 14,000,000 children, still officially classified as poor, and countless others.....worried about their families' financial security.
The Obama administration's policies don't look so auspicious when you look at the big picture.
The Obama administration's policies don't look so auspicious when you look at the big picture.
3
To those of you denigrating the NYT for waiting until right before the 1st debate to publish this story; I applaud every news organization and any other organization or person who is doing everything they can to KEEP TRUMP OUT! Thank you, NYT!
2
Devious, duplicitous and disingenuous in the pursuit of true democracy. Yeah, thanks so much, NYT! Very inspirational, if not aspirational.
5
OH, GOOD! Helpful "stats" just in time to help us decide who to vote for at election time. Same day as the first debate, too.
10
There still remains the gap....between the .01 per cent and the 99 per cent.
and this should be a DEBATE....on PBS.....don't you think....
And do you really think that the Democrats and Republicans who are
still serving the .01 percent through this onus of Citizens United....are
going to give up their nice fat salaries.....don't think so...
Bernie Sanders didn't think so.....Gary Johnson and Bill Weld do not think so
and so it goes...and that is what Big Parma....see all their commercials
funding Corporate Media...and Print Media....so ...as long as the money for
commercials and advertising are coming in the doors of Corporate Media
we will have Democrats and Republicans toady up to Citizens United big
Pharma and Big Media...
So NYTimes editors...just confess the quid pro quo....are uncomfortable doing
so...
And yes this rise is minute compared to the billions spend by the one percent
to get their way....just confess the obvious Editors
and this should be a DEBATE....on PBS.....don't you think....
And do you really think that the Democrats and Republicans who are
still serving the .01 percent through this onus of Citizens United....are
going to give up their nice fat salaries.....don't think so...
Bernie Sanders didn't think so.....Gary Johnson and Bill Weld do not think so
and so it goes...and that is what Big Parma....see all their commercials
funding Corporate Media...and Print Media....so ...as long as the money for
commercials and advertising are coming in the doors of Corporate Media
we will have Democrats and Republicans toady up to Citizens United big
Pharma and Big Media...
So NYTimes editors...just confess the quid pro quo....are uncomfortable doing
so...
And yes this rise is minute compared to the billions spend by the one percent
to get their way....just confess the obvious Editors
8
The official poverty income for a family of four is $24300, the EPI income for a decent living for that same family is $67416. That's quite a disconnect.
Granted, the EPI income is for a livable income, but others set estimates of a true poverty income at closer to $38000 for that family of four, almost $14000 above the "official" poverty income.
I bring up these incomes to illustrate just how little change is needed to pull a lot of folks out of the "official" poverty class, so to say that the poverty rate has declined by 1.2% is meaningless. If you were at any one of the two poverty incomes I mention, how well would you be able to survive?
Granted, the EPI income is for a livable income, but others set estimates of a true poverty income at closer to $38000 for that family of four, almost $14000 above the "official" poverty income.
I bring up these incomes to illustrate just how little change is needed to pull a lot of folks out of the "official" poverty class, so to say that the poverty rate has declined by 1.2% is meaningless. If you were at any one of the two poverty incomes I mention, how well would you be able to survive?
15
The good lord helps those who help themselves.
2
I live in Florida. The poverty down here is overwhelming. Most of the poverty is situated among minorities, single women, and immigrants. Juxtaposed to that is unbelievable wealth mostly situated among retired white professionals in gated communities. There are jobs here but only for those with good education or the skills of trade professionals. Immigrants bear the brunt of discrimination in wages and paid less than others. Education also suffers in Florida as local school boards refuse to advance wages and state support is limited. Teachers are not doing as well as in the Northeast. Mostly the employment consists of service jobs or clerking at retail. Nothing that offers a career or opportunity for advancement.
There is some light though at the end of the tunnel. As retirees flock to Florida housing has been expanding here at a very great rate. Contractors are busy and new stores and more services, mostly medical, are growing quickly. Also, following the baby boomers are their children and grandchildren. The Boomers are spending a fortune on their homes and families. It is not trickle down economics it is a wave of prosperous people that is growing and spending at the same time. Mass transit has also expanded Sun Rail is a good example. Also, furniture sales and home improvement is growing. Pool builders and solar energy is expanding as well. Hopefully Florida will use the flood of real estate taxes to upgrade schools and improve teachers wages and student education.
There is some light though at the end of the tunnel. As retirees flock to Florida housing has been expanding here at a very great rate. Contractors are busy and new stores and more services, mostly medical, are growing quickly. Also, following the baby boomers are their children and grandchildren. The Boomers are spending a fortune on their homes and families. It is not trickle down economics it is a wave of prosperous people that is growing and spending at the same time. Mass transit has also expanded Sun Rail is a good example. Also, furniture sales and home improvement is growing. Pool builders and solar energy is expanding as well. Hopefully Florida will use the flood of real estate taxes to upgrade schools and improve teachers wages and student education.
10
Moving above the abysmally low poverty level is nothing to celebrate. There is nowhere in the country where a family of four can make it on $24,000 a year.
13
"Moving above the abysmally low poverty level is nothing to celebrate."
Isn't it better to be above the abysmally low poverty level than below it? I'm not saying we should be singing "Happy Days Are Here Again" just yet, but let's at least be glad that these people and their families are better off than they were.
Isn't it better to be above the abysmally low poverty level than below it? I'm not saying we should be singing "Happy Days Are Here Again" just yet, but let's at least be glad that these people and their families are better off than they were.
2
The 1 percent has 35.6 percent of all private wealth, more than the bottom 95 percent combined.
In 2010, 25 of the 100 largest U.S. companies paid their CEO more than they paid in U.S. taxes. This is largely because corporations in the global 1 percent use off shore tax havens to dodge their U.S. taxes.
Between 1983 and 2009, over 40 percent of all wealth gains flowed to the 1 percent and 82 percent of wealth gains went to the top 5 percent. The bottom 60 percent lost wealth over this same period
The world’s 1 percent, almost entirely billionaires, own $42.7 trillion dollars, more than the bottom 3 billion residents of earth
Between 2001 and 2010, the United States borrowed over $1 trillion to give wealthy taxpayers with incomes over $250,000 substantial tax breaks, including the 2001 Bush era tax cuts
The 99 percent has seen their national share of income decline from 91 percent in 1976 to 79 percent in 2010. The share of wealth owned by the bottom 90 percent declined from 19.1 percent in 1962 to 12.8 percent in 2009.
The median net worth of white households in 2009 was $113,149, over 20 times the median net worth of African American households ($5,677) and 18 times that of Hispanic households ($6,325).
In 2010, average CEO pay for an S&P 500 company was $10.8 million, a 27 percent increase over 2009. The gap between CEO and average U.S. worker pay is 325 to 1, up from 42 to 1 in 1980.
10
Well, we certainly can't have anymore of this! Who will support the Republican Party? :-D
9
Together, the 20 wealthiest Americans -- a group that includes Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, the Koch brothers and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos -- own about $732 billion, according to the latest Forbes 400 rankings. That sum is greater than the total wealth owned by the bottom half of the U.S. population -- 152 million people -- according to an analysis of data from the most recent Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
7
What Party and which candidate are those twenty rich folks supporting? Hint: the candidate they are supporting is the same one that the NYT endorsed.
7
Sure ticket to poverty: have 4 kids.
15
I wouldn't trade my five siblings for all the gold in Fort Knox.
1
@ GLC
That is irrelevant to the fact that children are very expensive, but birth control is cheap, even out of pocket.
That is irrelevant to the fact that children are very expensive, but birth control is cheap, even out of pocket.
1
Misleading at best...Cherry picking a few success stories, does not make it true.The people I live with and around do not represent this article at all. Wages are stagnant and getting worse in rural America. There are no Government programs, or job creator or anything that stimulates growth. We just sit out here in the country and wonder about these articles. I suppose if you count poverty as 24k a year, perhaps some have risen above it! Hooray:) The real poverty line in America should be 40k per person. If you make 40 thousand a year for yourself, you could probably buy a car, rent a home etc..you won't live large, that much is sure! You will not go on vacation or save money, you will exist. So hooray, Many Americans are rising above minimum wage and making 12 bucks an hour...Yippee!
13
If accurate then these numbers are minimally promising.
Yet there is so much that is not encouraging given 30 plus years of steadily declining American mid level wages and manufacturing job flight offshore and the massive shift of most of American wealth into the coffers of the most wealthy and huge multinational corporations that divert tens of billions into tax dodging shelters every year.
This piece lacks a credible perspective on just what it means to move from official poverty to just above the official poverty line — which is still a dismal and very precarious place in a country as overtly wealthy and opulent as America.
Yet there is so much that is not encouraging given 30 plus years of steadily declining American mid level wages and manufacturing job flight offshore and the massive shift of most of American wealth into the coffers of the most wealthy and huge multinational corporations that divert tens of billions into tax dodging shelters every year.
This piece lacks a credible perspective on just what it means to move from official poverty to just above the official poverty line — which is still a dismal and very precarious place in a country as overtly wealthy and opulent as America.
9
I don't think this article lacks that perspective at all. In fact, I think that this article's greatest strength is that it shows exactly that. Mr. Caicedo now has health insurance and is moving his family into a home of their own, Cheyvonne Grayson opened a bank account for the first time in his life, and Christine Magee is paying down credit card debt and buying a home.
If those aren't perspectives on what it means to move from below the poverty line to above it, I don't know what is.
If those aren't perspectives on what it means to move from below the poverty line to above it, I don't know what is.
walmart promotes working poverty
its pure diabolical genius
maybe thats why th walton family has a net worth of $ 150 bill,
Walmart’s low-wage workers cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing, according to a report published to coincide with Tax Day, April 15.
“It found that a single Walmart Supercenter cost taxpayers between $904,542 and $1.75 million per year, or between $3,015 and $5,815 on average for each of 300 workers.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/04/15/report-walmart-worke...
http://www.jwj.org/walmarts-food-stamp-scam-explained-in-one-easy-chart
its pure diabolical genius
maybe thats why th walton family has a net worth of $ 150 bill,
Walmart’s low-wage workers cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing, according to a report published to coincide with Tax Day, April 15.
“It found that a single Walmart Supercenter cost taxpayers between $904,542 and $1.75 million per year, or between $3,015 and $5,815 on average for each of 300 workers.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/04/15/report-walmart-worke...
http://www.jwj.org/walmarts-food-stamp-scam-explained-in-one-easy-chart
12
That makes the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the rest of the world look like a real bargain.
3
A fast recovery would have been just another bubble to burst. The slower and steadier improvement is actually sustainable. His support of fracking, so criticized by the left, led to lower gas prices for poor workers who need a car to work. Obama could have promoted policies creating another bubble. But he took the more responsible path, and took the heat for it from both sides, without complaint. Thank you, Mr. Obama, for your quiet courage.
Bernie Sanders insistent loud clear call for a livable wage led to increases in state minimum wages and a realization that jobs are created when people have more money to spend. Thank you, Mr. Sanders, for that loud, clear call.
Bernie Sanders insistent loud clear call for a livable wage led to increases in state minimum wages and a realization that jobs are created when people have more money to spend. Thank you, Mr. Sanders, for that loud, clear call.
3
Jobs? For whom? Not for Americans.
One of six working age AMERICAN men are not employed,right now.
So WHO is being lifted out of poverty? Illegals and H1B visa holders from India. That's who.
One of the things you're really going to love about the Trump presidency is being about to write headlines like this...and have them apply to AMERICANS.
When Trump builds the wall and sends the 11-20 million illegals home to fix their countries...and when he pulls the plug on the H1B guest worker visas that bring guys here from India to do OUR tech jobs for less....
Then it will be AMERICANS climbing out of poverty.
One of six working age AMERICAN men are not employed,right now.
So WHO is being lifted out of poverty? Illegals and H1B visa holders from India. That's who.
One of the things you're really going to love about the Trump presidency is being about to write headlines like this...and have them apply to AMERICANS.
When Trump builds the wall and sends the 11-20 million illegals home to fix their countries...and when he pulls the plug on the H1B guest worker visas that bring guys here from India to do OUR tech jobs for less....
Then it will be AMERICANS climbing out of poverty.
14
"Jobs? For whom? Not for Americans."
Actually, that's exactly what this Census report, and the BLS reports that back it up, are saying: jobs for Americans.
Actually, that's exactly what this Census report, and the BLS reports that back it up, are saying: jobs for Americans.
1
If there is any entity more than the Republican Party, the Republican House, and the Republican Senate that has emboldened the rise of Donald Trump it is is the American media, period. When the medium income grew at more than 5%, a startled David Brooks commented that the problem with the media is that it is so focused on bad news it forgets to report the good news. For a while this economy has been moving in the right direction. But to say that it is for both liberals and conservatives is to say Obama deserves the credit. I guarantee that the first thing a President Trump will do is take credit for everything going right that he has not done one damn thing to create or promote. And the biased liberal and conservative media will neither call him a liar or admit that Obama has done more for this country than anyone ever has or ever will give him credit for.
a"the problem
a"the problem
4
Does Obama get credit for the 43,000,000 still officially classified as poor?
7
Well done, US. Post the world-financial collapse, obscurantists the world over were convinced that the free market does not work, and cannot be made to work.
It is in the US, the mecca of free markets, that we have witnessed the most robust recovery.
This should help counter a revival of the left-Marxist narrative that we have witnessed in campuses worldwide. Hopefully.
Now please, some incentive for young workers and interns as well. So that they get to keep the faith. Moratoriums on educational loan interests, perhaps, for a half-decade or so?
It is in the US, the mecca of free markets, that we have witnessed the most robust recovery.
This should help counter a revival of the left-Marxist narrative that we have witnessed in campuses worldwide. Hopefully.
Now please, some incentive for young workers and interns as well. So that they get to keep the faith. Moratoriums on educational loan interests, perhaps, for a half-decade or so?
2
Think about this article, the stories it tells, and the hard data that it cites whenever Trump gets up and talks about how people feel "left behind." One of the key characteristics of modern "middle class" white republicans is the way they approach news like this. For these people, and to be fair many others as well, they don't gauge progress in absolute terms, but in relative ones. If the white middle class gains 1 unit of economic success, but poor minorities gain 2 units, the white middle class will say that they lost 1 unit. This is the sad, but simple, truth underlying the candidacy of Donald Trump, and the rise of alt-right white nationalism .
6
–All told, average inflation-adjusted income per family climbed 6% between 2009 and 2012, the first years of the economic recovery. During that period, the top 1% saw their incomes climb 31.4% — or, 95% of the total gain — while the bottom 99% saw growth of 0.4%.
5
Beautiful. Just lower the poverty line. I'm sure the people feel the difference.
7
i admire Mr Grayson in his determination. But no amount of determination or skills can help without that catalyst [his being able to join the union]
1
Don't worry, Republicans.
I'm sure you can sabotage this without even trying.
Republicans - because good news for the every day people is always bad news for them.
I'm sure you can sabotage this without even trying.
Republicans - because good news for the every day people is always bad news for them.
2
Yet the election "is in a dead heat" and one party has done nothing but obstruct and hurt the American economy. Look at California, it has a Democratic Governor and Legislature and their economy, the sixth largest in the world is doing fantastic.
The smart Americans are forced to endure a bad economy because the stupid Americans insist on voting for Republican Obstructionists because it amuses their little brains.
The smart Americans are forced to endure a bad economy because the stupid Americans insist on voting for Republican Obstructionists because it amuses their little brains.
4
Let's reread last week's column about in-home care providers' miserable pay!
10
Huh, that "recovery" is just in time for the business cycle to rectify itself too!
I'm having a hard time believing this article, to be completely honest.
My gut, which understandable shouldn't be relied upon, tells me things are only marginally better - stochastically so, a small blip on a larger line.
There have been no major institutional or structural economic reforms. There has been no major boost to US workers by way of labor rights, legislation, or other means. There is increasing political fragility which looks exacerbated by economic frustrations and fears. And I see no change in inequality to significant degrees.
I'm having a hard time buying this. If the numbers are correct, I suspect that these results are a small positive uptick in a largely not-rosey economic trendline in the US.
This may seem pessimistic - I understand - but the main contributing factors that are contributing to economic stagnation and malaise have not changed for the better, or at all. Hence, I would hazard a guess that this good news may be either short lived, over-stated, or both.
Anyways, I hope I'm wrong.
I'm having a hard time believing this article, to be completely honest.
My gut, which understandable shouldn't be relied upon, tells me things are only marginally better - stochastically so, a small blip on a larger line.
There have been no major institutional or structural economic reforms. There has been no major boost to US workers by way of labor rights, legislation, or other means. There is increasing political fragility which looks exacerbated by economic frustrations and fears. And I see no change in inequality to significant degrees.
I'm having a hard time buying this. If the numbers are correct, I suspect that these results are a small positive uptick in a largely not-rosey economic trendline in the US.
This may seem pessimistic - I understand - but the main contributing factors that are contributing to economic stagnation and malaise have not changed for the better, or at all. Hence, I would hazard a guess that this good news may be either short lived, over-stated, or both.
Anyways, I hope I'm wrong.
8
concerned, trust your gut. It takes guts to admit that there have been no major institutional or structural economic reforms. The political establishment that spawned the policies that have produced the macro-economic problems we face is frantically trying to maintain its strangle hold on America.
3
GLC, true. This article is more of 'Nero fiddles while Rome burns."
Whoever becomes president will have another economic collapse to deal with, worse than the last. And everyone reading this thread will pay for it.
Banks are carrying more derivatives now than they had that blew us up in 2008.
And whoever is president will make taxpayers bail them out again.
http://wallstreetonparade.com/2016/08/bailed-out-citigroup-is-going-full...
Whoever becomes president will have another economic collapse to deal with, worse than the last. And everyone reading this thread will pay for it.
Banks are carrying more derivatives now than they had that blew us up in 2008.
And whoever is president will make taxpayers bail them out again.
http://wallstreetonparade.com/2016/08/bailed-out-citigroup-is-going-full...
5
This is like saying more than 50% are above average. Economic indicators are statistical and relational. Before you congratulate all involved, consider moving the line higher. Again, while the metrics may show something that is not there, they also fail to show one thing that has been there all along, inflation. Tell me anyone above your line can afford a house, then prove it.
7
Now that Mr. Caicedo thinks that he can now afford the joys of paying off a huge mortgage and all the related expenses of home "ownership", for sure I can see the quality of his and his family's life really surge. It may not be too long soon before his mother-in-law looks pretty good after all.
6
@ Iver
It is astounding that as soon as the people in the article pulled themselves above the poverty line, they immediately started living above their means, which will most likely put them right back into poverty.
It is astounding that as soon as the people in the article pulled themselves above the poverty line, they immediately started living above their means, which will most likely put them right back into poverty.
3
Are SS beneficiaries "climbing out of poverty"? Just asking...
12
"Millions in U.S. Climb Out of Poverty, at Long Last"
At Long Last? Millions? Is this a religious sermon?
No need to read the rest. The headline tells you the rest will be propaganda.
At Long Last? Millions? Is this a religious sermon?
No need to read the rest. The headline tells you the rest will be propaganda.
11
Things are never going to improve as long as big money is in politics.
The changes required will require dumping the ACA and going for a nationalized health care system like the rest of the major industrialized nations. This will help make American labor more competitive.
The changes required will require dumping the ACA and going for a nationalized health care system like the rest of the major industrialized nations. This will help make American labor more competitive.
3
Wait, Wait.....according to little Donnie, the Obama Administration has done NOTHING to help Blacks, Hispanics and poor people. Oops, another Trump myth exposed.
5
How convenient to publish such data at this time. 7 and a half years of suffering and - voila!
Problem solved one month before election day.
Problem solved one month before election day.
12
Just in time for the election. Not a moment too soon.
4
Thanks, Obama!
5
If Trump is elected, they will tumble back into poverty.
4
The Republicans don't care to recognize the facts. The Democrats don't care to tout them.
3
The quality of the tents on our sidewalks has definitely improved and there appears to be many more of them. Eight years ago most of the homeless didn't even have a tent.
14
It's sad ... the NYT keeps pushing these stories ... I can only believe because of the election. The numbers have no historical relevance ... and ..They have all been cooked.
12
As with the election of the first black president, this progress will most likely convince moderates of a 'job well done' C"done" being the operative word). And thus there is little need for more.
Subsequently there is a slow down, cessation, or worst, a reversal of progress due to benign neglect of treating a problem by those who deliberately created it.
Subsequently there is a slow down, cessation, or worst, a reversal of progress due to benign neglect of treating a problem by those who deliberately created it.
1
Will people again,as they did with Gore, ignore the folks who got the train rolling, and elect a likeable fellow who will run it off the rails?
3
Just a minute! Who are you calling likable?
2
The Census Bureau released this data on 9-13 and the NYT publishes it on-line on 9-25, the eve of the debate. This type of coincidence along with the stubborn fact that so many are working poorer jobs, multiple jobs and the knowing growth of the disparity between rich and poor promotes cynicism in our media a fact Trump is sure to exploit tonight in some way.
6
$24,300 for a family of four? In New York City? Let's rename it for what it really is...the Destitute Line! There is no real way for a family of four to live in this city and give their children what they deserve. This is a national disgrace. How many readers of the NYT would feel thankful and thrilled if they crossed this bogus line and were now enjoying life on $24,400 a year for their family of four?
12
How many readers of the NYT would decide it was a good idea to have four children (!) when they were making $12 an hour?
1
"...with more than $8,000 in savings — which she plans to use for a down payment on a home — and a bank letter confirming she qualifies for a mortgage."
...and so it begins again — the predatory practices that will cycle us back to where we were in 2007.
...and so it begins again — the predatory practices that will cycle us back to where we were in 2007.
12
aint capitalism grand ?
5
I was thinking the same thing. Supporting 5-6 people and paying a mortgage on $35k a year is impossible no matter how low the cost of living is where you live. A mortgage is only the beginning of homeownership. Wait until you need a plumber or boiler repaired and have to come up with $500-1000 immediately. And once you own a home you don't qualify for any government aide or subsidy. Even if you lose your job, they will tell you to get money by selling your home first. Like thats so easy. But no.worries because once the bank forecloses and your family is homeless they might find room for you at the shelter.
6
Funny. Not. I saw an article advocating investing in Mortgage Backed Securities a couple of weeks ago.
Before you get tempted think about how many people you know who have kept the same mortgage without refinancing from purchase to pay-off. That is how to view the use of MBS - short term gain, long term very little gain, if any.
Before you get tempted think about how many people you know who have kept the same mortgage without refinancing from purchase to pay-off. That is how to view the use of MBS - short term gain, long term very little gain, if any.
2
We'll put a screeching halt on this starting 11/08/16. Cutting the health insurance for 21 million will be a crushing blow to the healthcare industry and the cascading effect with result in the loss of millions of jobs and the beginning of the "GreatEST Depression."
"Chump-Dense 2016"
"Chump-Dense 2016"
3
Mr. Trump asks "What the h*** have you got to lose!?" Well, the progress reported here, for starters.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
7
Thanks to that dreaded Socialist, Barack Obama. And no thanks to the Republican Criminal Organization, and their unrelenting racist seditious opposition.
NO REPUBLICANS IN 2016!!! NONE! NOT ONE!
NO REPUBLICANS IN 2016!!! NONE! NOT ONE!
4
It is heartening to see 3.5 million Americans rise above the poverty limit. But it is disheartening to also see that 43 million Americans remain in poverty.
The map shows which states continue to have the largest populations below the poverty limit - mostly states in the South. Click on "according to Census data released this month" and you will see that the South not only has the largest poor populations, but also the South has made the least progress in reducing poverty. For example, the poor population declined by 4.9% in the Northeast but only by 2.9% in the South. Why?
The Federal Government sends much more than $1 back to states in the South for every $1 collected from them in taxes. For example, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi all get more than $3 from the Feds for each $1 collected in federal taxes. Kentucky and New Mexico get between $2 and $3. Of the darkest blue states only Arkansas only gets a little over $1 back per federal tax dollar. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/05/which-states-are-giv... This same source also shows that all of these states, including Arkansas, have the highest % of their populations on federal food stamps
So, the Federal Government is more than doing its part to help people out of poverty in the South. Who isn't? It is the state legislators and residents of these Red states who keep state taxes low, accept a disproportionate share of welfare dollars and will try to elect Trump
The map shows which states continue to have the largest populations below the poverty limit - mostly states in the South. Click on "according to Census data released this month" and you will see that the South not only has the largest poor populations, but also the South has made the least progress in reducing poverty. For example, the poor population declined by 4.9% in the Northeast but only by 2.9% in the South. Why?
The Federal Government sends much more than $1 back to states in the South for every $1 collected from them in taxes. For example, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi all get more than $3 from the Feds for each $1 collected in federal taxes. Kentucky and New Mexico get between $2 and $3. Of the darkest blue states only Arkansas only gets a little over $1 back per federal tax dollar. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/05/which-states-are-giv... This same source also shows that all of these states, including Arkansas, have the highest % of their populations on federal food stamps
So, the Federal Government is more than doing its part to help people out of poverty in the South. Who isn't? It is the state legislators and residents of these Red states who keep state taxes low, accept a disproportionate share of welfare dollars and will try to elect Trump
5
This is all President Obama’s fault! This is what you get when you elect someone like him!! Twice, no less!!!
Had we continued the grand GOP steamroller of an economy from Bush to McCain to Romney, all of this could have been avoided, and NY Times would have been chasing for some very different headlines, and articles. Like how easy it is to make a perfectly livable and cozy apartment in a three decade-old car with some blankets and pillows.
But seriously, a few decades from now, the Obama years will be judged as some of the best these United States have had in a very long time, despite all the challenges behind and ahead of us. The tragedy is that these years could have been even better, if Mitch McConnell and his loyal friends had extended some cooperation to the President, just for the sake of national interest, and the sake of their own constituents. But we are dealing with a Cut-My-Nose-To-Spite-My-Face "Leadership" here who are now getting trumped by a candidate that perfectly represents them all.
Had we continued the grand GOP steamroller of an economy from Bush to McCain to Romney, all of this could have been avoided, and NY Times would have been chasing for some very different headlines, and articles. Like how easy it is to make a perfectly livable and cozy apartment in a three decade-old car with some blankets and pillows.
But seriously, a few decades from now, the Obama years will be judged as some of the best these United States have had in a very long time, despite all the challenges behind and ahead of us. The tragedy is that these years could have been even better, if Mitch McConnell and his loyal friends had extended some cooperation to the President, just for the sake of national interest, and the sake of their own constituents. But we are dealing with a Cut-My-Nose-To-Spite-My-Face "Leadership" here who are now getting trumped by a candidate that perfectly represents them all.
8
I have to say that it isn't all Obama's fault. There is a bit of deregulation and Citizens United that affected the way markets perform that on turn affect jobs.
2
The business economist celebrates 'lots of employment & wages gains in the lowest-paying end of the jobs spectrum" while the NYT ingenuously pretends we're talking about $40K jobs w/benefits in their anecdotes. But the data is not talking of such jobs.
Those of us on the edge - who've lost middle class jobs & can lose jobs easily, especially as we cross the 50 year old line - know full well there are zillions of $10/hour jobs around that any of us can fall into at any time, that many of us *have* fallen into. These are jobs that used to be real jobs--at my school alone, they are: Security jobs, maintenance, custodial, paraprofessionals. All those jobs used to be salaried jobs. Now they are outsourced hourly jobs. Crappy jobs that have no benefits or vacations & in which you can be fired anytime for anything. If you work full time in such a job, you will earn $400/week or around $20000/year. You are then well over the poverty line. And if you & your partner work in such a job, you will earn $40K, over the poverty line. At our school, folks work, then get unemployment during school vacations. Some sustainable. model.
As someone who actually works amongst folks barely over the line, I know firsthand that they work their butts off, many w/2 jobs each.
This is not something to celebrate. it is in fact an enormous shift downwards disempowering millions of us & keeping many of us in fear. Which the elites know full well but manipulate (as here) to pretend it's something great.
Those of us on the edge - who've lost middle class jobs & can lose jobs easily, especially as we cross the 50 year old line - know full well there are zillions of $10/hour jobs around that any of us can fall into at any time, that many of us *have* fallen into. These are jobs that used to be real jobs--at my school alone, they are: Security jobs, maintenance, custodial, paraprofessionals. All those jobs used to be salaried jobs. Now they are outsourced hourly jobs. Crappy jobs that have no benefits or vacations & in which you can be fired anytime for anything. If you work full time in such a job, you will earn $400/week or around $20000/year. You are then well over the poverty line. And if you & your partner work in such a job, you will earn $40K, over the poverty line. At our school, folks work, then get unemployment during school vacations. Some sustainable. model.
As someone who actually works amongst folks barely over the line, I know firsthand that they work their butts off, many w/2 jobs each.
This is not something to celebrate. it is in fact an enormous shift downwards disempowering millions of us & keeping many of us in fear. Which the elites know full well but manipulate (as here) to pretend it's something great.
8
It's kind of interesting how all of this good news about the economy shows up right before a presidential election. And, strangely enough, the two segments highlighted are Hispanics and African-Americans. Hmmm.....
5
Perfect timing to have this excellent news the day that Hillary and Trump are having their first Presidential Debate, to be watched by some 100,000 TV viewers. Is this coincidence or hidden advertising? Just asking.
7
well sure, "you see," says the times, on election
eve(!), "the status quo is not without a heart, not without its ways and means" for proof, just look at the millions, 3.5 of 'em, who have "raised their chins above the poverty line" (not an actual finish line but...) a construct that we the cool kids can draw (not actually draw...) wherever we want.
there was some chat about using the image of raising chins above a bar but that conveys a lot more stress, arms straining, hands clenched, so the "line," works better for election day, more like up from the dark into the light...ok, except for african americans and hispanics, but hey...if they don't like it they "can go somewhere where they raised the minimum wage."
as for the are 43 million others, (ok, men, women and children), in the "officially poor" basket or actually on "the ladder," "basket" these days is skittle-ish so..."the ladder" which says mobility, but, alas, like the bar, can tie up your hands...but hey, if you can't find work that doesn't require hands just get "under the hood of the census report," have we got a surprise for you.
so, for those of you whose chins are up, say thanks and take your kid out for ice cream, the rest, (aka, with affection, "the 43"), try vermont (but no african-americans or hispanics) or hang on, be cool on the ladder, look up to the line, (maybe sing along, remember the old song "...and nothin's plenty for me...") help is on the way, vote for you-know-who, she's got your back.
eve(!), "the status quo is not without a heart, not without its ways and means" for proof, just look at the millions, 3.5 of 'em, who have "raised their chins above the poverty line" (not an actual finish line but...) a construct that we the cool kids can draw (not actually draw...) wherever we want.
there was some chat about using the image of raising chins above a bar but that conveys a lot more stress, arms straining, hands clenched, so the "line," works better for election day, more like up from the dark into the light...ok, except for african americans and hispanics, but hey...if they don't like it they "can go somewhere where they raised the minimum wage."
as for the are 43 million others, (ok, men, women and children), in the "officially poor" basket or actually on "the ladder," "basket" these days is skittle-ish so..."the ladder" which says mobility, but, alas, like the bar, can tie up your hands...but hey, if you can't find work that doesn't require hands just get "under the hood of the census report," have we got a surprise for you.
so, for those of you whose chins are up, say thanks and take your kid out for ice cream, the rest, (aka, with affection, "the 43"), try vermont (but no african-americans or hispanics) or hang on, be cool on the ladder, look up to the line, (maybe sing along, remember the old song "...and nothin's plenty for me...") help is on the way, vote for you-know-who, she's got your back.
2
Do you really believe The New York Times? At this point they have sold whatever objectivity they once had down the river.
Now we are going to hear stories about how good everything is under our current leadership, this is nonsense. Has anyone noticed the increase in food stamp usage ? Or the fact that 42% of African Americans receive government assistance. Now how about the Hispanics at 34%. The Chinese are flooding our country, literally with people and products.
Our manufacturing base is gone. I watched the US manufacturing base dry up. At one time I brought thousands of pounds of industrial scrap ( by-product of manufacturing ) to be recycled. Now, no one has the turnings, spinnings and clips that were once churned out in such large amounts. No scrap =no work.
The last few years of my career were spent liquidating factories. Shutting down American Industry.
So if you really want to believe the misconceptions and downright nonsense the Times is generating GO AHEAD. Keep you head in the sand, fiddle while Rome burns do whatever you want.
Just remember, this election is for our kids. Not us.
Where do you want to see America go?
LEFT OR RIGHT
Now we are going to hear stories about how good everything is under our current leadership, this is nonsense. Has anyone noticed the increase in food stamp usage ? Or the fact that 42% of African Americans receive government assistance. Now how about the Hispanics at 34%. The Chinese are flooding our country, literally with people and products.
Our manufacturing base is gone. I watched the US manufacturing base dry up. At one time I brought thousands of pounds of industrial scrap ( by-product of manufacturing ) to be recycled. Now, no one has the turnings, spinnings and clips that were once churned out in such large amounts. No scrap =no work.
The last few years of my career were spent liquidating factories. Shutting down American Industry.
So if you really want to believe the misconceptions and downright nonsense the Times is generating GO AHEAD. Keep you head in the sand, fiddle while Rome burns do whatever you want.
Just remember, this election is for our kids. Not us.
Where do you want to see America go?
LEFT OR RIGHT
10
Really ? The timing of this article seems to me to be a little more than suspicious.
8
It gets harder to tell the difference between journalism and government propaganda these days.
11
Good thing we have trolls to bash the truth into those awful people's heads using that series of tubes set up by the government using taxpayer dollars and. . . . what was I saying again?
Oh heck yeah! Happy times are here again! Let's continue along the shining progressive path! It's working! It's working!
4
NYT is no longer a media outlet for news. It now uses it's front page to simply support it's political view and to support Clinton. Your reporting is a disgrace.
13
Outrageous that the Times would report the news! They should bend to Trump's will and obfuscated the news for his benefit.
4
2
from poverty to just barely getting by
th new american dream
let th good times roll
11
It is about time the American people, especially Republicans and Republican politicians, give President Obama the respect and recognition he deserves. Mr. Obama inherited two worthless wars and an economy that tanked thanks to the Republican Party!
For those who feel worse off, relocate and look for work. Staying in the coal mine areas where the work has declined, is not the answer. Go where work is located. Look at the migrants from Mexico and South America. They are willing to locate to another country to find work. Americans just have to relocate to another state.
All said and done, I am happy with this President. Did we all get what we wanted during his Administration - No. But unless a President has a majority of the House and a filibuster proof Senate, nobody does.
For those who feel worse off, relocate and look for work. Staying in the coal mine areas where the work has declined, is not the answer. Go where work is located. Look at the migrants from Mexico and South America. They are willing to locate to another country to find work. Americans just have to relocate to another state.
All said and done, I am happy with this President. Did we all get what we wanted during his Administration - No. But unless a President has a majority of the House and a filibuster proof Senate, nobody does.
10
It's about time articles like this appear but it's probably too late to undo the damage of not reporting the truth about President Obama's accomplishments. The media is complicit in legitimizing Trump.
2
Again, a raise you need a chart to prove, is not a raise.
4
Hmmmm. I have as much confidence in the message of this "reporting" as I have in the veracity of the administration.
5
I can relate to the person in this article ... was exactly my own experience these past three years
2
Watch out Donald Trump. You may be scraping the bottom of Fortune's 500 list. But we're the top of the bottom's 50 million's poorest. Take that Rupert Murdoch!
Th there are so many things wrong with this article - I'm not really sure where to begin....
7
Be a real shame if Trump wins and wrecks all the good work the Democrats did to turn the economy and the country around,same thing happens in my country,that is the progressives manage the economy and the country really well then the conservatives come in and totally wreck the joint,so dont let it happen to you and your great country.''''''''
2
Sure, if you're a TImes reader who is doing well, you might trumpet data that tells you that the economy is improving and poverty is decreasing, along with a few cherry picked anecdotes to support your plug. Thanks Obama, go Hillary! But that data is kind of worthless if your real life circumstances beg to differ. Wages for my type of low-skilled work in my metropolitan area have indeed gone up. It's still not sufficient as the rent hikes and health coverage costs far outpace any gains in income.
6
This article is obviously just another part of the world wide left wing media conspiracy. Everyone knows that Obamacare is a job killer :) Have a good work day everyone!
2
Trump and the Republicans will put an end to this outrage! Americans belong in poverty, it's God's law. Just ask Trump's evangelical backers.
4
Let's get Trump in there and push these people back down below the poverty line where they belong!
5
At the risk of echoing other comments: Thanks, Obama!
The anti-capitalist, anti-American, anti-Christian, Neo-colonialist Kenyan prince whose audacity of hope led him to become POTUS.
The anti-capitalist, anti-American, anti-Christian, Neo-colonialist Kenyan prince whose audacity of hope led him to become POTUS.
3
This article indicates that of those 3.5M people whose income rose above the poverty line, fewer than 0.7M reported they worked full/part time. One way to interpret that - yet more government programs lifted them out of poverty. That will only continue to propagate further dependence.
12
Like the poor-wealthy 1% class are dependent on their overly generous tax breaks courtesy of the GOP? This news is scandalous to them - since these are resources that should have gone to the poor-wealthy few to be sheltered from the taxman.
2
The problem with the *federal* poverty line is that it doesn't take into account varying costs of living. In the NY metro area $23,500, even if you're not a family of four but, say, a family of two or even one, $23,500 won't even get you a cardboard box on the street to live in and a loaf of Wonder Bread a day to eat. (Please don't say 'move'; a lot of us, for various reasons, can't just pull up stakes, and even if we could, the entire country can't all fit in Alabama.) Yet such people find at every turn that they don't qualify for any help; officially they are not 'poor'. To discuss why such people are either invisible or of no interest to the NYT would require an essay too long to fit here; even if one bothered to write it, it would make no difference either to the Times or its loyal readership.
12
You do not have to move to Alabama, to get to a place with more reasonable living costs. Upstate NY...Pennsylvania....some parts of even New Jersey.
The NYC Metro area is one of the most costly in the world, and it is pure suicide for a poor or working class person to imagine they can live a decent life there.
I do agree that moving can be complicated or difficult if you lack money for a car, or even a bus ticket -- have no skills or degrees -- are illiterate or speak poor English -- have a LOT of dependent children you'd need to bring along. Especially if you are dependent on relatives for child care!
But for young people, singletons, etc. -- yes, they should move. It's not "Manhattan or rural Alabama!" -- there are thousands of decent cities and suburbs that are far more affordable than NYC.
The NYC Metro area is one of the most costly in the world, and it is pure suicide for a poor or working class person to imagine they can live a decent life there.
I do agree that moving can be complicated or difficult if you lack money for a car, or even a bus ticket -- have no skills or degrees -- are illiterate or speak poor English -- have a LOT of dependent children you'd need to bring along. Especially if you are dependent on relatives for child care!
But for young people, singletons, etc. -- yes, they should move. It's not "Manhattan or rural Alabama!" -- there are thousands of decent cities and suburbs that are far more affordable than NYC.
2
Thanks, Obama. And I mean that!
6
Re: "Milliions in U.S. Climb Out of Poverty"
NYTimes (and executive editor Baquet)—
Why do I get the feeling that this article, its placement and title, is a push for the status quo and, of course, Hillary Clinton?
NYTimes (and executive editor Baquet)—
Why do I get the feeling that this article, its placement and title, is a push for the status quo and, of course, Hillary Clinton?
7
This sounds like a very positive story but I Thought we were hearing that things were very hard..which I happen to believe they are...that we needed to raise the minimum wage...which I believe we do...but now people are climbing or have climbed out of poverty because of rising wages! Which is it?
I think I know. If you want to tell people to vote for Clinton you want to tell them that everything is rosey. However, if you live in the reality based world where the middle class is getting clobbered and zero hour contracts and independant contracts are the new wave of scamming the workers, you know it's not that great and you know the DNC has caved to the corporations yet again. But who cares, those who are struggling are only humans..as long as the stock market is good, everything is OK!
I think I know. If you want to tell people to vote for Clinton you want to tell them that everything is rosey. However, if you live in the reality based world where the middle class is getting clobbered and zero hour contracts and independant contracts are the new wave of scamming the workers, you know it's not that great and you know the DNC has caved to the corporations yet again. But who cares, those who are struggling are only humans..as long as the stock market is good, everything is OK!
5
Still, median family income is below what it was in 2007..
6
And millions are 'climbing' into poverty.
9
According to Brookings Institute research, poor teens who make three life choices have only a 2% chance of remaining in poverty:
a ) at least finish high school,
b ) get a full time job,
c ) wait until at least age 21 to get married and start having children
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/three-simple-rules-poor-teens-should-...
a ) at least finish high school,
b ) get a full time job,
c ) wait until at least age 21 to get married and start having children
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/three-simple-rules-poor-teens-should-...
11
Thank you, Obama. No thanks to any Republican in Congress.
5
Some really good news published at a really Important moment before the American public chooses a new President.
I Do hope this appears not only in the n.y.times, but also in other places where the white unemployed males can hear or see it!
I Do hope this appears not only in the n.y.times, but also in other places where the white unemployed males can hear or see it!
4
No disrespect to the millions out there still living in poverty but this is ridiculous. Millions "moving out of of poverty" as millions more are pushed out of the middle class. Not yet poor, but getting there. The good news is most of them are middle aged and hopefully they'll be dead soon. Beef up those econometrics to make the Democrats look good.
Of course, if the Fed raises the interests rates in December, and the stock market begins to to tank, there's going to be a lot less liquidity out there, as instead of investing, most big companies these days are buying back their own stock. Hence if the stock goes down, so do a lot of big companies, but forget all that. That is what they call "negativity." No good.
Hopefully if Hillary is elected the New York Times can change it's old motto of "all the news that's fit to print" to "good news comes first." And of course if Trump is elected, well you can learn to love him too. "Good news" comes in all shapes and formats.
Of course, if the Fed raises the interests rates in December, and the stock market begins to to tank, there's going to be a lot less liquidity out there, as instead of investing, most big companies these days are buying back their own stock. Hence if the stock goes down, so do a lot of big companies, but forget all that. That is what they call "negativity." No good.
Hopefully if Hillary is elected the New York Times can change it's old motto of "all the news that's fit to print" to "good news comes first." And of course if Trump is elected, well you can learn to love him too. "Good news" comes in all shapes and formats.
2
Nice stories, I particularly liked the one of the determined black man overcoming not speaking Spanish in America to learn a trade.
6
Thanks Obama!
2
[[African-Americans and Hispanics account for more than 45 percent of those below the poverty line of $24,300 for a family of four in most states.]]
If you're making 12 dollars an hour, don't get married and don't have children.
If you're making 12 dollars an hour, don't get married and don't have children.
9
Yup good news until one of them gets sick then it's bankruptcy court and poverty all over again. In fact the slightest mishap could send those back into poverty. The system is rigged that way like everything else.
2
I'll hand it to the NY Times -- they sure know how to put their political wishes on the front pages as "news stories." This is a weeks-old story turned into a "feature" just in time for the first presidential debate, and to try -- desperately -- to hand Democrats a positive talking point through election day.
One positive report in eight years does not detract from the fact that middle class wages are still DOWN by nearly 10% since 2008; the labor participation rate is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s; growth is averaging less than 2%; and the national debt is about to hit $21 trillion (it was $8.5 when Obama took office).
Nice try, NY Times.
One positive report in eight years does not detract from the fact that middle class wages are still DOWN by nearly 10% since 2008; the labor participation rate is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s; growth is averaging less than 2%; and the national debt is about to hit $21 trillion (it was $8.5 when Obama took office).
Nice try, NY Times.
10
Our nation's politicians have done an excellent job taking exceptionally good care of the 1% while ignoring the rest of us. And they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
It is now time for them to turn their attention to helping the rest of us.
It is now time for them to turn their attention to helping the rest of us.
6
when th top 0.1 % own more than th bottom 90 %, id say youre spot on
1
These stories are poison, designed to give false hope in a hopeless situation where the cards are heavily stacked against you.
Of course "millions of Americans" dig themselves out of poverty. I did it, but it was with a whole lot of luck, some surreptitious stuff, and blind chance. Not because I worked hard or licked the behind of anybody. I didn't, which is the one thing I congratulate myself about.
The fact that a few Americans (an insignificant number like a million maybe) can "Climb out of Poverty" (and if you have done it, you know the humiliation and the nearly unbearable social ordeal you have to undergo to accomplish it), is not testimony of the greatness of America. It is testimony of the shame of America, unequal (in the Jeffersonian sense), discriminatory, ruled by the 1%. America keeps most of its citizens in a state of near servitude, who cannot "make it" if they lose next month's paycheck, and who cannot afford to take a chance and change their employment, because their children have a fearsome likelihood of losing the inadequate, but better-than-nothing employer-privided (with tax breaks) healthcare. These "benefits" keep millions of American workers locked into dead-end jobs. Sort of like a coin-operated iron lung.
American society is manifestly unjust. American society brutally oppresses its working citizens. In summary, American society is wrong, totally wrong, endlessly wrong, entirely wrong.
Of course "millions of Americans" dig themselves out of poverty. I did it, but it was with a whole lot of luck, some surreptitious stuff, and blind chance. Not because I worked hard or licked the behind of anybody. I didn't, which is the one thing I congratulate myself about.
The fact that a few Americans (an insignificant number like a million maybe) can "Climb out of Poverty" (and if you have done it, you know the humiliation and the nearly unbearable social ordeal you have to undergo to accomplish it), is not testimony of the greatness of America. It is testimony of the shame of America, unequal (in the Jeffersonian sense), discriminatory, ruled by the 1%. America keeps most of its citizens in a state of near servitude, who cannot "make it" if they lose next month's paycheck, and who cannot afford to take a chance and change their employment, because their children have a fearsome likelihood of losing the inadequate, but better-than-nothing employer-privided (with tax breaks) healthcare. These "benefits" keep millions of American workers locked into dead-end jobs. Sort of like a coin-operated iron lung.
American society is manifestly unjust. American society brutally oppresses its working citizens. In summary, American society is wrong, totally wrong, endlessly wrong, entirely wrong.
9
coin op iron lung
nice image
1
I did it too, but it was because I worked hard for 20+ years and licked the behind of all my bosses, because...news...that was what it usually takes to get ahead.
Unlike many people, a lot of them poor, I do congratulate myself for doing whatever had to be done, rather than patting myself on the back for being too proud to do those things and depending on 'a whole lot of luck, some surreptitious stuff, and blind chance' to pull me out of poverty.
Unlike many people, a lot of them poor, I do congratulate myself for doing whatever had to be done, rather than patting myself on the back for being too proud to do those things and depending on 'a whole lot of luck, some surreptitious stuff, and blind chance' to pull me out of poverty.
2
Every single comment that I've read has found something negative to say about this article. It's a very interesting human phenomenon, especially on the internet: if there are bad and good sides to something, no matter what the ratio, the bad always gets trumpeted. "Yes, but etc."
There has been slight, but real, improvement in the lives of millions of people. Mr Caicedo and his family must be looking at his life and saying, "It is better." This is something good, and I am glad for it.
There has been slight, but real, improvement in the lives of millions of people. Mr Caicedo and his family must be looking at his life and saying, "It is better." This is something good, and I am glad for it.
35
GOP was happiest during the Reagan Recession when the unemployment rate was 11% and Reagan just kept telling his story about the welfare queen with the Cadillac.
They don't want to end poverty - they just want to feel superior.
They don't want to end poverty - they just want to feel superior.
4
Read Keith's comment
I think it's because most people are looking at the bigger picture, or the common good. Sure, it's great that the guy in the story is doing better. Hell, I'm actually doing better. And I am happy for myself. But that doesn't negate the very real problems that continue to guarantee financial setback for a lot of people (maybe even most people): Unregulated college tuitions which cause student loan debt, health care costs (including chemo that it not entirely paid for, even when one is insured), unregulated pharmaceutical costs, the silent policy of not hiring anyone over the age of 50 and in fact, getting rid of them (legally) to bring in younger, cheaper employees...need I go on?
1
That's the part I never get to understand about these news on economic recovery. The media showers you with news of how bad the economy is, then one day they tell you that the economy has been very good for the last two years, that other people have made a lot of money, and that you have just missed it, and that now we are back in an economic downhill.... sorry peon!
4
I fully expect to hear the misleading claims put forward by this article repeated this evening by Mrs. Clinton as she promises to "build on the legacy of Mr. Obama." And what exactly, for a working-class family, is that legacy? Eight years of watching the nouveau robber barons collect their billions while--hallelujah!--a few million Americans have landed minimum-wage jobs that will vanish the minute the corporate bottom line dips and the shareholders get restless.
But all you need is an education! And where exactly in the era of the quarter-million dollar college diploma do you get that?
Why do millions of Americans support Donald Trump for president? The liberals' narrative is that these benighted people are racists and ignorant, but consider the possibility that when backed into a corner by an economy designed by the elite to service their needs, millions of middle class people hanging on by a thread to low-paying jobs and lousy health care will turn to the brash outsider in the (empty) hope that he will deliver what the Democratic Party once dedicated itself to delivering, namely a measure of economic justice.
So there you have it: Tonight, if you can stand to watch, Trump's cynicism meets Clinton's complacency.
But all you need is an education! And where exactly in the era of the quarter-million dollar college diploma do you get that?
Why do millions of Americans support Donald Trump for president? The liberals' narrative is that these benighted people are racists and ignorant, but consider the possibility that when backed into a corner by an economy designed by the elite to service their needs, millions of middle class people hanging on by a thread to low-paying jobs and lousy health care will turn to the brash outsider in the (empty) hope that he will deliver what the Democratic Party once dedicated itself to delivering, namely a measure of economic justice.
So there you have it: Tonight, if you can stand to watch, Trump's cynicism meets Clinton's complacency.
3
More New York Times targeted propaganda- perfectly timed for the tonight's debate. No end to this sickening bias
4
So, things are looking up for the working lower middle class. Lets elect Trump and put an end to this foolishness. Who needs money to pay the rent if a lunatic's right to an assault weapon might be infringed upon. If one candidate gets wobbly with a case of pneumonia, then we'd better elect the serial liar.
Remember the last time we went from a Democrat to a Republican? Did anything go wrong, except for a terrorist attack, a government surplus being turned into a giant deficit, wars against countries that did not attack us, a giant housing bubble that emptied everyone's pocket but for which no wrong doers were punished. Yes, other than those few minor things, everything turned out peachy. Bush was a real piker at driving companies into bankruptcy. He only did one, where as Trump can do three and its only Tuesday. So, elect Trump, what could go wrong?
Remember the last time we went from a Democrat to a Republican? Did anything go wrong, except for a terrorist attack, a government surplus being turned into a giant deficit, wars against countries that did not attack us, a giant housing bubble that emptied everyone's pocket but for which no wrong doers were punished. Yes, other than those few minor things, everything turned out peachy. Bush was a real piker at driving companies into bankruptcy. He only did one, where as Trump can do three and its only Tuesday. So, elect Trump, what could go wrong?
4
The NYTImes has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president with six weeks to go until the election.
Every single article in the NYTimes from here on in that reflects positively on the state of the country, or Mrs. Clinton or the Obama administration should be taken with a giant rock of salt.
And no. I have no intention of voting for Donald Trump.
And I also don't need the NYTimes to help me make my "decision."
Every single article in the NYTimes from here on in that reflects positively on the state of the country, or Mrs. Clinton or the Obama administration should be taken with a giant rock of salt.
And no. I have no intention of voting for Donald Trump.
And I also don't need the NYTimes to help me make my "decision."
6
Above $24000 for a family of 4 is out poverty? You talk about our government officials of being out of touch with reality.
10
After 7.5 years of poverty-inducing policies, the US had to hit bottom at some point. It is a remarkable coincidence that this point seems to be 2 months before the Presidential election. Or is it a coincidence?
No doubt, all the Democratic minions in government agencies will be working overtime to put out any shred of economic good news into the media to help elect Hillary Clinton. This is how the Washington Establishment stays in power.
No doubt, all the Democratic minions in government agencies will be working overtime to put out any shred of economic good news into the media to help elect Hillary Clinton. This is how the Washington Establishment stays in power.
4
There is little real news here, because there is little context. This article sadly lacks the context that over the past fifty years poverty rates have been bouncing up and down within the same narrow range largely dependent on whether the overall GNP is growing or shrinking. Since the sixties there has been no substantial, lasting decrease in poverty. The sad fact is that when the economy stops expanding (which will happen) poverty rates will again increase and it will be the same old, same old cycle begun anew. Let's not fool ourselves or let the Times do so, this decrease in poverty is temporary and unless something substantive changes multitudes of poor Americans will always be with us.
22
^ If we would stop electing Republicans - we would have longer recoveries and milder recessions, then the poverty rate would go down and stay down.
3
Statistics do not lie. People who use, interpret and analyze statistics often do or are not trained in statistics. So simple statements can be made. And simple is simple (See Forest Gump) and almost always wrong.
Poverty is relative but to make Americans feel as if America was good to all its People, poverty was defined and set at a politically acceptable dollar amount. Establishing this amount required lots of numbers and included things as the cost of living. How these numbers are established is also a creation of a political system which is very much under the control of the 1% and its minions.
As with most equations there are two sides at each end of the equals sign. What is not stated is that there is no equality and less equity in these counts and computations.
Stating anything about the masses whose incomes and total material assets without comparison to data for other economic groups especially the 1% is a calculated distortion and plainly speaking deceptive.
Stating income when not expressing the changes in the cost of vital necessities (i.e. food, housing, health care, transportation, etc.) is worse than wrong, it is a statistical 'sin'.
A few of the 1.2% were were close to the artifically defined poverty level and a good guess is they are the ones who "climbed" out of poverty. They still struggle. One illness or setback and back they go.
Sure bet: Cohen is not one of them!
So climbing out of poverty is good press but pure nonsense.
Poverty is relative but to make Americans feel as if America was good to all its People, poverty was defined and set at a politically acceptable dollar amount. Establishing this amount required lots of numbers and included things as the cost of living. How these numbers are established is also a creation of a political system which is very much under the control of the 1% and its minions.
As with most equations there are two sides at each end of the equals sign. What is not stated is that there is no equality and less equity in these counts and computations.
Stating anything about the masses whose incomes and total material assets without comparison to data for other economic groups especially the 1% is a calculated distortion and plainly speaking deceptive.
Stating income when not expressing the changes in the cost of vital necessities (i.e. food, housing, health care, transportation, etc.) is worse than wrong, it is a statistical 'sin'.
A few of the 1.2% were were close to the artifically defined poverty level and a good guess is they are the ones who "climbed" out of poverty. They still struggle. One illness or setback and back they go.
Sure bet: Cohen is not one of them!
So climbing out of poverty is good press but pure nonsense.
7
Looking at the chart of where property is most prevalent, I notices several things. First, it's lowest where the government and the financial system concentration is highest for the most part. So one could easily conclude the government related jobs and financial system recovery job multiplier is skewing the effect of whatever it is Obama thinks he did. But it is government and the financial sector and their servants only and with only a downward improvement bias. This is consistent with GDP figures as the government related GDP is substantially higher than the private sector by about 1% or so.
Secondly, the poverty rate is the same in the 'left-coast' states as it is in both the northeast and Midwest U.S. Texas is about the same. So, it is clear the liberal policies of the western states have had no effect and there is basically little effect throughout the country--unless you're in a U.S. government concentrated center or financial center, i.e., D.C., Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
Third, where black concentrated populations exist it doesn't appear much was accomplished. A lot of manufacturing went in there for aircraft and automobiles, so what is up there?
In other words, quit attributing this to Obama. Gridlock in Congress and natural recovery rates and demographics (i.e., aging population) without government are what little is at work here. The rest was government paying their people more and mobility into the service jobs for government.
Secondly, the poverty rate is the same in the 'left-coast' states as it is in both the northeast and Midwest U.S. Texas is about the same. So, it is clear the liberal policies of the western states have had no effect and there is basically little effect throughout the country--unless you're in a U.S. government concentrated center or financial center, i.e., D.C., Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
Third, where black concentrated populations exist it doesn't appear much was accomplished. A lot of manufacturing went in there for aircraft and automobiles, so what is up there?
In other words, quit attributing this to Obama. Gridlock in Congress and natural recovery rates and demographics (i.e., aging population) without government are what little is at work here. The rest was government paying their people more and mobility into the service jobs for government.
1
its a social revolution through capitalism..
1
Yeah right out of poverty. Our standards of living have declined so dramatically over the last 50 years, its hard to imagine anyone believes this nonsense. More cooked books for the propaganda presses on debate day.
13
Thank you Declining Society! It sure is hard to believe anyone eblieves it- and the edicational level of those that continie to promote it and vote in the crimianl leaders like the one running now
1
You can't be serious! What planet are you living on? Do you know NOTHING about reality? This HAS to be "political", due to the election. And you wonder why the media has lost what little respect it may have had at one time... Unbelievable, naive, and insulting.
9
We can read articles on line and in the newspaper. We can watch TV for information. The best thing we can do is look around. Are people driving new cars and building new homes? Are companies hiring? Can people afford to buy groceries? Are gas prices low? The poverty line according to the government Is $24,300 for a family of four. I guess it depends on what part of the country you reside. The New York Times headlines are politically motivated. Most of us have figured that out with articles like this right before the elections. Obama and his people will continue to pump out these numbers from Washington DC to paint a rosy picture. Just keep your OWN eyes open.
5
When Barack Obama entered the White House, the U.S. government was $10,600,000,000,000 in debt. Today, the U.S. government is $19,500,000,000,000 in debt. So, for $8.9 trillion, POTUS and his pals bought us a little bump in some stats. I'm not thrilled.
5
Don't forget Obama had to put GWB's worthless, murderous and illegal wars on the books, as well as Medicare Part D and the money to lend states to fund unemployment benefits thanks to the Bush/Cheney economic disaster as well.
If you think the current admin is unimpressive, try taking a good hard look at its predecessor, sir.
If you think the current admin is unimpressive, try taking a good hard look at its predecessor, sir.
7
Reality: Oh I know! They both suck equally, both violating the Constitution with abandon, Bush letting the financial crisis happen (leveraging the setup by Clinton, Rubin, Summers et al.) and Obama letting the criminals go unpunished.
Everyone needs to stop thinking in binary fashion--this one good, that one bad. Both parties are allied against the regular people, deceiving, scamming and looting with abandon. We need to move away from both.
Everyone needs to stop thinking in binary fashion--this one good, that one bad. Both parties are allied against the regular people, deceiving, scamming and looting with abandon. We need to move away from both.
1
The raw numbers hide a lot of problems. Many low-skilled and blue-collar workers have been left behind. They might have a job, but it pays less than the job they had 5, 10, or 20 years ago.
9
Supply and demand.
Bringing in 40+ million low skilled immigrants over 50+ years...who could have ever known that would lead to a surplus of labor that would drive down wages, right?
Bringing in 40+ million low skilled immigrants over 50+ years...who could have ever known that would lead to a surplus of labor that would drive down wages, right?
1
It is amusing to watch the newspaper of the left wing "intelligencia" publish an tout government statistics from a politicized agency under the direct control of the White House. No questions asked. Remember that Obama moved the census bureau to White House control early on. I felt nostalgic reading it fir the days of the Cold War when Pravda printed stories on record crops and production but there was nothing in the stores. Thanks for the morning laugh.
8
totally agree...
amazing how these numbers come out at this time. follows the same pattern of the "largest growth in family income" report a couple of weeks ago. the political elite will stop at nothing to preserve their control
amazing how these numbers come out at this time. follows the same pattern of the "largest growth in family income" report a couple of weeks ago. the political elite will stop at nothing to preserve their control
6
At one time, I was a voracious consumer of non-fiction. But somewhere in the last decade that changed. I still read it, and that being said, just finished a book titled, "White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America." My take-away? We were a class-based society from the beginning, and we will continue to be one well into the future. And all of us, will continue denying, even hating the underclass that is staring us in the face. We certainly embrace the idea that there is racial injustice, but that indeed is linked to poverty and the sooner that we admit it, the sooner we can start to change. We just can't cross that bridge. I worked hard. I got mine. Again, that being said...it ain't gonna happen.
8
i wish we could spot some economic improvements here in the state of new jersey but...
4
Try not to elect somebody like Christie next time.
2
Hallelujah. Hopefully there is a lot of truth in this news and things will continue along this trajectory at a faster rate and for a long time to come.
And yet, with each article showing data that our country is improving on so many economic and social fronts, my next door neighbor keeps saying this is the worse our country has been in history---the absolute worse.
3
Increases in income without knowing what that income can buy? Issues of massive disparity and the hollowing out of the middle class are not addressed. Not surprised, in the SF bay area, what this means is that your still living on a couch, or worse
4
It seems the NYT is betting on the stupidity and the inattentiveness of the American people to push its preferred candidate. I have no doubt we'll be served manufactured "good news" daily up to election day; anything that can give the impression that things are getting better, that Obama is responsible for all that's supposedly going well, and that Republicans are responsible for anything that can't be spun as getting better.
Sorry, but when you've hit rock bottom, your only way is up. You can take any evolution out of context, and make it seem like great progress. Or you can cherry-pick the context, and compare current numbers with the worst year available prior, or that with fewer paychecks, as was done to find that salaries had progressed.
Many mention the housing crisis, and seem to think that Bush created it, and that Obama dragged us out of it. Sorry, but neither is true. An unregulated market and crooked financial institutions crashed the market, and AFAIK, Bush was working at the White House at the time, not Goldman Sachs. Blame him all you want for the endless wars and/or 9/11, but the Recession was not his.
Likewise, as pointed out above, each time the economy has tanked, it has mechanically recovered, or we'd already be considered a 3rd world country with an unusually great industrial history.. Believing that the "Recovery" is anything else than the logical follow-up to the housing crash itself, or that it owes anything to Obama's policies, is plain idiocy.
Sorry, but when you've hit rock bottom, your only way is up. You can take any evolution out of context, and make it seem like great progress. Or you can cherry-pick the context, and compare current numbers with the worst year available prior, or that with fewer paychecks, as was done to find that salaries had progressed.
Many mention the housing crisis, and seem to think that Bush created it, and that Obama dragged us out of it. Sorry, but neither is true. An unregulated market and crooked financial institutions crashed the market, and AFAIK, Bush was working at the White House at the time, not Goldman Sachs. Blame him all you want for the endless wars and/or 9/11, but the Recession was not his.
Likewise, as pointed out above, each time the economy has tanked, it has mechanically recovered, or we'd already be considered a 3rd world country with an unusually great industrial history.. Believing that the "Recovery" is anything else than the logical follow-up to the housing crash itself, or that it owes anything to Obama's policies, is plain idiocy.
7
An election-year propaganda piece grasping at straws.
Next we'll see an article touting Hillary's foreign-policy record (backing the Iraq War, the fiasco in Libya, etc.) as indicative of a profound far-sighted wisdom.
Next we'll see an article touting Hillary's foreign-policy record (backing the Iraq War, the fiasco in Libya, etc.) as indicative of a profound far-sighted wisdom.
8
The Census Dept changed how questions are asked. They will say that changed result. Too bad the NY Times won't report that.
7
Biased reporting as usual at the correct political time.
11
Democrats push for higher wages while Republicans fight to prevent an increase to the minimum wage. How is it more American in wanting cheap labor?
4
The poverty line means more than just income. Educationally impoverished, environmentally impoverished, socially impoverished, nutritionally impoverished.... Life and the future of our children rests on more than income.
42
The corporate welfare continues...
So long as the minimum wage remains below the poverty, then you the taxpayer subsidizes the billionaire owners\shareholders of corporate America.
Raise the minimum wage to a living wage and tie it to rise as the cola rises ( taking it out of the hands of republicans ) .
That would essentially wipe out poverty while the government would have more money for even more programs to help.
So long as the minimum wage remains below the poverty, then you the taxpayer subsidizes the billionaire owners\shareholders of corporate America.
Raise the minimum wage to a living wage and tie it to rise as the cola rises ( taking it out of the hands of republicans ) .
That would essentially wipe out poverty while the government would have more money for even more programs to help.
10
So we've caught up, after the Great Recession -- or, at least, many have.
Just think how grim it might have been, if we'd gone into the Greatest Depression that we barely escaped.
But think, too, where we might be now, if Republicans in Congress hadn't put their all into making sure that this President and the Democrats would have as little success as possible to show for their efforts.
Just think how grim it might have been, if we'd gone into the Greatest Depression that we barely escaped.
But think, too, where we might be now, if Republicans in Congress hadn't put their all into making sure that this President and the Democrats would have as little success as possible to show for their efforts.
5
While, every time I think of the poverty in China, it is just a ridicule. The poverty line in US is just a stark contrast to that in China, which has been thoroughly rigged by communist government. Anyway, China, my homeland, is still a country in abject poverty.
2
It would be very good news ... if it were true.
OK, we can agree that being able to feed one's children is way better than the opposite of that.
And I'm sure that some would say, "And in a time of low inflation, 10% extra take home pay DOES mean that you're making headway."
Now the sobering realities - Does anybody think that working 2 or 3 jobs and relying on Obamacare is anything more than these people keeping their heads JUST above the water line ... in choppy seas?!
And are you poor if you don't have a cellphone ... with internet?!
That's not jokey - couldn't we all agree that the core question is "Will this restaurant worker's [photographed] kids have a non-negligible chance of OWNING a restaurant ... or basically leading a life where 'poverty' is not constantly on one's mind?!"
And there the article totally breaks down. I'm not educated enough to be a Marxist, but the words "permanent underclass" come to mind. Sure, there are exceptions, but they're Tiger Woods RARE.
Obviously, this is not the place to even take a stab at "answers," but an article like this moves the needle a tiny bit - whether it's Pres. Clinton or Pres. Trump - to 'Let's focus on making sure that our military can engage in 2 actions simultaneously." The "Great Society" offered some hope ... and surely DID change the lives of many thousands (NOT MILLIONS) of people more or less permanently.... AND THEN...
Save the pats on the back for your kids!
OK, we can agree that being able to feed one's children is way better than the opposite of that.
And I'm sure that some would say, "And in a time of low inflation, 10% extra take home pay DOES mean that you're making headway."
Now the sobering realities - Does anybody think that working 2 or 3 jobs and relying on Obamacare is anything more than these people keeping their heads JUST above the water line ... in choppy seas?!
And are you poor if you don't have a cellphone ... with internet?!
That's not jokey - couldn't we all agree that the core question is "Will this restaurant worker's [photographed] kids have a non-negligible chance of OWNING a restaurant ... or basically leading a life where 'poverty' is not constantly on one's mind?!"
And there the article totally breaks down. I'm not educated enough to be a Marxist, but the words "permanent underclass" come to mind. Sure, there are exceptions, but they're Tiger Woods RARE.
Obviously, this is not the place to even take a stab at "answers," but an article like this moves the needle a tiny bit - whether it's Pres. Clinton or Pres. Trump - to 'Let's focus on making sure that our military can engage in 2 actions simultaneously." The "Great Society" offered some hope ... and surely DID change the lives of many thousands (NOT MILLIONS) of people more or less permanently.... AND THEN...
Save the pats on the back for your kids!
1
What great data! Just in time for the elections, eh? I've never seen the media so jaundiced before and it only drives me further into the arms of Trump. No doubt there will be many "revision" after the elections. No sure why the naive white American trust Obama. No worse than his predecessor, but therein lies the problem. Like Chicago's mayor, he promised so much reform and accomplished so little. Time for a change. The Left had its chance and blew it.
2
The obstructive Republican-controlled Congress blew it, to anyone with two brain cells to rub together.
and it looks like the ignorati out there are going to vote us eight years of the same, given predictions re the House and Senate. The American public gets what it deserves.
and it looks like the ignorati out there are going to vote us eight years of the same, given predictions re the House and Senate. The American public gets what it deserves.
2
This is great, but I do question the official poverty line. $24,300 for a family of four? That's insanely low.
Where does the government get these numbers from anyway? That barely seems like enough to pay for food and health insurance for two adults and two kids. Perhaps they made a mistake and this is the definition of being a homeless family of four - since there's no money left to pay for housing.
Point is, plenty of people making more than $25,000/year are struggling to get by. We need to redefine the official description of poverty to include everyone who makes less money than it costs to live in America.
Where does the government get these numbers from anyway? That barely seems like enough to pay for food and health insurance for two adults and two kids. Perhaps they made a mistake and this is the definition of being a homeless family of four - since there's no money left to pay for housing.
Point is, plenty of people making more than $25,000/year are struggling to get by. We need to redefine the official description of poverty to include everyone who makes less money than it costs to live in America.
63
At that income they will barely pay anything for health insurance and food would be about $200 per month. That leaves a lot for rent etc. plus they would get thousands of dollars in EITC, pay no federal taxes, and get tons of other handouts. Their effective income would be vastly greater than $24K.
Not to mention - no one earning $24K should have three dependents. If there are two earners and the best they can muster between them is $2K a month, again, insane to be bearing offspring.
And please no "maybe they were doing well before the recession." About 30 million babies have been born in the US alone since the recession, half of them to indigent Medicaid Moms. Why????? Why can't people focus on bettering themselves instead of producing more disadvantaged human beings???? That's what my forebears did and that is why we have upward mobility. If my grandparent in the 1920s can limit themselves to one child, so can today's women and men.
Not to mention - no one earning $24K should have three dependents. If there are two earners and the best they can muster between them is $2K a month, again, insane to be bearing offspring.
And please no "maybe they were doing well before the recession." About 30 million babies have been born in the US alone since the recession, half of them to indigent Medicaid Moms. Why????? Why can't people focus on bettering themselves instead of producing more disadvantaged human beings???? That's what my forebears did and that is why we have upward mobility. If my grandparent in the 1920s can limit themselves to one child, so can today's women and men.
4
re: This is great, but I do question the official poverty line. $24,300 for a family of four? That's insanely low.
__________________
It's more than the vast majority of families on this planet make - ever have made - or ever will make.
__________________
It's more than the vast majority of families on this planet make - ever have made - or ever will make.
3
While I am glad the numbers are getting better, I would like someone to do a private analysis of the poverty statistics and adjust the poverty income level to something REALISTIC and then see what the poverty rates in the U.S. truly is.
Another factor that is missing is that basing poverty level measures solely on at-the-moment measure of income has really little meaning. I would some new poverty measure based upon SUSTAINED level of earnings AND ASSETS.
The way someone gets out of poverty is to escape the cycle that has become common in the U.S.: uncertain income and little or no assets as a financial cushion. Assessing poverty without this sort of honest appraisal of the situation allowed a generation of politicians to make all sorts of claims not backed by actual real-life experience (and thus basically ignore the matter altogether by failing to actually do anything substantial).
Another factor that is missing is that basing poverty level measures solely on at-the-moment measure of income has really little meaning. I would some new poverty measure based upon SUSTAINED level of earnings AND ASSETS.
The way someone gets out of poverty is to escape the cycle that has become common in the U.S.: uncertain income and little or no assets as a financial cushion. Assessing poverty without this sort of honest appraisal of the situation allowed a generation of politicians to make all sorts of claims not backed by actual real-life experience (and thus basically ignore the matter altogether by failing to actually do anything substantial).
2
13 days ago when this pathetic and completely skewed report came out it wasn't significant enough to be talked about, but the day of the first debate it suddenly is. Pathetic!
The poverty in this country is at an all time high, it's getting worse, and it's actually sub-poverty. Much of the inner city African American population is attempting to live on 800- per month or less, and there is no end in sight due to failed social programs that have paralyzed our people instead of empowering them.
The African American people are being played by liberals like puppets to get their votes under completely false pretenses "We're going to take care of you." Yeah, right! The only thing our liberal politicians, like Obama and Clinton have ever taken care of is themselves.
Dr. Ben Carson had it right. He was just a little too sleepy for people. O that a strong and Godly black leader would arise, one who could lead the people out of the darkness liberalism has put them in.
If we as a nation want to support our poor then support them. Don't throw them a bone just big enough to paralyze them from ever coming out of poverty.
What we have done to our poor is evil! And for those of you who do not know this, it is because you know nothing of the poor. You don't get to know them by talking about them at dinner parties.
The poverty in this country is at an all time high, it's getting worse, and it's actually sub-poverty. Much of the inner city African American population is attempting to live on 800- per month or less, and there is no end in sight due to failed social programs that have paralyzed our people instead of empowering them.
The African American people are being played by liberals like puppets to get their votes under completely false pretenses "We're going to take care of you." Yeah, right! The only thing our liberal politicians, like Obama and Clinton have ever taken care of is themselves.
Dr. Ben Carson had it right. He was just a little too sleepy for people. O that a strong and Godly black leader would arise, one who could lead the people out of the darkness liberalism has put them in.
If we as a nation want to support our poor then support them. Don't throw them a bone just big enough to paralyze them from ever coming out of poverty.
What we have done to our poor is evil! And for those of you who do not know this, it is because you know nothing of the poor. You don't get to know them by talking about them at dinner parties.
8
This reads as awfully patronizing toward Blacks, as if they cannot make decisions for themselves. Was that the intent?
2
Daniel, the republicans control the legislative bodies (House of Representatives and Senate); did you forget that? And when the Democrats were in power, they gave you the Affordable Care Act at great political cost; forget that, too? Wake up and smell the coffee.
1
Just reading the title of this front page lead article makes me quite cynical. Our economy is on the brink of disaster and those who suffer most are the working poor. With the upcoming election I'm not at all surprised that the New York Times would run such an article for the purpose of boosting Mr. Obama's presidency and Mrs. Clinton prospects in the upcoming election.
10
As I read this article I think of my own father who worked 2-3 jobs to supplement his NYC laborer job at a yearly salary of $8500.00 for a family of 6. This was the 50's and 60's. He pushed us to get a college education;a goal he aspired to but did not have opportunity to pursue. My mom also worked part-time. WE were middle-class. The largest obstacle I see is the US government having plenty of programs to help people but no one knows how to access them or has help in completing the process of enrollment! Why not use the school system to provide information about training for the parents of children? There has to be an intersection where education for children and information for their parents help put them all in a win-win situation!
9
Articles like these, where stats and maps are prevalent, always show a similar disturbing pattern. The states where things are the worst in terms of quality of life, income, education, etc. are always the same. They are the states represented by the most petrified, backward, and ignorant elected officials. Truth is that "conservative" as it is thought of today is so mendacious, regressive, and destructive as to be toxic to the quality of the people's existence. When will the public wake up.
15
And even worse, they are not content to live in the soiled nests they have created for their own states but want to bring everyone else down to the same level. Those of us in the blue states are constantly being criticized as somehow un-American and immoral by the same political class who rule over appalling levels of poverty, illness, hunger, and regression. The Trumpers, in particular, are all about making sure the whole country suffers as much as they have. Instead of solving problems, they want to share them. No thanks.
1
when the New and Improved minimum wage adds up to $17,000 a year before taxes...sure...you're "above the federal poverty line" for a single person. ..
4
The average Social Security benefit is $1300 a month...shameful.
3
What should have happened was a realization that the current income that defines the poverty level for a family of 4 is an unrealistic figure spun from whole cloth. Try living anywhere, much less an urban area, for $24K/year, or even $36K. If true purchasing power and living expenses were factored in realistically I'm sure the poverty level would not have declined, even if incomes have modestly increased.
12
Try not producing kids when you can't even support yourself without handouts.
4
Reality check - you can't just get rid of the kids if you lose your job.
3
As evidenced in the few success stories here, welfare should not be a net that the poor get tangled in, but a trampoline that, through their efforts, brings them out of poverty.
31
Agreed, but surely everyone knows that having four children with no income is the surest road to poverty?
3
Truer words are rarely spoken. A lot of people-- most of whom have never themselves or had any friends or family benefit from government assistance-- imagine that people who go on welfare, get food stamps etc. continue to do so for the rest of their lives. That may be the case in some instances, but many, such as myself, use these types of assistance only temporarily.
Between graduating college and finding a proper job in Manhattan roughly 12 years ago, I was on food stamps for a few months. This enabled me to feed myself and my partner, who was still a student, on an intern's paltry $10/hr while renting a small room in Manhattan. As soon as I found a job, I got off of food stamps, and not too long after was able to upgrade us from a room to our own apartment.
This is how people should think of government assistance: Not as indefinitely free living for "lazy people" but as you say, a trampoline that helps people who are struggling OVERCOME their struggle and eventually pay taxes which will in turn go to helping OTHERS overcome their struggles.
When someone breaks a bone, you don't deny them a cast on the premise that they should just "tough it out" and hope that their bone heals properly. Why do some in this country adopt that attitude towards government assistance?
Between graduating college and finding a proper job in Manhattan roughly 12 years ago, I was on food stamps for a few months. This enabled me to feed myself and my partner, who was still a student, on an intern's paltry $10/hr while renting a small room in Manhattan. As soon as I found a job, I got off of food stamps, and not too long after was able to upgrade us from a room to our own apartment.
This is how people should think of government assistance: Not as indefinitely free living for "lazy people" but as you say, a trampoline that helps people who are struggling OVERCOME their struggle and eventually pay taxes which will in turn go to helping OTHERS overcome their struggles.
When someone breaks a bone, you don't deny them a cast on the premise that they should just "tough it out" and hope that their bone heals properly. Why do some in this country adopt that attitude towards government assistance?
3
Truer words are rarely spoken. A lot of people-- most of whom have never themselves or had any friends or family benefit from government assistance-- imagine that people who go on welfare, get food stamps etc. continue to do so for the rest of their lives. That may be the case in some instances, but many, such as myself, use these types of assistance only temporarily.
Between graduating college and finding a proper job in Manhattan roughly 12 years ago, I was on food stamps for a few months. This enabled me to feed myself and my partner, who was still a student, on an intern's paltry $10/hr while renting a small room in Manhattan. As soon as I found a job, I got off of food stamps, and not too long after was able to upgrade us from a room to our own apartment.
This is how people should think of government assistance: Not as indefinitely free living for "lazy people" but as you say, a trampoline that helps people who are struggling OVERCOME their struggle and eventually pay taxes which will in turn go to helping OTHERS overcome their struggles.
Between graduating college and finding a proper job in Manhattan roughly 12 years ago, I was on food stamps for a few months. This enabled me to feed myself and my partner, who was still a student, on an intern's paltry $10/hr while renting a small room in Manhattan. As soon as I found a job, I got off of food stamps, and not too long after was able to upgrade us from a room to our own apartment.
This is how people should think of government assistance: Not as indefinitely free living for "lazy people" but as you say, a trampoline that helps people who are struggling OVERCOME their struggle and eventually pay taxes which will in turn go to helping OTHERS overcome their struggles.
1
Bizarre article, given the NYTs traditionally-tearful work on poverty. Until you see that the purpose of the article is not to inform, but to re-elect a Democratic regime. Scrambling to defend an anti-worker track record that has been factually exposed. At any other time, in any other case, you would never see an article like this. The faux-leftist elite is clearly trembling with fear. All the conservative Democrat, fake leftists I know are practically losing their minds, because the working classes might finally stand up and assert their human rights - ironically, through a fake Republican.
15
The concept of a 'poverty line' applied uniformly across the country is very misleading. $40k in Mississippi buys you a decent life, while with $60k in San Francisco you are borderline homeless. Lay off the propaganda articles, please!
15
Let's give credit where credit is due: President Obama.
Looking back, he will go down as one of the great presidents.
Looking back, he will go down as one of the great presidents.
17
Typical New York Times progaganda- perfectly staged before the candidates hit the stage tonight!
4
Sunny days are here again, just in time for the NY Times endorsement of Clinton! What a coincidence!
Any idea why that same census report showed a 5% increase in household income but only a 1.5/2.7 increase in wages?
Any idea why that same census report showed a 5% increase in household income but only a 1.5/2.7 increase in wages?
15
The best way to eliminate poverty is stable well paying jobs.
5
You would be more accurate, and truthful, if you said that "Millions in U.S. Climb Out of the DEFINITION of Poverty (But not ACTUAL poverty)".
Slice and dice the numbers however you want, but that doesn't change the fact that the net worth of the majority of Americans has gone backwards over the past several decades. Nor has anything about our economic system fundamentally changed since Reagan foisted "trickle down" on us, so even this uptick is likely not sustainable. We cannot support a thriving middle and working class, which was the backbone of our largest expansion, by relying on service industry, and part-time jobs. We need sustainable jobs that pay a living wage, not subsistence or barely above, and we could have them IF we changed the tax and accounting codes to reward investment here in America, and punish offshoring. Until that happens, any small dent we make in the decades-long wealth disparity will soon vanish.
Slice and dice the numbers however you want, but that doesn't change the fact that the net worth of the majority of Americans has gone backwards over the past several decades. Nor has anything about our economic system fundamentally changed since Reagan foisted "trickle down" on us, so even this uptick is likely not sustainable. We cannot support a thriving middle and working class, which was the backbone of our largest expansion, by relying on service industry, and part-time jobs. We need sustainable jobs that pay a living wage, not subsistence or barely above, and we could have them IF we changed the tax and accounting codes to reward investment here in America, and punish offshoring. Until that happens, any small dent we make in the decades-long wealth disparity will soon vanish.
76
What is missing here is how many middle class people fell into poverty. A sigle person is in poverty when they make less than $13,000/year. Of course, The Government defines poverty with numbers that are over a generation old. Been to the grocery store lately? How about paying the rent, electricity, water and gas?
Want to retire at 62, or got laid off at 62? Well expect Social Security to pay about $1600 a month. Want to make extra income? You are limited to $15720/year or $7.55 hour.
Yes, it is rosy out there. Then why are so many people struggling, except those who comprise the 1%?
This story is designed to show that the Democrats, and their nominee, have made the US a Xanadu. With homeless at record highs and nearly 1/5 of people in poverty, with more kids on special lunch programs than ever before, this piece is like Pravda propaganda piece Democratic Party. It clearly shows how out of touch Washington is to the masses who live outside the Beltway. Or, ignores their own backyard slums in DC and Balitmore.
Want to retire at 62, or got laid off at 62? Well expect Social Security to pay about $1600 a month. Want to make extra income? You are limited to $15720/year or $7.55 hour.
Yes, it is rosy out there. Then why are so many people struggling, except those who comprise the 1%?
This story is designed to show that the Democrats, and their nominee, have made the US a Xanadu. With homeless at record highs and nearly 1/5 of people in poverty, with more kids on special lunch programs than ever before, this piece is like Pravda propaganda piece Democratic Party. It clearly shows how out of touch Washington is to the masses who live outside the Beltway. Or, ignores their own backyard slums in DC and Balitmore.
31
And people wonder why Trump is getting so much support. It's a direct critique against the Obama administration and Clinton. It shows that there is something deeply wrong in this country and Democrats are ignoring it. If Trump wins - such a disturbing thought - it will be because our party has ignored a massive and dissatisfied bloc of voters.
Unfortunately, if Clinton wins it means that the current policies are justified, Sanders' voice will be ignored, and the status quo will go on while millions suffer.
The Riots, BLM, the shootings, these are all symptoms of an underlying problem.
Unfortunately, if Clinton wins it means that the current policies are justified, Sanders' voice will be ignored, and the status quo will go on while millions suffer.
The Riots, BLM, the shootings, these are all symptoms of an underlying problem.
4
I have been to the grocery store lately - prices are at all time low compared to the past 40 years. Maybe you should try King Soopers (Kroger) instead of Whole Foods. You point on rising rent, electricity, and utilities is valid.
8
I agree with all but the part about blaming the 1%. The additional problem is that the 1% don't make the jobs that these people are using. As a result all of these cost increases from insurance to wage hikes were imposed upon the middle class the same as a tax increase. It's fine for now but we'll eventually have another turn and then we'll see whether this works. It's like throwing a stone in a pond, the outer ripples spread wide first before they dissipate.
Ah! The feel good, uplifting rom-com for the lazy Sunday!
NYT, the 'torch-bearer of the left' is fast becoming the 'Enron' of journalism!
What next? We won the illegal war (on a sovereign state creating the refugee/migrant crisis) in Syria?
NYT, the 'torch-bearer of the left' is fast becoming the 'Enron' of journalism!
What next? We won the illegal war (on a sovereign state creating the refugee/migrant crisis) in Syria?
15
"People who couldn’t afford the commute before could now afford to accept a minimum-wage job." Wow, that's progress.
15
Thanks, Obama... against unceasing opposition and obstruction, you've managed to shepherd the nation, albeit slowly, out of the worst financial disaster in most American's lifetime.
16
Typical. The pro-Dem forces attribute success, if it meets that definition, to Obama. Ha! He threw more people and small businesses under the bus in one day by allowing the auto companies to put thousands of small businessmen and employees to the sword by terminating them in the bankruptcies for one. He took credit for gasoline and oil prices drops when it was the industry itself that made that possible and the Federal Reserve--and independent agency--that brought inflation in line and policies to stem the falling dollar and stabilize it. And finally, we aren't out of the woods yet!
3
. . . and given a valentine to those who caused it.
2
Interesting. Of those moving out of poverty 2/3 did not work a single hour, the rest worked full time or part time.
Only in America, you can move out of poverty without working a single hour in the year.
And the NYT does not see fit to explain this data. Instead it talks about people getting more jobs at higher wages as how they moved out of poverty.
2/3 did not work a single hour - no explanation?
Only in America, you can move out of poverty without working a single hour in the year.
And the NYT does not see fit to explain this data. Instead it talks about people getting more jobs at higher wages as how they moved out of poverty.
2/3 did not work a single hour - no explanation?
22
Its mainly because the data includes children. The 3.5 million at the top who moved out of poverty is everybody in households. So those "not working" can be kids or spouses or any other defendants.
4
Perhaps COLAs for SS.
2
At least the NYT cites some sources for its data. What are yours?
4
Look at the states that still have the worst poverty levels. They are all red ones. Is there a message here? You bet there is. Little or no state safety net because that's not "gubmint's" job. It never changes.
83
The Census poverty level is set nationally at one number by family size, so the richer northeast or coastal states are going to have less percent of people below that number unless the numbers are further adjusted for cost of living by state, which they are not by Census. But it is not really true that a family earning $26, 000 in NY is better off than the same family earning $23,000 in Alabama. To get to conclusions on things like that require more work(not the focus of this article).
2
Wait, so the answer is welfare? No. The answer is jobs. Welfare is still available in those red states. Something else is wrong here and Obama and Clinton are ignoring it in favor of passing legislation that supports their corporate donors.
1
New Mexico is not a red state.
1
98.8% remain in poverty. Success!
15
No. Here's how the math actually works. There was a 1.2 percentage point drop from 14.7% in poverty to 13.5%. So in actuality, there was an 8.2% drop in the number of people in poverty.
We have 13.5% still in poverty, too high for a country as well off as the US, but it speaks to the inequality in wealth and income.
We have 13.5% still in poverty, too high for a country as well off as the US, but it speaks to the inequality in wealth and income.
5
Huh? You're going to have to explain that number because 98.8% of Americans are not in poverty.
5
ScottW, you find the improved conditions for millions of people meaningless?
3
So how is this data consistent with the data proving the increasing income disparity in the United States?
11
Think about it- because things change. This most recent data from the census bureau shows the gap between the top and bottom closing. If you look at the bottom 20% of households, and the top 5% of households, the bottom income bracket did best, top 5% was barely non-negative (and the top 20% was slightly negative. We'll likely start to see the top 0.1-0.01% incomes growth slow and go negative as the stock market cycles down in the next few years.
Things change.
Things change.
1
All income levels are rsing perhaps. Remember many states have pushed up the min wage level which would help the bottom. And yes the top is rising as it always does.
1
Those two things are not in contradiction. Apparently, most people are getting richer. The rich are getting the lion's share of the increase in wealth, while the poor are getting increases in their wages.
1
I guess Trump was wrong about the African American community being "in the worst state ever." If he says it again during the debate I would hope the moderator will correct him.
27
I wonder whether it isn't the energy and work ethic of first generation immigrants that brings up the income level for the working class?
8
First generation immigrants which would primarily be Hispanics hardly are bringing up income levels. Income levels that are rising are whites in business along with minorities in sports. Those first generation Hispanics, even the legal ones are starting at the bottom. The states with the highest income averages are not the ones with the high Hispanic populations.
3
The income has not gone up much for the working class, if at all. The article is about pulling people out of poverty
1
Because what millions of our own low skilled workers really need is more competition for very few jobs?
3
$8,000 down payment on a house for a family with 4 children.
Sounds too good to ne true. Plus it would zero out the bank account. Will we never learn from history?
Sounds too good to ne true. Plus it would zero out the bank account. Will we never learn from history?
21
A friend of mine just sold an immaculate 3 BR ranch house (his late father's home) in a great, safe school district, for $80,000. $8K would've been a reasonable down payment. And far from "too good to be true" outside of the expensive coastal areas.
2
I only paid $7,000 down on mine. I guess you live a little larger, and I also think she still has the job and can continue saving, so not zeroing out anything but the escrow account right now.
3
@Reality Check: yes, but that lady was NOT in flyover country. She was in CHICAGO, which has very high real estate prices.
There are no $80,000 homes in Chicago -- not in any neighborhood that's safe or where you'd want to raise children. Try more like $650,000.
And buying a home is about more than just the downpayment. I've seen people who got a whole 20% downpayment AND closing costs from a parent or grandparent -- then went on to run the house into the ground, not able to do repairs and ended up losing the house in foreclosure!
The entire housing/foreclosure crisis of 2008-2013 is premised on this happening to millions of people. The scary thing is we are doing ALL THE SAME STUFF over again -- bubble in stock market, bubble in housing market, irrational exuberance, people buying homes with inadequate incomes, etc.
There are no $80,000 homes in Chicago -- not in any neighborhood that's safe or where you'd want to raise children. Try more like $650,000.
And buying a home is about more than just the downpayment. I've seen people who got a whole 20% downpayment AND closing costs from a parent or grandparent -- then went on to run the house into the ground, not able to do repairs and ended up losing the house in foreclosure!
The entire housing/foreclosure crisis of 2008-2013 is premised on this happening to millions of people. The scary thing is we are doing ALL THE SAME STUFF over again -- bubble in stock market, bubble in housing market, irrational exuberance, people buying homes with inadequate incomes, etc.
2
What is eye opening in this piece is that one of the people got a union job and another got a job at the VA, one of those despised government jobs. Imagine where we would be now had the Republican congress not fought Obama at every turn.
71
Looks like Donald's policies are working already. His plans for walls, tariffs, deportations and extreme vetting have scared the economy straight.
6
This is pure propaganda. Look at all the pictures of happy lower income people! This paper is presenting these recent, minute changes in economic figures as something dramatic happening across the country. This is likely nothing but pre-election tweakings of economic parameters, a misinterpretation of the data, i.e. not adjusting for demographic changes, or simply artifactual. For example, anyone just UNDER (yes, under) the poverty level gets ZERO marketplace tax credits. I wonder how many people beg, borrow, or fib their way up to the poverty level - and who could blame us. There is a huge hole in federal assistance for those earning between the medicaid/welfare level and the poverty level - it's asinine. The silver plan for my wife and myself is over $1200/mo., without tax credits. With tax credits it's 1/10th of this.
Just drive across the country and look at all the new "dollar stores" - they're everywhere. This is where rural America does all its shopping - Wall Mart is getting too high end! Look at all the Trump signs popping up like mushrooms in rural yards. I'd have to go about 100 miles to find a Hillary sign. The people out here are not as foolish as many cosmopolitan people like to think. They are struggling though - and people suffering are not risk-adverse. They'll roll dice - it's human nature. Trump will win and it's the democrats own fault. Bernie resonated out here - Hillary is reviled.
Just drive across the country and look at all the new "dollar stores" - they're everywhere. This is where rural America does all its shopping - Wall Mart is getting too high end! Look at all the Trump signs popping up like mushrooms in rural yards. I'd have to go about 100 miles to find a Hillary sign. The people out here are not as foolish as many cosmopolitan people like to think. They are struggling though - and people suffering are not risk-adverse. They'll roll dice - it's human nature. Trump will win and it's the democrats own fault. Bernie resonated out here - Hillary is reviled.
28
"people beg, borrow or fib their way up to the poverty level - and who could blame us".
This is what unchecked liberal programs are doing to America, encouraging people to rely on the government and be stuck in poverty forever. Lets go after companies including Wells Fargo that use loopholes to send jobs offshore and focus on real jobs.
This is what unchecked liberal programs are doing to America, encouraging people to rely on the government and be stuck in poverty forever. Lets go after companies including Wells Fargo that use loopholes to send jobs offshore and focus on real jobs.
3
Bernie got beat by 3mil votes in the primaries. There is a reason that rural areas are called rural, fewer people. Rural is GOP territory and YOU wold see more Trump signs. Trump will do how well in Philly, NYC and other big cities where more people are located? The election will be decided in the middle territories, the suburbs, between rural and big city. AS to retail, its doing ok with rising sales, The largest annual drop in the poverty rate since 1999 can hardly be called minute changes. Trump has offered what to the lower end workers? End Obama care and replace with what? Anything offered as to federal assistance does what? Raises the deficit which will come due one day. You can't offer more Fed monies to people and lessen incoming revenue with tax reductions. One day those drivers of the deficit entitlements will have to be addressed. The longer we wait, the more draconian the answers will be, or it all collapses. One only needs to look at how Europe has done with its economic model. That's with most of Europe surviving on American dollars as to military protection. France with so many recent terrorist attacks leading back to the Middle East has spent how much of their money to defeat ISIS? ZILCH
1
3.5 million people constitutes a "minute change in economic figures?" Are you one of them, or are you living a reasonably comfortable life and sniping at anything that might be considered a positive development?
People voting for Trump aren't poor either. Even if we limit our view to white, non-college-educated supporters, three-quarters of them are earning at least $50,000 per year.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/dissecting-donald-tr...
People voting for Trump aren't poor either. Even if we limit our view to white, non-college-educated supporters, three-quarters of them are earning at least $50,000 per year.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/dissecting-donald-tr...
2
The New York Times had best be careful. It is a full-on target of pro-Trump writers spinning out thousands of memes against Hillary Clinton. Any favorable articles for Clinton or the current administration are being taken down by writers paid to do Trump's dirty work. This tactic, which rides on the belief of a free discussion of issues, is being supported by people such as Peter Luckey (Oculus) who is rumored to be contributing to at least one such group, Nimble America. Organizations like these trot out hundreds, even thousands of messages against the opposition. Nothing favorable that's happening in the nation can be allowed to go unchallenged. Be careful what you read, people, it could be as fictitious as Trump's qualifications for the Presidency.
11
Well said, don't attack your opponent's weaknesses, attack their strengths.
More proof that Trumpers' major concerns are not jobs or trade or abortion or prayer. "Make America Great Again" means a return to a time when the votes of people of color didn't matter, when most of the people on TV were white and suburban & the few who weren't were goofy or evil, when the good guys were always guys, when LGBT people were invisible, and when you could use the N-word in polite company without having to worry about it. This sick nostalgia for a time of oppression & injustice is the engine of Trump's campaign. Articles like this one that contradict Trump's cover-narrative are utterly ignored. Give them a horror story about a rogue immigrant and it goes viral among them.
37
You are unfairly characterizing around one half of the voting public in America. There is always a large representation of crude, self-centered, and bigoted people among the 'have-nots' of a society. Those traits are quickly polished away (or off the surface) for anyone joining the professional class. Where is the evidence that the majority of Trump supporters are these terrible people - and are not simply struggling, desperate, often uneducated and willing to take a chance. The selected snippets from Trump rallies examined here or the bites from his speeches provided by the media do not constitute objective evidence. The narrative provided us makes the people who do not really need it feel better about themselves.
4
This election was never about the economy, it's always been about rednecks who "want their country back". Trump has identified a solid 42% of the country who qualify.
21
It's heartening to know that the poorest among us are doing better, but the middle class isn't. My husband hasn't gotten a raise in nine years. Granted, he works for a newspaper company, but the CEO of said company has received all of the profits from layoffs and severe reductions in health benefits thanks to the copy editors who are not given raises, and the new hires who are just out of college and are being paid slave wages.
Our country is still being lead in the wrong direction.
Our country is still being lead in the wrong direction.
88
what you describe is 'our' economic ststem, unbridled (by humane moraes) capitalism. This is what conservative America calls 'freedom' ... the freedom of those who own business capital to use their property how they wish to make as much money for themselves as they can, without social responsibility for the vast resulting inequality.
2
I'm sorry but your troubles aren't a result of national leadership. The news industry, like many others, has changed. Technology is allowing us to consume news through non traditional outlets - blogs, real time live FB feeds, twitter, etc. Based upon your note, your husband's CEO is a prime example of what corporate greed looks like. It seems your husband needs to acquire some new skills to make himself more marketable in today's economy. The only thing national leadership should have done is reign in corporate greed. CEOs should not be allowed to have golden parachutes when their companies fail under their leadership or if they commit fraud. However, in your case, your husband may not be helped even if the CEO didn't grant himself raises due to the news industry changes.
3
What your husband needs is a union. Why, I am in a union and it only took 6 years to get a raise.
2
It saddens me to see President Obama go, because I really feel he is a man who put the American people above political ambition, and has tried his best to make things better for all of us. For me personally, the ACA allowed my wife and I to get health insurance.
I do wonder what things would look like now if we didn't live in an era of political polarization, and instead of gridlock we had a Congress that worked together to the betterment of our country.
I do wonder what things would look like now if we didn't live in an era of political polarization, and instead of gridlock we had a Congress that worked together to the betterment of our country.
38
We have gridlock in politics because we have gridlock within the population. America is polarized and wishes not to see their side give in to the other. Cruz and tea party politicos do represent their voters as Pelosi and Schummer represent theirs. We have gotten what we want, like it or not.
3
I'm obsessed with the election like everybody else, but this is just simply good news. Yes, too many people are still in poverty. Yes, the income gap is still way, way too wide. Yes, we still need to create more good jobs for our young people, and improve our schools, and figure out how to fix Obamacare, and stop the planet from cooking from our addiction to fossil fuels. But dammit, people, here is some genuinely good news: millions of poor people are significantly less poor than they were just a few years ago. Can we please, please, please arguing long enough to recognize what a big deal this is?
23
A bit sad and short-sighted how much quality time will be discovered after-the-fact, and after the time spent with the in-laws. Yeah, crowed spaces, divergent, multi-generational political and social views and arguments, but my guess is "the kids" will resurrect those memories later in life, and like a so-so vacation, remember them as very special as they age... Everyone understands the motivation to get out from under the older generations as young people seek out on their own, but please don't ever feel slighted just because you "had" to spend some close quarters with the people that wiped noses and stayed up all night with tummy aches. You will miss having those people in your day-to-day lives soon enough.
4
So are we do to a jig, seeing what? a whopping 3.5 million inching up? Your article doesn't state what percentage the 3.5 million is of the entire working age group nor the fact that the poverty level basis is woefully out of date. Most important, it doesn't mention what kind of jobs are created. Jobs in service industries are subject to the ups and downs of tourism, the disposable income of others who may -- or may not -- be working at different times, the price of gas (which is lowest it has been in a decade). There are just too many factors left unaddressed for anyone to start cheering. Odd, that this comes just before the debate. The U.S. economy is far from being what it could and should be. Messages like this muddle reality.
16
The U.S. economy could have recovered a lot faster but for the Republican obstructionists in Congress. I will never understand why they are not held accountable but rewarded by re-election. It is mind boggling to put it mildly.
4
These a great public interest stories however, any economist can tell you that you have to look at an aray of data to get a better picture of poverty. I'm afraid that the "out of poverty by crossing the $24,300 for a family of four" story is more about burnishing President Obama's legacy and Hillary Clinton's prospects than it is sound analysis.
First of all the the poverty threshold of $24,300 is a national figure that doesn't vary by region. Imagine the difference between a family trying to live off that income in New York or LA versus
a small town? Secondly by focusing only on the poverty threshold this figure paints a rosey picture, but someone earning slightly more, say 27k is officially 'out of poverty' but practically little better off than those slightly below that number.
Other numbers like median income and food insecurity show a different story. Rent as a percentage of income, especially in New York shows deep poverty despite the poverty threshold. Finally the Census Bureau itself offers a host of different data tools to analyze poverty. Focusing only on one is misleading. The new jobs being created are on average well above the poverty line of 23k, but well below the national median income of 53k.
Poverty and income fragility remain critical issues that neither Obama, the congress nor his likely successors are addressing. Also the new jobs under this recovery are mostly contract workers with no benefits, no security and an increasing shrinking safety net.
First of all the the poverty threshold of $24,300 is a national figure that doesn't vary by region. Imagine the difference between a family trying to live off that income in New York or LA versus
a small town? Secondly by focusing only on the poverty threshold this figure paints a rosey picture, but someone earning slightly more, say 27k is officially 'out of poverty' but practically little better off than those slightly below that number.
Other numbers like median income and food insecurity show a different story. Rent as a percentage of income, especially in New York shows deep poverty despite the poverty threshold. Finally the Census Bureau itself offers a host of different data tools to analyze poverty. Focusing only on one is misleading. The new jobs being created are on average well above the poverty line of 23k, but well below the national median income of 53k.
Poverty and income fragility remain critical issues that neither Obama, the congress nor his likely successors are addressing. Also the new jobs under this recovery are mostly contract workers with no benefits, no security and an increasing shrinking safety net.
23
Not once did this column mention what the poverty threshold levels are as established by the U.S. Census Bureau. While we can certainly applaud and give credit for more jobs and fewer individuals being defined as impoverished, the people should know what the pathetic/unlivable ranges are for these thresholds. When the defined threshold for poverty for an individual is only about $12,000/year and goes up roughly $4,000 for each additional individual in a family unit ($49,000 for a family unit of 9 individuals!), this article would be less about praise for the new data and more about the continued shame as to the state of poverty in the United States. I see continued blame for both Republicans and Democrats for the ongoing economic mess.
See - http://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/histor... .
See - http://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/histor... .
15
Why is someone who says something as ridiculous as "Obama has been the worst president ever" get priority over me (or anyone)? Their garbage is approved to be posted on here and mine isn't. that's my one complaint for the moderators. Otherwise thanks y'all.
6
This is all Obama's fault - whoops, just realized these numbers are positive. What I meant to say is that these numbers would have been so much higher if Obama wasn't preventing them from doing so.
1
Consider a greater success had our smart, compassionate president had a smart compassionate and working congress to work with.
9
Opportunities such as uber are a big factor. Closed professions really hurt advancement.
Government does not create jobs. Businesses and entrepreneurs do.
Government does not create jobs. Businesses and entrepreneurs do.
3
Government can create jobs by rebuilding and maintaining our collapsing infrastructure, by offering free medical school to those who can make the grade as pre-meds, and by limiting the income of politicians to their posted salaries.
1
How about older people trying to survive on Social Security without a cost of living increase this year. Food prices have increased over 5%. Wages may increase, but so have prices.
17
The most under reported story during the last 8 years is President Obama saving the country from total economic collapse and presiding over a tremendous economic resurgence.
12
It is interesting to see what programs have helped people. They seem to be community organizations or quazi government programs, with lots of mentoring and guidance. In short neighbor helping neighbor. Perhaps if the individualism in the USA came down and we returned to having true communities again , investing in each other, we would see the end of poverty.
3
It will be interesting to see how much gas prices, cable bills, utility connection fees, groceries will go up now that corporations all of a sudden know we're making more money, all of a sudden.
10
Let us not forget that the Census Bureau is part of the administration branch's Commerce Department and therefore may have been politically compromised in the same manner as has the IRS and the DOJ. This administration has very little credibility and so any report from it must be viewed with suspicion, particularly given the timing of the report
I do hope that this least transparent administration is being atypically apolitical and factual in this case — I hope that things are improving for at least some of our most economically distresses fellow citizens
I do hope that this least transparent administration is being atypically apolitical and factual in this case — I hope that things are improving for at least some of our most economically distresses fellow citizens
12
YET another Obama lie... "I will have the most transparent administration in history".....HA! it has been so secretive and opaque, it makes the Bush 43 Administration look like they were wearing see-through undies.
2
They would climb out a lot faster if they would stop pumping out kids in their teens & 20s, and focus instead on work, school and building a stable social network.
Free birth control & abortion, and incentives for not bearing children, would be the most economical and effective anti-poverty campaign ever.
Free birth control & abortion, and incentives for not bearing children, would be the most economical and effective anti-poverty campaign ever.
19
HI can not agree with you more. We need a lot more clinics that encourage family planning and teaching the reality of how expensive children are. I see huge mansions being built for the rich who have at most two/three children. Then poverty children who live in one bedroom apartments if they're lucky. I am aghast when I hear how Texas among other states destroys clinics that provide abortions. Having an illegal abortion, and I know what I'm talking about, should never happen again. We need to control our population if we want to safe this beautiful planet and have enough for all humans as well as animals and plants to thrive. Why can't politicians and clerics admit this and. Bring it to the forefront?
1
I didn't see significant pay increases in 2015. My husband has not had a raise since 2011 and his company profits have exploded - a privately held company, the owners are now very wealthy men. The incredible growth of the revenues of his company did not trickle down to anyone. I finally found a job (I have an MBA) in our small town and my pay is less than what I made in 1981 with my first job after college. I had to leave the job market due to 2 years of treatment which wiped out our savings. Healthy again, but financially ruined and at these incomes we won't catch up.
84
Sorry for your troubles, I really am. Many here have posted similar individual stories that proclaim this article to be false because they haven't benefited. Your story does not make the bigger story less true. Assign the blame for your situation to the real problem- no single payer healthcare system and a system that allows the 1% to keep everything and share nothing with those who do the work. All brought to you by craven, self serving, duplicitous elected officials (mostly Republicians).
6
That is all I see also!! The rich became uber rich. The rest.....
1
Cheer up because under a Paul Ryan-led government, social security as it exists today will probably be wiped out, so you'll fall into dire poverty just about the time you age out of the work force. And make no mistake, even if you want to work, no one wants to hire an "old" (over 55) person.
2
Unfortunately, the poorest states are those that have not adopted Obamacare, and are in the zone where finding family planning clinics is next to impossible! Surely, these factors go hand in hand with remaining below the poverty line, dont they?
18
You know this probably the biggest lie that always gets pushed on us during an election year. every day I get more and more calls from mostly elderly people who can't pay their bills. All I can say is that it is different from the last three changes if administration when the economy tanked and only the rich got richer.
17
Without politicizing the issue as many here have, I will say that front page stories like this one, with a subtitle reading "more and better jobs,"
are misleading and promote a false narrative. There may, in fact, be more jobs, but better? The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that 95% of new jobs in the next ten years will be in the service sector. Let's not fool ourselves, the economy, except by traditional (read flawed) measures, is not yet improving, and claiming otherwise only further frustrates struggling job seekers.
are misleading and promote a false narrative. There may, in fact, be more jobs, but better? The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that 95% of new jobs in the next ten years will be in the service sector. Let's not fool ourselves, the economy, except by traditional (read flawed) measures, is not yet improving, and claiming otherwise only further frustrates struggling job seekers.
57
I worked in the service sector for many years. It was an honorable, rewarding and well paid job. What's your problem with service sector jobs? Millions of people are glad to have them.
4
http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/census-bureau-income-wealth-po... the real story...NYtimes is a liberal joke these days. Yes I do not support trump, however an article like this on day of first debate shows how ridiculous this paper has become.
3
We've had 7 years of anemic job growth, thanks to a deliberate public policy choice: asset inflation instead of a sweeping jobs and infrastructure program. Stock and bond mkts soar, real estate booms, and job growth lags way behind what is needed for recovery or even to keep up with population growth, year after year.
<> This is what we're celebrating? God help us.
At $24K/yr, the "poverty line" is so absurdly low that a family is still dirt poor at double that amount in the cities where overall growth is strong, unless one lives in legacy housing. And thanks to asset inflation as a growth strategy, housing costs have risen so fast that a modest move across the line is still falling way behind.
This headline is the kind of thing that mainstream Dems, HRC supporters, and liberal neoliberals tell themselves, and then they wonder why Trump still has a good chance of winning.
<> This is what we're celebrating? God help us.
At $24K/yr, the "poverty line" is so absurdly low that a family is still dirt poor at double that amount in the cities where overall growth is strong, unless one lives in legacy housing. And thanks to asset inflation as a growth strategy, housing costs have risen so fast that a modest move across the line is still falling way behind.
This headline is the kind of thing that mainstream Dems, HRC supporters, and liberal neoliberals tell themselves, and then they wonder why Trump still has a good chance of winning.
11
Why should the GOP fund an infrastructure repair program when the democrats demand that all of the work be done by union members who cost 25% more than non-union workers but kickback most of their union dues to the democrats. More infrastructure spending would mean more union kickbacks to the democrats.
1
And why do you suppose the government has had to rely on monetary policy as a weak tool to stimulate economic growth rather than the programs you suggest? Could it be the opposition of Congressional Republicans to any sort of fiscal policy? When you take one of the two main levers of economic policy off the table, you get the outcomes you describe.
Call me when you hear Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan advocating investing hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending and other means of fiscal stimulus. I doubt my phone will be ringing any time soon.
Call me when you hear Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan advocating investing hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending and other means of fiscal stimulus. I doubt my phone will be ringing any time soon.
2
The young man in the article who now has a decent-paying construction job because he could join a union might have a different perspective than you.
The reason people not in unions are paid less is because they have no bargaining power. Over my lifetime I would put the decline in unionization at or near the top of the changes that have done the most to hurt working families. People like you would prefer to keep all the profits and not share them with the men and women who generate them.
The reason people not in unions are paid less is because they have no bargaining power. Over my lifetime I would put the decline in unionization at or near the top of the changes that have done the most to hurt working families. People like you would prefer to keep all the profits and not share them with the men and women who generate them.
1
You folks at the NY Times do know, don't you, that when you get right above the poverty line you find folks who in real terms are only slightly less impoverished than those below.
More concretely: The poverty line for a family of 4 in 2016 is $24,250. ($15,371 in 1996, the money's worth less every month.) Being paid $34,250 instead of $24,250 still would only provide a meager standard of living for a family of four today.
There are hopeful anecdotes here - those are real stories. It's good to know there are still a heartening number of people who manage to rise significantly and make a truly better life.
But the story gives credence to a government statistic misrepresents what is really a marginal downward shift in a federal agency's statistical measure of poverty, not a downward shift in the actual number of poor people. You don't need to be a ph.d economist to know that a family of four living on $34,000 ($10,000 above the poverty line) is still going to have trouble paying for rent, utilities, car upkeep, higher education, childcare, and medical and dental bills or co-pays.
Let's not fool ourselves. We're not even seriously working on poverty. It's a non-issue in the election. Where's the outrage at the homeless men, women and children in the streets of our cities? For the hungry children who still exist in this country.
More concretely: The poverty line for a family of 4 in 2016 is $24,250. ($15,371 in 1996, the money's worth less every month.) Being paid $34,250 instead of $24,250 still would only provide a meager standard of living for a family of four today.
There are hopeful anecdotes here - those are real stories. It's good to know there are still a heartening number of people who manage to rise significantly and make a truly better life.
But the story gives credence to a government statistic misrepresents what is really a marginal downward shift in a federal agency's statistical measure of poverty, not a downward shift in the actual number of poor people. You don't need to be a ph.d economist to know that a family of four living on $34,000 ($10,000 above the poverty line) is still going to have trouble paying for rent, utilities, car upkeep, higher education, childcare, and medical and dental bills or co-pays.
Let's not fool ourselves. We're not even seriously working on poverty. It's a non-issue in the election. Where's the outrage at the homeless men, women and children in the streets of our cities? For the hungry children who still exist in this country.
12
I'm so tired of the biased rhetoric and data manipulation to suggest the average American is doing better. We've not seen our wages go up for 30-40 years an we're bombarded by efforts to get us to shop, to spend, to buy buy buy to be a good American.
I"m incredibly disheartened to read this the night before the debate between Trump and Clinton because I know in my heart the efforts are born of manipulation and not a reflection of how those in the heart of America are doing.
In fact it's a crime or in the least criminal to argue as much. Why is it a crime? Because it seems to me that making these claims against the backdrop of untold suffering, insecurity, and uncertainty, is an attempt to change the narrative and offer us a portrait of America that simply does not exist. To do so for political expediency on behalf of the establishment and the elites is, in fact, criminal. To call it anything less is a lie.
I"m incredibly disheartened to read this the night before the debate between Trump and Clinton because I know in my heart the efforts are born of manipulation and not a reflection of how those in the heart of America are doing.
In fact it's a crime or in the least criminal to argue as much. Why is it a crime? Because it seems to me that making these claims against the backdrop of untold suffering, insecurity, and uncertainty, is an attempt to change the narrative and offer us a portrait of America that simply does not exist. To do so for political expediency on behalf of the establishment and the elites is, in fact, criminal. To call it anything less is a lie.
9
One can only imagine how much further we'd be now had not the GOP rammed through austerity budgets in every state they could, reduced the stimulus packages, killed the public option in obamacare and in general undermined every genuinely pro-growth measure in sight. To cap it all off they've nominated a cross between Bernie Madoff and Benito Mussolini. One can only hope that the polls are wrong and that this will be 1964 all over again.
12
“Another hidden benefit was lower prices at the pump,” Ms. Swonk said. “People who couldn’t afford the commute before could now afford to accept a minimum-wage job.”
Am I to believe people own and maintain an operable car, with current insurance, taxes and registration all paid, and the sole reason they can't accept a job offer is due to the fluctuation in retail gas prices? Incredible.
Am I to believe people own and maintain an operable car, with current insurance, taxes and registration all paid, and the sole reason they can't accept a job offer is due to the fluctuation in retail gas prices? Incredible.
9
Perfect timing! Whatever the debates, this news says loads.
One cannot deny the economic achievement of current policies and actions.
In the face of no agreement from Republicans, President Obama has shown great leadership.
Supporting such GOP recalcitrance this November just makes no sense.
One cannot deny the economic achievement of current policies and actions.
In the face of no agreement from Republicans, President Obama has shown great leadership.
Supporting such GOP recalcitrance this November just makes no sense.
6
Too perfect timing.
1
If we have 335 million people in this country and 3.5 million were lifted above the poverty line that means roughly 1 (one) percent rose. We have 1 in 5 living below the poverty line so of the 20% living in poverty we only managed to save 1/20th of those people? Shame on Congress.
6
And how many more illegal aliens are still holding jobs that should be held by American citizens?
4
As long as you realize the problem rests with congress. President Obama getting anyone out of poverty with the congressional roadblock he's had to deal with is practically a miracle.
2
Charles W: I absolutely agree. My kids worked construction - heavy lifting - dirty work, bussed tables and washed dishes at a chain restaurant, mowed yards, manned the salad bar at another chain, cleaned other people's houses during the summers in high school and college even though we paid their living and college expenses. In other words, there are plenty of people who are legal citizens who WILL do that work.
3
It's great that Caicedo has been able to get a salaried position and that he has been able to pull his family out of poverty. But one wonders if buying a gas-guzzling Nissan Pathfinder SUV is a particularly smart choice. $40K, while above the poverty line for a family of four, is still not a lot of money.
8
Reality check lets take close look at facts rochester ny. Worest rate of high school who graduate from high school 50 percent drop out rate. Vacant homes in city worest then in depresion.Employmnet for rich is good but rest will have to work 3 part time jobs. Let stick to facts i still here sound of jobs leaving usa when vacum stops all jobs pay living wage will be gone . I beleive ross perot was correct
9
This is a statistic and these are stories we never saw during the Reagan, Bush or Bush years; millions of people climbing out of poverty. Conservative economics makes it impossible for this to be the case because it's a concept targeted to benefit the 1%ers.
8 years ago we were barreling toward a Great Depression. Barack Obama should be considered one of the great president in our history.
8 years ago we were barreling toward a Great Depression. Barack Obama should be considered one of the great president in our history.
8
You must have been born in 1989 ... they were constant ...
I received a tweet from the Teamsters union pointing out that the official Federal Poverty line is way too low. This is correct, but the Administration has never admitted that, and they won't admit it now. Because they are deliberately using this inaccurate measure of poverty to make themselves look better than they are. Manipulating statistics in DC offices doesn't change the harsh reality on the ground.
10
This is great news, but imagine how much better it would be if we'd been able to enact a real fiscal stimulus. Or if there'd been no "sequester", or if many states were not cutting public employment to the bone and attacking public unions.
8
Wait, you mean the US is not a racist, abusive, hateful example of the worst of capitalism? You mean that BLM and other radicals are wrong when they say that the US government oppresses minorities?
This finding is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country- people ignore reality merely want to advance their agenda. The truth remains that this country offers opportunities, and if people avoid criminal behavior, obtain an education, avoid drug and alcohol use, and avoid pregnancy out of wedlock, they will rise out of poverty and can live a fulfilling life! Too bad democrats ignore that truth, and instead exploit minorities by propagating lies that foster dependency on the government...
This finding is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country- people ignore reality merely want to advance their agenda. The truth remains that this country offers opportunities, and if people avoid criminal behavior, obtain an education, avoid drug and alcohol use, and avoid pregnancy out of wedlock, they will rise out of poverty and can live a fulfilling life! Too bad democrats ignore that truth, and instead exploit minorities by propagating lies that foster dependency on the government...
8
This news is based on the census data that said that wages were increasing except only in cities, where cost of living has also been increasing. Since the official poverty line does not account for regional cost of living, people living in cities where increased wages are immediately eaten by increased costs are now considered out of poverty.
This news article is propaganda meant to boost Hillary Clinton's chances of succeeding in the debate and therefore win the presidency. There was a time when the purpose of the news media was not simply to report the facts, but also tell the truth. One without the other is dishonest.
This news article is propaganda meant to boost Hillary Clinton's chances of succeeding in the debate and therefore win the presidency. There was a time when the purpose of the news media was not simply to report the facts, but also tell the truth. One without the other is dishonest.
7
A single measure of improvement is great, but this article is nothing less than an attempt to suppress the news that 8 years after the bursting of the housing bubble, we have still not recovered:
the % employed,
wages,
quits,
involuntary part timers,
discouraged workers,
unemployment duration,
long term unemployed as a percentage of the unemployed.
This pollyanna New York Times article doesn't acknowledge that policy makers have not done a thing to improve these shamefully continuing labor market weaknesses, which would by far be the best way to reduce poverty.
the % employed,
wages,
quits,
involuntary part timers,
discouraged workers,
unemployment duration,
long term unemployed as a percentage of the unemployed.
This pollyanna New York Times article doesn't acknowledge that policy makers have not done a thing to improve these shamefully continuing labor market weaknesses, which would by far be the best way to reduce poverty.
11
A poverty line based only on income without taking into account the wealth (or debt!) is not very informative. When wealth is taken into account, the disparity between the top 1% and bottom 99% still remains the worst since the last depression.
9
The top 1% in wealth and the top 1% in income are not necessarily the same.
You can be making $500K a year, spending it all, and have no wealth whatsoever.
On the other hand, you could have $5 million in your IRA, and be living on your $75K salary.
You can be making $500K a year, spending it all, and have no wealth whatsoever.
On the other hand, you could have $5 million in your IRA, and be living on your $75K salary.
While I detest Trump, I do see his appeal for those not lifted by this particular boat. I personally know several 50-something whites, both with and without four-year degrees, who are unemployed or under-employed. Their histories are sad; they all worked hard and only want full-time jobs at a living wage. Now their anger is palpable at a system that tends to enrich the rich.
I fear that such voters will surprise us in November and catapult a venal man with a Fascist agenda into the Oval Office.
I fear that such voters will surprise us in November and catapult a venal man with a Fascist agenda into the Oval Office.
9
Good news. It proves capitalism is working in this country when the private sector creates jobs and the public sector stays out of the way. Think of ho much better the results would have been and how much sooner they would have taken affect if government had stayed out of the way with fewer regulations, less spending on programs that don't work and better education without the union rules blocking innovation.
1
Everyone should remember that this president inherited the worse economy since the great depression with millions of families, not just wiped out of their assets, but deeply in debt with underwater houses from a bubble created through Wall Street fraud (and those criminals becoming millionaires and billionaires in the process). On top of that, we were at war and under constant threat of terrorism. On top of that, a Congress whose majorities' No. 1 priority was to block any plan that would help this country, because it might make this president look good. Despite all those handicaps, I hope historians will conclude that our first Black president was one of the best in history.
5
The Census Bureau Table A-2 which speaks volumes to me has the Measures of Income Dispersion. It made me think in terms of one of these barbecues put on for local churches or fire companies. Expecting a hundred customers, 100 chickens are put on the grill. Unfortunately, the first five people in line eat 22 chickens(and a wing). In fact, they and the next 15 people eat 51 chickens(and a wing). Wow, so then the next 20 people-the 4th quintile-they make out pretty well; they get 23 chickens(and two wings). So it goes: the next 20 get 14.3, next 8.2. Finally, the last 20 people or 20% if you will get to share 3 chickens(and a wing). No wonder some of our ancestors made such good chicken soup. Remarkably, these percentages have changed little since 2001. More income has gone to the top, less left for the lower. Hint on voter anger: when the top 20% of folks essentially is paid more than half of what the entire nation together produces, just getting by can seem inadequate reward. Forty percent of our populations shares only 11.3% of the rewards.
4
Some commenters are questioning if a "1.2%" drop in poverty rate is meaningful. Unfortunately, the article does not present full information/word things accurately. The poverty rate declined from 11.6% in 2014 to 10.4% in 2015. So, the rate of decline was more than 10% in ONE year. And that was a year ago. We can surmise from the recent pressure on wages that the poverty rate is even lower now (in 2016). The rate was as high as 15.1% in 2010.
To those who wonder why there are poor families at all in America: This is a phenomenon almost entirely of single-parent households, especially female householders, 30% of which are in poverty, partly because as a society provide little social net. There is no poverty to speak of for married households.
To those who wonder why there are poor families at all in America: This is a phenomenon almost entirely of single-parent households, especially female householders, 30% of which are in poverty, partly because as a society provide little social net. There is no poverty to speak of for married households.
4
That guy who moved out of the in-laws could save a lot more money had his family stayed there. Many people still live in unaffordable places with long commutes to even more unaffordable cities where their jobs could be located. The decreased poverty rates sounds good if you ignore the rising cost of living in many areas where jobs or people are located. The poverty line should vary across the country, state, counties, cities, where rent and mortgage costs could vary. Of course, poverty in America is probably nothing compared to the developing countries'. But I wonder...can other things besides gas go down in price? Like food and shelter, which are necessary things? If these things are affordable to everyone, regardless of their educational background, there would be no poverty to begin with.
5
Will The Upshot, as well as other economic commentators, or perhaps even academics and researchers reconcil these census numbers with the monthly jobs report, and quarterly GDP over the same period. Until these census numbers came out the predominant storyline was that the economy, jobs & wages, while growing were not fast or high enough to make big dents.
A significant divergence in the imputed story from census data and the other economic snapshots may lend credence to the idea that these snapshots began to miss some crucial elements as the economy (think technologically enabled productivity), habits (survey errors due to unreached), work arrangements, etc all changed drastically coming out of a dislocating economic event.
A significant divergence in the imputed story from census data and the other economic snapshots may lend credence to the idea that these snapshots began to miss some crucial elements as the economy (think technologically enabled productivity), habits (survey errors due to unreached), work arrangements, etc all changed drastically coming out of a dislocating economic event.
3
I find these new Positive Income Figures released hard to believe for 2 very important reasons.
Firstly, these are 2015 figures so most, if not all the rises in the Minimum Wage had yet to come into effect and even if they had, it takes some time for any Pay rise to make a difference to a family's /households/individual's standing in terms of benefits and especially in terms of rising above the Official poverty line which is a paltry $233 a week for a family with 4 children. (assuming 2 adult income earners)
Secondly, the way data was defined and measured in 2015 was changed from previous years, meaning the results must be by definition different from those previously and also making it impossible to make comparisons between 2015 data/results and previous years.
In a survey conducted in December 2015 63% of all American income earners reported not having $500 available in savings for an unexpected expense. Also most American households earning the median income of $56,000 have substantial debts of $205,000 representing a debt to income ratio of 370%
http://fortune.com/2016/01/06/savings-unexpected-expenses/
I would not rely on these one off figures as representing anything real or valid and at best, might see them as an indication of a positive trend...after I compare them with the figures for 2016 due out a year from now.
Firstly, these are 2015 figures so most, if not all the rises in the Minimum Wage had yet to come into effect and even if they had, it takes some time for any Pay rise to make a difference to a family's /households/individual's standing in terms of benefits and especially in terms of rising above the Official poverty line which is a paltry $233 a week for a family with 4 children. (assuming 2 adult income earners)
Secondly, the way data was defined and measured in 2015 was changed from previous years, meaning the results must be by definition different from those previously and also making it impossible to make comparisons between 2015 data/results and previous years.
In a survey conducted in December 2015 63% of all American income earners reported not having $500 available in savings for an unexpected expense. Also most American households earning the median income of $56,000 have substantial debts of $205,000 representing a debt to income ratio of 370%
http://fortune.com/2016/01/06/savings-unexpected-expenses/
I would not rely on these one off figures as representing anything real or valid and at best, might see them as an indication of a positive trend...after I compare them with the figures for 2016 due out a year from now.
5
I will accept this report as merely a coincidence that it happens to be published just one day before what promises to be the most viewed televised presidential debate since these debates were first televised. One of the three debates will most likely focus on domestic issues. With the figures published in this report, is it safe to assume that questions concerning how bad the economy is, or how tough life is these days for those in the middle class will be excluded from the debate?
3
Not quite sure what this actually means -- a family of 4 is above the poverty level at $24,300? Really? Do they actually live in a habitialble house/apartment and manage to feed themselves?
This is the disconnect in this country.
A family of 4 can't live on $24,300. They can't afford to house, feed and clothe themselves even modestly at the rate of income never mind pay for transportation
That this is out of poverty is only some sad little game the government plays with numbers.
This is the disconnect in this country.
A family of 4 can't live on $24,300. They can't afford to house, feed and clothe themselves even modestly at the rate of income never mind pay for transportation
That this is out of poverty is only some sad little game the government plays with numbers.
7
The astonishing thing is that despite all the evidence, I still know many people from the mid-west who continue supporting Trump, dislike Obama, and would never admit that decades of Republican policies have plunged so many Americans into hopeless poverty.
And more astonishing, among these people who refuse to accept reality I count several white college-educated engineers under the age of 45 and even a second generation hispanic man who used to work for me and achieved a brilliant career, becoming director of product quality for a large international company.
I find it depressing that people like these, whose intellect and education are surely above average, would insist on maintaining a misplaced "loyalty" to the same GOP that has so blatantly failed us for decades. What will it take for these people to see the light?
And more astonishing, among these people who refuse to accept reality I count several white college-educated engineers under the age of 45 and even a second generation hispanic man who used to work for me and achieved a brilliant career, becoming director of product quality for a large international company.
I find it depressing that people like these, whose intellect and education are surely above average, would insist on maintaining a misplaced "loyalty" to the same GOP that has so blatantly failed us for decades. What will it take for these people to see the light?
4
Most people would look at highly intelligent and well-educated people disagreeing with them, and think - "Well, I might be wrong".
It takes a Democrat to believe everyone else is a fool.
It takes a Democrat to believe everyone else is a fool.
3
Reading this article gave me chills. When my kids and I left my first husband after years of domestic abuse, we moved in a two-bedroom apartment where they had the bedrooms and I slept on the couch in the living room. They always had food to eat; I almost always did. For that whole first year, I worked as hard as I could as adjunct faculty but never once made it to the end of the month with even a full dollar in my bank account. Starting over with very little money and few belongings is just very challenging. Gradually though I worked my way up and out of those dire straits. I'm sure that having enough now feels better than it would had things not been so precarious back then. And although our day-to-day life is vastly better in so many ways now than it was then, I can see some of the effects of all of that on my kids. Their conception of security, physical and financial, has been permanently affected by their early years. I hope that society can see that it's not just a matter of moving out of poverty once and for all. My family's experience with it was temporary, but the effects are far-reaching. I hope that all of the individuals and families this article talks about can find pride in their efforts and peace of mind in their new security.
3
This is great news, and is bolstered by the tremendous drop in the world's rate of abject poverty. While articles like this rightfully tout the benefits of changing economies to the impoverished, we need also to recognize the benefits to our overall society. Fewer people dependent on support programs, a broadened labor base, the accessibility of new skills and talents among people once ignored, and the growing commitment among more and more people to the societies that support them will benefit even those among us who already enjoy greater wealth.
1
I don't believe these statistics for a minute. If so many people were climbing out of poverty Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump would not be attracting the crowds which they do.
I think these are statistics which are being distorted deliberately by the government. In fact, it's curious indeed that the price of gas remains so low, that Obama has vetoed the bill allowing the US victims of 9/11 to sue the Saudi's, and that the interest rates remain low as well.
The cost of "The Affordable Health Care Act" when they raise premiums in October will create a significant wealth siphon on our economy and further drag down individual family's bottom line.
I think these are statistics which are being distorted deliberately by the government. In fact, it's curious indeed that the price of gas remains so low, that Obama has vetoed the bill allowing the US victims of 9/11 to sue the Saudi's, and that the interest rates remain low as well.
The cost of "The Affordable Health Care Act" when they raise premiums in October will create a significant wealth siphon on our economy and further drag down individual family's bottom line.
4
With almost one in four African Americans and more than one in five Hispanic Americans still being below the poverty line, there is still much more that must be done. One also has to ask about the true effect that the more than 11 million illegal aliens in our country has on jobs, let alone better jobs, for those African Americans and Hispanic Americans who still remain below the poverty line. We also need to look at the wisdom of bringing in large amounts of refugees. What will the impact of these people be on those of our citizens who remain below the poverty line? These are going to be hard questions to address.
5
Employers prefer illegal aliens because they will work harder for less money than American citizens. If you are a low-skilled, poorly-educated US citizen, you can't compete and no employer will take you.
If there were no illegal aliens, some of these people would get jobs. Employers wouldn't be happy about it, but they'd have to take them because no one else was available.
If there were no illegal aliens, some of these people would get jobs. Employers wouldn't be happy about it, but they'd have to take them because no one else was available.
2
In ten years we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which defined our purpose as a new nation, the first to be designed by its people, as guaranteeing "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." These qualities of life have not been realized for those in poverty, but we have succeeded—through both public and private philanthropic efforts, to make them measurable and achievable for everyone in poverty. What is needed is a "moonshot" national collaboration to accomplish this historic national goal in ten years—as the best possible celebration of who we are and of why this is a great nation.
2
too little too late. this is the problem for the Democrats. No one associates any improvement with Democratic policies. What we needed was a full employment program from the start. Instead we had a weak stimulus. So the Republicans can argue it was their policy of containing the Democrats that resulted in the improving economy and things would be a lot better if only they had the White House.
1
"Make America Great Again" is the prime example of "Trump Fiction".
The economics news could at come at a better time to debunk Trump's Twitter fabrications that things have never been worse and it is all the fault of Obama/Clinton.
On Obama's watch the financial markets have responded, despite Republican opposition, to the steps taken by his administration to right the economy after the crash. The Dow has risen from 6500 when Obama took office to 18,300. This success has "trickled down" to all segments of the population.
Markets respond poorly to uncertainty. All the vagaries of a Trump presidency will reverse the strong growth in jobs and income that took years to accomplish . The financial markets will rebel strongly.
The economics news could at come at a better time to debunk Trump's Twitter fabrications that things have never been worse and it is all the fault of Obama/Clinton.
On Obama's watch the financial markets have responded, despite Republican opposition, to the steps taken by his administration to right the economy after the crash. The Dow has risen from 6500 when Obama took office to 18,300. This success has "trickled down" to all segments of the population.
Markets respond poorly to uncertainty. All the vagaries of a Trump presidency will reverse the strong growth in jobs and income that took years to accomplish . The financial markets will rebel strongly.
5
I'm a Democrat. Voted for Obama twice. I pull Democrat for nearly all local elections, and for propositions that lean left. So I would love to read that my voting choices have been successful, especially after reading for years that everything is miserable and getting worse. But the timing of this piece, the personal stories, the photos and the tone look a whole lot like propaganda. I'm certain that the news is mixed, and that the good news is the result of a variety of factors, including some not out of the progressives' playbook (lower gasoline costs, for example). So I'm going to read up on these hopeful statistics and if the political credit is as clearly demonstrated as portrayed here, well then I'll pour a celebratory cocktail and toast the Dems for a job well done.
2
Just think:
If the red states and red districts hadn't elected obstructionist Republicans to Congress, probably double that number of people would have climbed out of poverty.
President Obama has used every power at his disposal to get around the obstructionism, otherwise, had the Bush policies continued, we'd be in an even deeper recession than the one the President got us out of.
And so many Republicans want to go BACK to those bad old times!
It's ironic. When I sat in economics classes, it was clearly demonstrated that creating a minimum wage would have either 2 effects.
1) It would either be below the "natural" wage and therefore do nothing.
2) It would be above the natural wage, create an imbalance, and cause unemployment to rise.
It's all there in the math, in a solid proof.
But
Empirical data over the last 50 years has not supported that mathematical proof, so much so that economists by a vast majority are no longer accepting that an adequately high minimum wage, like $15/hr, will affect unemployment at all. Because the real life evidence shows it has NO EFFECT on raising unemployment. In fact, more people being paid an adequate wage takes pressure off the government, brings more money into the community as the new wage earners spend it where they live, and actually CREATES jobs!
Theoretical modelling is only valid to a point. If real life evidence contradicts the model, the model must be changed, and the majority of economists have recognized that.
If the red states and red districts hadn't elected obstructionist Republicans to Congress, probably double that number of people would have climbed out of poverty.
President Obama has used every power at his disposal to get around the obstructionism, otherwise, had the Bush policies continued, we'd be in an even deeper recession than the one the President got us out of.
And so many Republicans want to go BACK to those bad old times!
It's ironic. When I sat in economics classes, it was clearly demonstrated that creating a minimum wage would have either 2 effects.
1) It would either be below the "natural" wage and therefore do nothing.
2) It would be above the natural wage, create an imbalance, and cause unemployment to rise.
It's all there in the math, in a solid proof.
But
Empirical data over the last 50 years has not supported that mathematical proof, so much so that economists by a vast majority are no longer accepting that an adequately high minimum wage, like $15/hr, will affect unemployment at all. Because the real life evidence shows it has NO EFFECT on raising unemployment. In fact, more people being paid an adequate wage takes pressure off the government, brings more money into the community as the new wage earners spend it where they live, and actually CREATES jobs!
Theoretical modelling is only valid to a point. If real life evidence contradicts the model, the model must be changed, and the majority of economists have recognized that.
7
I want to hear good news about the population climbing out of poverty. But the numbers don't tell the whole story, it's more of a continual progress of the financial crises recovery since 2008 where we are getting something back after pouring in QE 1 & 2 stimulus by the Fed. The result is more lowest rung jobs in the service sector particularly fast serve food. The tech world has upended the service sector as well as many other industries to make them so efficient that many lower level jobs other than fast food will be lost. Thus education is key and entering fields of technology is particularly lucrative especially in studies of math and sciences.
3
There seems to be a need to read a lot into this article. It's sounds so great, but the idea that improvement in the economy is a main reason for getting people out of poverty seems a stretch. Wages are stagnant, especially after factoring in inflation. Any recent rise in wages has come from unions and states pushing for a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage. This effort has been steadfastly fought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, elected Republicans and their ignorant voter base (even though they benefit from a higher minimum wage). U.S. corporations have held back in creating jobs even though they hold trillions in excess cash reserves. Most of these reserves have been transferred overseas to limit taxes. The effective tax rate of most corporations is less than 14%. Many pay no taxes. U.S. corporations have designed jobs that are part-time, limit hours, have few benefits, worked to dismantle defined benefit plans (and they are actively working to dismantle Social Security and Medicare with the help of elected Republicans and their ignorant voter base), created jobs defined as contractors instead of employee, like Uber, and so on. There are millions of Americans who have simply stopped looking for work. And, let's not forget the insane Fed policy of low interest rates, which has simply helped corporations and those with money to invest in a corrupted Stock Market. This article lacks insight and experience. Why print it?
4
This response gives more details and thank you for that, It also says how steep the climb out of poverty can be. but is it not better than before? You are right about many paying no taxes, and I get the feeling that Mr. ginormous Trump leads the pack, for he has failed to show his taxes.
1
The more the progressives push for a $15/hour "living" minimum wage the greater the incentive for companies to replace increasingly more expensive minimum wage workers with increasingly less expensive and more efficient automation. The result will be more unemployed ex-minimum wage workers.
3
Before 2008, the poverty rate was relatively low. With the recession it substantially increased. Now, the poverty rate is back to where it was before the recession. Another way to put it, is that we have made virtually no progress in the last decade. We have merely recovered the losses experienced during recession.
59
And, let's remember the Great Recession was caused by the sub prime mortgage bomb. Who built that bomb? Hillary's husband, Andy Cuomo and other Democrats.
In the days and weeks ahead, we will see that Americans understand that truly, it was a DEMOCRAT-created recession.
In the days and weeks ahead, we will see that Americans understand that truly, it was a DEMOCRAT-created recession.
3
Hmm...wonder if Bush and all those wars had anything to do with it???
Stevebee3, then why did Bush do nothing to prevent it during the EIGHT YEARS he had after Bill Clinton but before the recession? I thought Republicans believed in personal responsibility, not whining.
Of course, what we understand as the "poverty line" is a national disgrace, so while upward movement is certainly good news and some may truly be doing better, let's hold popping the cork.
57
Agreed. I am continually suspicious of these 'facts'. Things are NOT better for most middle class Americans. Wages remain stagnant, appropriate job opportunities are not available, struggles continue. The likely millions who have given up on the job market and who are grossly under employed do not seem to be accounted for. And if there was economic satisfaction across the board, a huckster like Trump would be laughed all the way back to his gilded dumpster.
3
Even so, this article made my morning. I am so grateful that others are finding their way out.
3
Hello, Anne-Marie Hislop. What I find even more disgraceful is significant numbers of my American neighbors do not understand currently and for more than two generations we are experiencing a National HEALTH CRISIS, aka America's Culture of African American Child Abuse, Emotional Neglect and Maltreatment that evolved from America's long-standing, ignorant Culture of Racism.
I am referring to a Culture of Child Abuse, Emotional Neglect/Abandonment and Maltreatment responsible for popular American urban storytellers the late Tupac Shakur and White House guest Kendrick Lamar vividly describing the "m.A.A.d. City" and "T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. Child Abusing Cultures that through no fault of their own, deprived these American men, their childhood friends, as well as many of their elementary and JHS classmates from experiencing a SAFE, fairly or wonderfully happy American kid childhood.
Sadly, many Americans do not view poverty as a form of child abuse and emotional maltreatment.
Ask Kendrick, his siblings and many cousins if they're happy or depressed about being introduced to an abusive, neglectful childhood fraught with pain, hardships, FEAR, uncertainty, demeaning government handouts and depression?
"Kendrick Lamar Talks About ‘u,’ His Depression & Suicidal Thoughts (Pt. 2) | MTV News - YouTube April 2015"
Peace.
I am referring to a Culture of Child Abuse, Emotional Neglect/Abandonment and Maltreatment responsible for popular American urban storytellers the late Tupac Shakur and White House guest Kendrick Lamar vividly describing the "m.A.A.d. City" and "T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. Child Abusing Cultures that through no fault of their own, deprived these American men, their childhood friends, as well as many of their elementary and JHS classmates from experiencing a SAFE, fairly or wonderfully happy American kid childhood.
Sadly, many Americans do not view poverty as a form of child abuse and emotional maltreatment.
Ask Kendrick, his siblings and many cousins if they're happy or depressed about being introduced to an abusive, neglectful childhood fraught with pain, hardships, FEAR, uncertainty, demeaning government handouts and depression?
"Kendrick Lamar Talks About ‘u,’ His Depression & Suicidal Thoughts (Pt. 2) | MTV News - YouTube April 2015"
Peace.
Last autumn we learned that the middle class fell below 50 percent for the first time in something like five decades. That was year 7 of the Obama presidency, and 6 years after the Great Recession.
Obama has created 10 million jobs but we also allowed 10 million immigrants to legally come into this country, negating the effect of job growth on millions of families.
I am not pro Trump but I am against making it easier for Trump to run.
Obama has created 10 million jobs but we also allowed 10 million immigrants to legally come into this country, negating the effect of job growth on millions of families.
I am not pro Trump but I am against making it easier for Trump to run.
28
If you're not pro Trump, why do you frame it that way? We allowed those 11.2 million illegal immigrants into the country BEFORE Obama took office. The greatest rise, a near doubling, took place under -- you guessed it -- Bush. Under Obama, the number has gone down for the first time in 50 years, by almost 1.5M.
10
That is an interesting data point you mention. There are almost 2 Million fewer illegal immigrants in the US today since that population peaked in 2007 in the Bush administration. And the statistics I was able to find indicate that between 2010 and 2014 about 2.2 million legal immigrants arrived. So it is difficult to see how Obama let in 10 Million immigrants. See, what makes it easier for Trump to run is opinion formed in a fact-free zone.
5
Those 10 million did not enter the country under Obama's watch. He has deported far more illegal immigrants than other recent administrations, much to the displeasure of some Hispanic organizations. There has also been a net outflow of undocumented immigrants since he took office.
Yes, it's about jobs. But, as important it's about wages and income. If we create a zillion jobs at $11 an hour while inequality in the form of wealth redistribution upwards continues, what's the point?
Yes, it's about jobs. But, as important it's about wages and income. If we create a zillion jobs at $11 an hour while inequality in the form of wealth redistribution upwards continues, what's the point?
4
However, this NYT report last week cited that notwithstanding this statistic, inequality is still running rampant. That is still the game changer, which only Clinton will work on changing.
Further, Trump alleges he will make America great again. His tax proposals continue to favor the wealthy, i.e. do away with the estate tax... the only people currently taxed are estates of $5 million+ single, and $10 million+ filing jointly. That will impact only a few thousand in the entire US.
Thank you, The Donald, and your economic team of millionaires and billionaires! We don't need you to make America great again. The train left the station without you!
Further, Trump alleges he will make America great again. His tax proposals continue to favor the wealthy, i.e. do away with the estate tax... the only people currently taxed are estates of $5 million+ single, and $10 million+ filing jointly. That will impact only a few thousand in the entire US.
Thank you, The Donald, and your economic team of millionaires and billionaires! We don't need you to make America great again. The train left the station without you!
44
So, where were we at the end of 2008?
We were losing 800,000+ jobs per month.
We, the people, had to bail out Wall Street with TARP, or "this sucker is going down," said W Bush.
Unemployment was double what it is now.
The housing market crashed.
The car industry was floundering.
The Dow plunged to 8,849 by the end of 2008 -- it's at 18,261 now.
And, somehow, Republicans have credibility with almost half the country, still?
Keep making America great. Vote Democrats into office, up and down the ticket.
We were losing 800,000+ jobs per month.
We, the people, had to bail out Wall Street with TARP, or "this sucker is going down," said W Bush.
Unemployment was double what it is now.
The housing market crashed.
The car industry was floundering.
The Dow plunged to 8,849 by the end of 2008 -- it's at 18,261 now.
And, somehow, Republicans have credibility with almost half the country, still?
Keep making America great. Vote Democrats into office, up and down the ticket.
396
The Dow is that high because corporate profits come off the backs of the workers that Obama has dome nothing to help.
3
Agree - and yet, the politics meme is people are tired and want a change - back to trickle down and where we were 8 years ago!
1
You're presuming that facts matter to GOP voters.
They don't.
They don't.
1
The statistical numbers pointing to the poverty profile since take into account only the absolute poverty level based on income and the officially determined poverty line that remains essentially arbitrary, it can't be the correct indicator of the whole picture of poverty as many other crucial aspects of economic wellbeing like an access to education, housing, healthcare and availability of nutritional food etc. remain out of consideration. Thus, the news of 3.5 millions crossing the officially determined poverty line is to be welcomed still the future of remaining 40 millions and odd number remains stuck in uncertainty, specially when considered against the Trumpian clamour for demanding an end to the available social policy cushion like the affordable health care, medicaid, food coupons, and other social security measures, which are really needed to help the other lot of poor to come out of the poverty trap, in addition to, of course, focusing the economic policy attention on creating more regular jobs in public and private sectors.
27
Why just a month ago there were many articles about Republicans not wanting to raise the minimum wage, and how so many people live in the poverty level and earn a minimum wage. So the question is, how did so many of the impoverished minimum wage earners suddenly "climb out of poverty"?
37
I'd suggest that you actually read the article to find out.
62
Nothing sudden about the 15 million jobs in 6 years - that lowers the poverty rate.
Same as the 25 million jobs created in Clinton's 8 years.
What doesn't lower the poverty rate is win you create zero private sector jobs in 8 years - like Bush did.
Still confused?
Same as the 25 million jobs created in Clinton's 8 years.
What doesn't lower the poverty rate is win you create zero private sector jobs in 8 years - like Bush did.
Still confused?
2
Maybe taking on a 3rd job or further reducing their lives to eat and sleep and zero social activities?
I been there, 3rd job, cut even weekly McDonald's trip with the kids!
I been there, 3rd job, cut even weekly McDonald's trip with the kids!
2
"Breached the poverty line"; by How Much? I guess there is some room to celebrate, but it sure sounds rather pathetic that the richest nation on the planet is bragging about an *official* poverty rate (like the official unemployment rate) which we all know is far greater than what is shown.
62
Even if you (and Marcel, and so one and so forth) are a statistics "truther", the point is that the trend has improved.
Yes, 13.5% poverty overall might not be fantastic (although not out of line with other Western countries), but it's better than 15%.
Yes, 13.5% poverty overall might not be fantastic (although not out of line with other Western countries), but it's better than 15%.
1
How do you define richest nation on the planet? There are others with higher per capita GDP than we have. Also, I don't know of any nations without some residents in poverty.
I think it's great news that we have less poor today than before.
I think it's great news that we have less poor today than before.
1
given how poorly we educate children in some pockets of America, I am always pleasantly surprised when the raw grit and perseverance of the working class pulls us closer to a "great society"...
1
Funny, these data...And people believe them, religiously. Lucky for the democrats that so many people do not understand how census data are estimated and that statistical models are..well, just models.
31
And here's the core problem with why we have someone like Trump even being considered for President. Show people real hard facts, data and proof and they still won't believe it. How do we move forward as a country in the face of that type of stubbornness?
66
@Marcel - As long as there is a consistent methodology, which the Census Bureau has, we can meaningfully compare one year to another. The actual number is not particularly relevant - only whether it's going up or down.
Was the Census Bureau in the tank for the Democrats when it showed the poverty rate skyrocketing between 2007 and 2010, and then stay stubbornly high for a few years after that? Well the same group of people, using the same methodology, are reporting that the rate is finally ("At Long Last" in the not-flattering headline of this article) coming down.
Stop being so cynical.
Was the Census Bureau in the tank for the Democrats when it showed the poverty rate skyrocketing between 2007 and 2010, and then stay stubbornly high for a few years after that? Well the same group of people, using the same methodology, are reporting that the rate is finally ("At Long Last" in the not-flattering headline of this article) coming down.
Stop being so cynical.
4
Churchill said he only believed statistics that he has falsified himself.
But: Statistics is the science of making statements with testable confidence levels about averages. Thus, they are much more trustworthy than the anecdotal episode related by an individual.
Whenever reading a statistics it is important to understand the sample set, the hypothesis, and the confidence levels. With these you can screw. You can also screw with graphical representations. But statistics is still not a religion. Its a science.
But: Statistics is the science of making statements with testable confidence levels about averages. Thus, they are much more trustworthy than the anecdotal episode related by an individual.
Whenever reading a statistics it is important to understand the sample set, the hypothesis, and the confidence levels. With these you can screw. You can also screw with graphical representations. But statistics is still not a religion. Its a science.
5
See. The GUP republican'ts and their ilk as well as the myth of "free market" doesn't and NEVER will work! Send 'em all packing November 2016!
Tell all you know to vote ONLY Democrat 2016 and shove the Republican'ts and the fascist "free market stinkers" as well as the corporate lackeys and their apologists so far down that they will never recover and end up in the trash heap of history where they belong.
Tell all you know to vote ONLY Democrat 2016 and shove the Republican'ts and the fascist "free market stinkers" as well as the corporate lackeys and their apologists so far down that they will never recover and end up in the trash heap of history where they belong.
34
If the Republican Party hadn't opposed the POTUS at every turn, the result would have been even better!
717
That's one partisan way to read this. The other way is that "the GOP opposition SAVED the economy after all, from the disastrous Obama interventions...kept the worst excesses at bay, so that things could slowly improve..."
2
They have been the most disgraceful political party in our nation's history - - without a doubt.
But: They stull Are!
But: They stull Are!
1
Fully agree and this point should be front and centre of any discussion concerning wages and poverty.
1
And for all the talk about caring about the middle class, the Republicans - especially those in Congress - have never proposed spending one cent on anti-poverty program like early childhood development (which has a great result) or jobs programs.
All talk and no dough.
Anything that has been done is the Democrats dragging them along grudgingly.
Their mantra - tax cuts so Americans can just go their separate ways and no thought to a cohesive view of society that works in so many advanced nations. The power of moving our economy forward with purpose that helps people unleash their potential and smarts. There's a place for the power of government in this cooperative effort.
Oh, and did I mention most tax cuts go to the wealthiest?
But, then, you knew that!
"Their way" is not a way.
It's blah, blah, blah dogmatic impotence.
Throughout our history.
All talk and no dough.
Anything that has been done is the Democrats dragging them along grudgingly.
Their mantra - tax cuts so Americans can just go their separate ways and no thought to a cohesive view of society that works in so many advanced nations. The power of moving our economy forward with purpose that helps people unleash their potential and smarts. There's a place for the power of government in this cooperative effort.
Oh, and did I mention most tax cuts go to the wealthiest?
But, then, you knew that!
"Their way" is not a way.
It's blah, blah, blah dogmatic impotence.
Throughout our history.
57
Wow, imagine what Obama could have done with even a marginally cooperative Republican Congress....
379
Unfortunately, instead of going directly to the American People, and helping us organize to pressure the congress, Obama had closed meetings and tried to make backroom deals. Clinton promises to do the same, but with alcohol.
When a politician doesn't trust the People to make things happen, don't trust them.
We need a president that goes to the people and organized us to force the hands of congress. That is why I voted for Bernie and that is why I will vote for Jill Stein.
While Clinton was in the Hamptons taking money from the rich, Jill Stein was fighting for clean water side by side with native Americans that live in poverty.
Clinton knows all of the world leaders and celebrities. Jill Stein works with the people that count.
When a politician doesn't trust the People to make things happen, don't trust them.
We need a president that goes to the people and organized us to force the hands of congress. That is why I voted for Bernie and that is why I will vote for Jill Stein.
While Clinton was in the Hamptons taking money from the rich, Jill Stein was fighting for clean water side by side with native Americans that live in poverty.
Clinton knows all of the world leaders and celebrities. Jill Stein works with the people that count.
Not a week before the debate, or two days after the debate. The article comes out the day before the debate. And because its in the Times, all the networks will pick it up, and Hillary will use it in the debate. It is beyond obvious what is going on here.
81
"It is beyond obvious what is going on here."....You mean like reporting facts?
132
[[W.A. Spitze Faywood
"It is beyond obvious what is going on here."....You mean like reporting facts?]]
Not the what, but the when.
Photos and interviews from all over the country, maps, charts and graphs. Joseph makes a valid observation about the timing of the release of this story, except that Sunday is the biggest news day, so it's probably less of a conspiracy than he thinks.
"It is beyond obvious what is going on here."....You mean like reporting facts?]]
Not the what, but the when.
Photos and interviews from all over the country, maps, charts and graphs. Joseph makes a valid observation about the timing of the release of this story, except that Sunday is the biggest news day, so it's probably less of a conspiracy than he thinks.
1
I can only hope that this will be shouted off the roof tops.
The improvements are small - welcome as they might be. +40Million people in poverty in this country is abysmal. There is so much work to be done. Or as the Republicans would say: Let's pretend it doesn't exist.
The improvements are small - welcome as they might be. +40Million people in poverty in this country is abysmal. There is so much work to be done. Or as the Republicans would say: Let's pretend it doesn't exist.
2
GOOD, non-partisan news.
22
And finally, the Obama Administration has got us out of the Bush POTUS fiasco.
And, anyone who thinks the USA is in bad shape should now know that we are in fact among the leaders in the world in recovering from Bad Bush's travesty, in spite of Republican's National effort to maintain it.
And, anyone who thinks the USA is in bad shape should now know that we are in fact among the leaders in the world in recovering from Bad Bush's travesty, in spite of Republican's National effort to maintain it.
69
Tell that to many couples, each working two jobs to make ends meet and still unable to pay their rent in Northern Ca.
4
I hate to report it to the New York Times, but we live in post-modern America, where the truth may or may not be the truth, depending upon who's hearing it. Facts, statistics, all of this do count, but remember when this paper also reported that bit about the GOP and Tea Parties having their own reality?
So yes, things are considerably better in 2016 under President Barack Obama than they were when he took office in 2009, as the economy, after 8 years of George W. Bush, was in free fall. (And let's not forget 9/11, the anthrax attacks, Enron and the Califonria blackouts, the Iraq War, the US attorney scandal, warrantless wiretapping, Jack Abramoff, Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, and, to top it all off, the economic collapse of 2007-9.)
But you know what? Millions of people are going to ignore this good factual news. There are competing planes of rationality in operation, and they're on a different one. Call it partisanship, epistemic closure, what have you. Even if they're doing better, they're not going to believe you. (Or the Black president of the United States!)
So yes, things are considerably better in 2016 under President Barack Obama than they were when he took office in 2009, as the economy, after 8 years of George W. Bush, was in free fall. (And let's not forget 9/11, the anthrax attacks, Enron and the Califonria blackouts, the Iraq War, the US attorney scandal, warrantless wiretapping, Jack Abramoff, Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, and, to top it all off, the economic collapse of 2007-9.)
But you know what? Millions of people are going to ignore this good factual news. There are competing planes of rationality in operation, and they're on a different one. Call it partisanship, epistemic closure, what have you. Even if they're doing better, they're not going to believe you. (Or the Black president of the United States!)
73
Um, about that collapse of Obamacare?
4
And what does that say about "those millions of people"
But, of course, you're wrong; they are not going to any such thing.
But, of course, you're wrong; they are not going to any such thing.
What "collapse" of Obamacare? Are you joking? It's now serving 20 MILLION new health care customers! Reality is not your enemy!
1
Yeah, we're better off today than we were eight years ago. Even Dubya would admit to that if anyone asks.
48
Here is what former President William Clinton had to say in 2004 about the policy choices that forseeably bring about these results. Mr. Clinton was addressing the Democratic National Convention, explaining why voters should reject G.W. Bush's bid for re-election and vote for the Democrat, John Kerry. Of course, Americans voted for G.W., and what ensued were the predictable, ruinous and immoral consequences of modern-day Republican policies (unless you sell arms or fossil fuels or are immensely wealthy but have a sociopathic disregard for the common good, in which case the Republicans are the party for you).
President Clinton's logic in 2004 remains true and prophetic today, and so I quote him here:
"Now, we tried it [the Republicans'] way for 12 years. We tried it their way for 12 years. We tried it our way for eight years. Then we tried it their way for four more. But the only test that matters is whether people were better off when we finished than when we started. Our way works better.
"[Our way] produced over 22 million good jobs, rising incomes for the middle class, over 100 times as many people moved from poverty into the middle class, more health care, the largest increase in college aid in 50 years, record home ownership, a cleaner environment, three surpluses in a row...."
President Clinton's logic in 2004 remains true and prophetic today, and so I quote him here:
"Now, we tried it [the Republicans'] way for 12 years. We tried it their way for 12 years. We tried it our way for eight years. Then we tried it their way for four more. But the only test that matters is whether people were better off when we finished than when we started. Our way works better.
"[Our way] produced over 22 million good jobs, rising incomes for the middle class, over 100 times as many people moved from poverty into the middle class, more health care, the largest increase in college aid in 50 years, record home ownership, a cleaner environment, three surpluses in a row...."
56
And in 2004, voters utterly rejected this and re-elected President GW Bush.
2
This is just sad.
Going from $23,000 to $35,000 yearly gets you out of the poverty line?
Ludacruous!
Going from $23,000 to $35,000 yearly gets you out of the poverty line?
Ludacruous!
21
Not in San Francisco, of course. So what? San Francisco is ridiculous. The whole city will be gentrified in another 5 years. Just think, a mediocre, and I do mean mediocre, programmer makes $120k/year, rides a comfy bus with wi-fi to and from work, and probably has a wife who earns at least the same. Life is different in San Francisco Marie, which means it's different in the rest of the country. What we paid for a little condo would buy us a huge house in Dallas.
36
@marie: obviously it seems that way to someone in SAN FRANCISCO, because that is probably THE most costly city in the US. A person earning $35K a year would not even be able to rent a 1 bedroom apartment in San Francisco! So yes, they'd still be quite poor.
But in 98% of the other parts of the US, it is a middle class income. In fact, $35K is roughly the MEDIAN individual income in the US.
In the South, Midwest or Southwest, it would probably be enough to rent the average apartment, and in many areas, to buy your own home.
But in 98% of the other parts of the US, it is a middle class income. In fact, $35K is roughly the MEDIAN individual income in the US.
In the South, Midwest or Southwest, it would probably be enough to rent the average apartment, and in many areas, to buy your own home.
37
Actually, it does. Easy to sneer at, but some people actually work to make that advance, and deserve to be respected for it.
3
That report misses the messy underside of these recent supposedly pleasing numbers.
As soon as the economy begins to perk up, the Fed Reserve, and other elites, worry about the rising risk of inflation. Then they raise interest rates and the recovery is aborted.
In the past, the Fed would not have put on the breaks until after several years of recovery. Now, just as the recovery if getting off the ground, other articles in the Times, and other news outlets, have said the Fed is getting ready to raise interest rates.
So in this cruel economy which is designed to cater only to the needs of the arrogant and avaricious economic elites, our recoveries are squelched just as soon as the money starts trickling down to the bottom.
As soon as the economy begins to perk up, the Fed Reserve, and other elites, worry about the rising risk of inflation. Then they raise interest rates and the recovery is aborted.
In the past, the Fed would not have put on the breaks until after several years of recovery. Now, just as the recovery if getting off the ground, other articles in the Times, and other news outlets, have said the Fed is getting ready to raise interest rates.
So in this cruel economy which is designed to cater only to the needs of the arrogant and avaricious economic elites, our recoveries are squelched just as soon as the money starts trickling down to the bottom.
22
Of course the fed should worry about inflation, and it does. And then it looks at data. And then it looks at modeling. And then it will decide that inflation is not really a concern in the current economy to move the needle up significantly.
However, we need some increase in the fed rates for two reasons: First, a slight increase in the fed rates would indicate to the markets that there is confidence in the economy. Secondly, the fed needs to create breathing room for the next recession.
However, we need some increase in the fed rates for two reasons: First, a slight increase in the fed rates would indicate to the markets that there is confidence in the economy. Secondly, the fed needs to create breathing room for the next recession.
1
The interest rate increase of December was not a negative, and you can not prove one single bad effect... why so worried that the sky will fall? Fact is the recovery will not be aborted by trivial increases in interest rates. Look at the 1950's and 1960's for proof.
2
Don't get too excited. This is only a direct result of raising MINIMUM WAGE, thanks to Dems. It makes the numbers look better, but Americans wealth gap still an issue, middle class keeps shrinking, this generation don't see doing better than their parents. Unrestrained globalization means more than ever, Americans are competing with overseas workers who are paid much less. We also sold business flexibility at the coast of social security/stability.
24
You're too sour. The fact that the povery rate has fallen significantly is great news. If the poverty rate is falling, the only way the middle class could be shrinking is if more of them were moving to the upper class. Good news all around.
The poverty line in NY is 16242 for a single person, when iit actually should be significantly higher now when adjusted for the drastic rent increases. Same can be said for SF or other cities in the US. No one can live in NY with less than even 20k and so as a matter pf fact more people have fallen in poverty.
It's misleading and unfair to claim the opposite based on outdated, unrealistic numbers and thereby actually adding insult to injury to all those people that are strunggling.
But of course anything will be fair game in the name of election propaganda!
It's misleading and unfair to claim the opposite based on outdated, unrealistic numbers and thereby actually adding insult to injury to all those people that are strunggling.
But of course anything will be fair game in the name of election propaganda!
24
Rents are not rising in "other cities" any more than they are falling in Wyoming cities.
1
The Federal poverty guideline for NY State in 2016 is $11,880 for one person. For two people in a household, it's $16,020.
NYC is another story.
Imagine having to live without any help at all on $11,885.
NYC is another story.
Imagine having to live without any help at all on $11,885.
1
Is anyone ever going to call McConnell, Boehner and all of the Republicans on their predictions of doom, gloom and disaster when they said the economy would go into a tailspin if we followed Obama's plans? (Obviously they're not going to eat humble pie unless it's cut up and served directly to them.)
80
I kept looking for the paragraph in which it would be blandly reported that "Republicans said the poverty rate actually rose during the period." It seems one has to settle for the AEI claiming that it's an unfair comparison because more people are working.
Yes, apparently the Republicans are reduced to complaining about people working!
Yes, apparently the Republicans are reduced to complaining about people working!
22
Capitalism is a brutal dog eat dog system, but the democratic flavor is consistently better for everyone. Don't believe me, just check any economic metric. Both parties are based on greed and corruption, that's just capitalism.
16
...."higher wages, more unions, more education, more opportunity and more progress" if we stick with the Dems this election according to an earlier post here. Really? How's that? The Corporate America that walks arm in arm with Hillary is going to pull a Trump card on us and suddenly reverse their ways?
No matter who becomes next President, they are inheriting a divided and stoked atmosphere. Time to pay the piper.
No matter who becomes next President, they are inheriting a divided and stoked atmosphere. Time to pay the piper.
8
Looks like the Times is trying to manufacture good news for Hillary on the night before the debate. But look closely, the overall poverty rate is really just down slightly and is still much higher than it was all through the Bush II years.
36
"… much higher than it was all through the Bush II years."
That's crude cherry picking. The poverty rate much *lower* than when Bush II left office, having wrecked the economy.
That's crude cherry picking. The poverty rate much *lower* than when Bush II left office, having wrecked the economy.
15
Oh, those Bush II years. Can we please have another multi-billion off the books war and market crash. They were so good for the economy. Now all we get is this lousy recovery.
144
Don't you mean just down slightly and still much higher than it was all through the Bush II years, which resulted in the crash upon its conclusion?
9
Largest jump since 1999. Let's see, who was in charge then - and had been for eight years?
Hmmm, seems to be a pattern. The Rs wreck it, the Ds fix it.
Now, American voters are about to decide once again between continuing the upward movement, or throwing the country to the dogs by putting a disastrous Republican in the White House. And our lazy, always spoiling for a fight news media are making the same mistake and spreading the trope that the two candidates are about the same...!
Hmmm, seems to be a pattern. The Rs wreck it, the Ds fix it.
Now, American voters are about to decide once again between continuing the upward movement, or throwing the country to the dogs by putting a disastrous Republican in the White House. And our lazy, always spoiling for a fight news media are making the same mistake and spreading the trope that the two candidates are about the same...!
58
So, what does Trump do now? Continue the big lie? Or will Clinton's team make headlines and win the argument?
These employments numbers improve, even as Trump products continue to me made overseas!
These employments numbers improve, even as Trump products continue to me made overseas!
16
Look at some of the comments here. He can blithely keep saying that everything is terrible economically (and worse than it ever was), as his followers seem to either not believe any of these numbers, or worse, accused the NYT to make them up to help Hillary in the debate.
1
Thanks, Obama.
52
Stole my comment. ;)
9
Wait! Is there an election going on this year? Not that I would suspect the Times of putting a partisan glow on things, or anything.
36
Facts have a liberal bias.
2
And the reasons that the poverty rate decreased between 1983-1989? A delayed response to policies advanced by Jimmy Carter?
8
Huge deficit spending by the Reagan administration.
2
I doubt that, because the poverty line is now higher in urban areas than what it even a few years ago due to the drastic rent increases. Many more people are actually iin or near poverty in places like NY or SF because the unaffordable rent imcreases.
14
Sing this to the high heavens at the debate, Hillary. Thanks to our president, Barrack Obama. What has the Republican Congress done to help? Not a da..n thing!
24
Did anyone else read "2015 Pathfinder" and hear the ticking of an economic time bomb? Getting above the poverty line and staying above the poverty line (while making payments on a $30k car) are two very different things.
12
Making payments on a $30,000 car is downright reckless for most people. Why on earth would you do that if you're just above the poverty line? I drive an extremely reliable, full-size, 2003 luxury Japanese sedan that I paid $12K cash for last year with 65,000 miles on it. It has back-up camera, navigation, power trunk lid, power rear window shade, ac socket and many other features. My ex-wife drives the same model car but a '97, with 160,000 miles. You do a little homework on sits such as cars.com and autotrader.com and get the best value in a dependable car.
15
The truth is, if you're supporting a spouse and children (plural) on 40,000, you're still poor. It's just that you're not so utterly destitute as to meet the US poverty guideline.
How sad that the measure of having lifted your chin into "making it" territory, is that now you can afford the commute to a minimum wage job.
How sad that the measure of having lifted your chin into "making it" territory, is that now you can afford the commute to a minimum wage job.
80
I don't think you're giving Mr. Caicedo enough credit. He's come a long way, and is now in a position to greatly improve the quality of life for his family. I doubt that he would argue that he has everything he needs, but he's probably argue that he's no longer poor.
1
If you are supporting 4 people on $40K, that puts you somewhat below average in income. But the fact is that an income of $40K is much better than an income of $16K, which is where some of these folks are starting from.
1
So imagine how much "Poorer" than that $40,000 a year support level for a Spouse and 2 children when its only say $26,730 a year to support 2 adults and 2 Children?
Which is a whopping 10% increase above the poverty line of $24,300!
America is not a 3rd World Country...but certainly comes close to paying it's poor like one.
Which is a whopping 10% increase above the poverty line of $24,300!
America is not a 3rd World Country...but certainly comes close to paying it's poor like one.
And thank you, Affordable Care Act, for helping to make this new reality unfold.
63
The Times, the Washinington Post, the L.A. Times, and others covered this story on September 13th, when the data were released. So what non-political motive was there for rehashing the story 12 days later?
30
Seems like digging into these details is far more important than rehashing Trump's insults and Hillary's not very scandalous emails.
I think you're just complaining because you're jealous that your Republican presidents never earn such success stories about their economic policies.
I think you're just complaining because you're jealous that your Republican presidents never earn such success stories about their economic policies.
18
I wish this piece had said more about exactly how far above the poverty threshold most people included in this cohort have risen The threshold for a family of four is a few hundred dollars over $24,000/year, so life for people no longer officially poor may still be fraught with financial difficulties.
17
I just spent my Sunday riding my motorcycle from the west side of Michigan to my home in Detroit and I would say nearly half of the businesses I passed had signs posted saying they were hiring or accepting applications. A fair number were gas stations and other presumably lower-wage employers, but hey, folks are looking to put people to work.
37
I noticed the same thing in the Washington, DC area. Lots of help wanted signs.
1
But this paints an incomplete picture. We need an accompanying article telling us how many "Millions of Americans Have Fallen Out of The Middle Class."
36
The NY Times doesn't care about those people, so long as the one-time middle class has their noses just above the poverty threshold. And only then if those abstract human beings provide statistics consistent with the advancement of the election of a Democrat.
24
Yes, all of those Republican pro-business, anti-worker initiatives over the years really took a toll, didn't they? Trickle down didn't trickle from the corporate towers, stripping benefits from a worker's compensation hurt, going from defined benefit pensions to those gambler's 401(k)s sure hurt, and the war on unions by making organizing and negotiating harder and by sponsoring right-to-work legislation in Midwestern manufacturing states decimated the one entity that could have helped facilitate strength in the middle -class.
Yes, let's indeed talk about WHY millions of Americans fell out of the middle class since Reagan became president... and maybe, just maybe, a few have climbed back into the middle class thanks to the efforts of Obama and his staff.
It's a start, something that has not happened, except for a brief interlude under Bubba in the 1990s, since trickle down, Arthur Laffer, Milton Friedman supply-side economics became the GOP mantra in the 1980s.
Yes, let's indeed talk about WHY millions of Americans fell out of the middle class since Reagan became president... and maybe, just maybe, a few have climbed back into the middle class thanks to the efforts of Obama and his staff.
It's a start, something that has not happened, except for a brief interlude under Bubba in the 1990s, since trickle down, Arthur Laffer, Milton Friedman supply-side economics became the GOP mantra in the 1980s.
25
It must be through crookedness and tribalism. In some places banks will give people in certain ethnic groups money, funds or loans, to start tattoo parlors, hair salons and junk food kiosks or restaurants...but will not give a dime to a highly educated insightful smart innovative minority woman mental health worker, like my wife, who wishes to start a small practice for under served populations. In other places, take some parts of Texas, bank loans, long term loans and funds are given to the same ole guys in the network, the good ole boys, who are already rich or who know how to game the system. They get money even after declaring bankruptcies over ideas that were stupid in the first place and were bound to fail. But if you went into these environments as a woman of color, very educated, with no connections, networks or support, and with excellent credit score and with no criminal record, no foreclosures and no bankruptcies, the system will not give you even few hundred thousand to start a successful practice. She is stuck between the White system, Black associations, Latino political groups and advocates and East Asian or Southeast Asian promotions in business. She does not belong to any of these groups. Lets hope TX behaves differently with her and gets her what she is asking for...which is very modest.
And what is moving ahead? Getting the latest cell phone? Being able to eat tacos and chow-mein? Getting ahead by lowering many standards? What?
And what is moving ahead? Getting the latest cell phone? Being able to eat tacos and chow-mein? Getting ahead by lowering many standards? What?
6
I haven't read this report but I do see many many homeless people so I just do not think we are doing that well...And more kids living in poverty than since the 1960's......I hope it is true....I do thank OBAMA for not letting us sink into a total depression like the GOP would have. They did their best to sink the economy....yeah, Greenspan...a libertarian...OMG...
20
This is Hillary's story to tell. No need to use worn out, uninspiring "I've got a plan on my web site", arguments. She should forcefully stand behind the policies of the last 8 years, state that, far from change, things are improving as a result (jobs, less poverty, rising income, lower crime, etc.), and that radical change, far from needed, is counterproductive. Moreover, Trump's trade wars, and other hair brained economic schemes will derail the growing recovery.
As for this being "the slowest recovery since the Great Depression" as Republicans say, as if this implies bad stewardship of the economy, the reality is that this is a recovery from the 2nd deepest crash since the Great Depression, so being the 2nd slowest recovery since that event is not an indictment but a logical outcome and a vindication.
We need continuance of the path we are on, which is the right one. Clinton should fight the false notion of darkness painted by Trump. She needs to paint in big inspiring themes, not desiccated policy jargon. She was on right track after the convention; time to rebound.
As for this being "the slowest recovery since the Great Depression" as Republicans say, as if this implies bad stewardship of the economy, the reality is that this is a recovery from the 2nd deepest crash since the Great Depression, so being the 2nd slowest recovery since that event is not an indictment but a logical outcome and a vindication.
We need continuance of the path we are on, which is the right one. Clinton should fight the false notion of darkness painted by Trump. She needs to paint in big inspiring themes, not desiccated policy jargon. She was on right track after the convention; time to rebound.
217
Oh. Please.
""There are currently 61.1 million American men in their prime working years, age 25–54. A staggering 1 in 8 such men are not in the labor force at all, meaning they are neither working nor looking for work"
And people are able to understand this a reject the phony stories as in this piece.
""There are currently 61.1 million American men in their prime working years, age 25–54. A staggering 1 in 8 such men are not in the labor force at all, meaning they are neither working nor looking for work"
And people are able to understand this a reject the phony stories as in this piece.
3
Love your transformation of harebrained to hair brained! How appropriate for describing all things Trump.
1
Have they lowered the level of income necessary to meet the definition again?
19
If you want somebody to tell you what you want to hear better go listen to Fox News. If you want to know the facts, better find a different source.....and global warming is a liberal fraud.
14
Many commenters are clearly unfamiliar with government data, how data is collected, by whom, and the schedule of data production. Accordingly, it would behoove The Times to explain this to is readers who believe that the data was concocted to alter the outright the election.
If government workers could fake data, then Republicans would have put off the Great Recession until after the 2008 election. Or certain readers actually believe that the George W. Bush administration was scrupulously honest with facts at all times.
If government workers could fake data, then Republicans would have put off the Great Recession until after the 2008 election. Or certain readers actually believe that the George W. Bush administration was scrupulously honest with facts at all times.
42
The quest for conspiracy is never ending among the rightwing.
20
The right wing does not need a quest. The facts provide ample grist for the mill.
5
I hope corporate managers and investors who see their employees as the enemy of profit - what an ignorant, foolish, and impoverished notion - will come to understand that a nation that enables willing and ambitious and disciplined workers to earn a decent living will reap a national benefit from their success.
Any economic history of America you can read will tell you that. But are the suits listening?
Any economic history of America you can read will tell you that. But are the suits listening?
328
"Make a decent profit...decently", so said Harvard Business School representative on PBS news this evening.
10
Better yet, Mark, this should be the realization of elected officials. After all, they are the ones appointed to reflect the will of the people and perpetuating the nation.
Or course they're not listening. Such critical thinking is now un-American and politically incorrect (right wing division). There's a reason we haven't heard in a generation the nostrum, a rising tide lifts all boats.
1
Read the data (honestly): the overall poverty rate is still higher now than it was eight years ago, when it began rising precipitously. Those losses have not yet been fully recovered. (Although the rich have gotten richer.)
27
Quick. Someone call Paul Krugman.
Let him know that everything is great and we won't be needing that fiscal stimulus after all.
Let him know that everything is great and we won't be needing that fiscal stimulus after all.
11
This is so great, to see the fruits of the economic recovery reaching to the hardworking at the lowest economic rungs. How easily people forget that the Great Recession (started under a Republican administration) was the worst since the Depression, and how quickly we've climbed our way out of it.
139
The Great Recession didn't just start under a Republican administration, it was caused by that administration. Let's say it again. When President Bill Clinton left office, our nation was running annual budget surpluses. Then the Republicans came in and lowered taxes on the rich (without offsetting the reductions with budget cuts), eased regulation enforcement of businesses and banks, passed the Medicare Part D provision to cover drugs (without a plan to pay for it), and started two wars (paid for with borrowed funds). The surpluses turned into the largest deficits American has ever seen. President Obama has spent his entire Presidency digging us out of this mess with the Republicans obstructing his every step. And now the Republicans are asking for a chance to "do their magic" all over again. No thanks. I'm thrilled to see the economy finally coming back. Let's elect every Democrat in sight, beginning with Hillary Clinton for President.
4
At some point, in the probably distant future, Americans will realize it is the blind partisanship that allows our political establishment to pit the majority of the country against itself while they continue to reap the lucrative benefits.
Ever wonder why politicians on BOTH sides come to DC with modest wealth and leave with absurd net worths?
It's b/c of garbage like this—you make sure to emphasize the Great Recession started under Bush II, but I bet you have all kinds of excuses why the tech bubble burst and subsequent recession that started under Bill Clinton wasn't actually the Democrats fault. That allows you to naively believe Democratic politicians are the "good" guys and keep voting them while ignoring the voluminous and glaring evidence to the contrary.
But, by all means, cast your vote for a candidate whose family came to politics from the middle class and somehow made over $100 million serving the public.
It is very depressing.
Ever wonder why politicians on BOTH sides come to DC with modest wealth and leave with absurd net worths?
It's b/c of garbage like this—you make sure to emphasize the Great Recession started under Bush II, but I bet you have all kinds of excuses why the tech bubble burst and subsequent recession that started under Bill Clinton wasn't actually the Democrats fault. That allows you to naively believe Democratic politicians are the "good" guys and keep voting them while ignoring the voluminous and glaring evidence to the contrary.
But, by all means, cast your vote for a candidate whose family came to politics from the middle class and somehow made over $100 million serving the public.
It is very depressing.
3
One forgets it was the democrats who pushed the concept that everyone was entitled to home ownership notwithstanding how poverty stricken they were.
2
Thank You President Obama!!
59
At the height of the disastrous near-Depression, I lost one quarter of my retirement fund. As a community college professor, I was on the lay off list and was not working the summer of 2009. I felt sick.
Eventually, all that money and then some came back to me and the lay off list was dropped.
None of my students at that time - NONE - were working. We used to have a "pot luck" before class so some of the hungriest would eat for the day.
All of that is gone.
And you're going to tell me that things are worst?? What planet are you living on?
It's been a long, hard climb, but things are definitely better and I credit the few things that President Obama has been able to push through. I'm with HER!
The greatest kept secret is: Democrats are best for the economy.
Eventually, all that money and then some came back to me and the lay off list was dropped.
None of my students at that time - NONE - were working. We used to have a "pot luck" before class so some of the hungriest would eat for the day.
All of that is gone.
And you're going to tell me that things are worst?? What planet are you living on?
It's been a long, hard climb, but things are definitely better and I credit the few things that President Obama has been able to push through. I'm with HER!
The greatest kept secret is: Democrats are best for the economy.
265
I'm bewildered by the snarky comments about this story. It's GOOD news for America--poverty's DECLINED in 23 states. This isn't media propaganda to "pump" a candidate. It's simply the NYT doing its job-- reporting on a meaningful, statistically based fact. Why must those who hate Obama try to deny the reality that some good things have happened on his watch?
241
“Why must those who hate Obama try to deny the reality that some good things have happened on his watch?” Boy, is that a puzzler, or what? A president who has tried to deliver health insurance to millions of uninsured? What was wrong with that? “Socialism?” Is that what Fox News called it? But why do even people who GOT the insurance still repeat the lies of Russ Limbaugh and Fox News?
Why do people “hate” Obama and Clinton, who actually try to help folks who are not wealthy, unlike Republicans who opine about America’s “plain folk” and truly do zip - zero - for them, play them for the suckers they have proven to be?
That’s a job for historians - and it will make riveting reading.
Why do people “hate” Obama and Clinton, who actually try to help folks who are not wealthy, unlike Republicans who opine about America’s “plain folk” and truly do zip - zero - for them, play them for the suckers they have proven to be?
That’s a job for historians - and it will make riveting reading.
10
"Many great" things have happened on his watch, despite partisan, race-based opposition from the Republican Party.
1
They hate Obama more than they love their country....
2
"“Another hidden benefit was lower prices at the pump,' Ms. Swonk said. 'People who couldn’t afford the commute before could now afford to accept a minimum-wage job.”
Go Fracking! Texas boosts the economy again.
Go Fracking! Texas boosts the economy again.
9
I do not believe this report. Some people in my home community are almost starving. I have two sisters that have long work histories, many degrees (including doctorate degrees) and they can't even get decent jobs in North Carolina. Both are unemployed right now (and they are experts in their fields). They are educators.
The article touts people who have started businesses. In the United States of America, making a business successful is one of the most difficult things to do. I operated a business for eleven years, meeting an employee payroll every Friday (from profits); so, I think I know what I am talking about. Making a business successful in America is almost a "pipe dream" (because the system is so rigged and controlled [the "big boys" just pass the business and money over our heads and shut us out of the "profit club"]). I know what I am talking about (I watched it happen for years).
Many many people in North Carolina are unable to give their dead a decent burial. They are being forced to cremate their dead. (Christians should be given a decent Christian burial.)
I live in the real world. I talk to real people. I feel their care. I assist them. Things are much worse than this article would have us believe.
The article touts people who have started businesses. In the United States of America, making a business successful is one of the most difficult things to do. I operated a business for eleven years, meeting an employee payroll every Friday (from profits); so, I think I know what I am talking about. Making a business successful in America is almost a "pipe dream" (because the system is so rigged and controlled [the "big boys" just pass the business and money over our heads and shut us out of the "profit club"]). I know what I am talking about (I watched it happen for years).
Many many people in North Carolina are unable to give their dead a decent burial. They are being forced to cremate their dead. (Christians should be given a decent Christian burial.)
I live in the real world. I talk to real people. I feel their care. I assist them. Things are much worse than this article would have us believe.
30
Funny, but I grew up a 'Christian' and both my mother and father were cremated, by their own request, for as little as possible.
I have the same request.
Where, exactly, in the Bible does it say 'thou shalt not be cremated'? Just curious.
I have the same request.
Where, exactly, in the Bible does it say 'thou shalt not be cremated'? Just curious.
9
Really hard to believe, North Carolina has been going high tech for over a decade. The system is not rigged. If your sisters are truly experts, they would be working.
4
Reply to Dmj,
The Holy Bible teaches Jewish burials.
The Holy Bible teaches Christian burials.
It teaches neither Jewish nor Christian cremation.
(There are, in the Old Testament, certain instances of cremation.)
The Holy Bible teaches Jewish burials.
The Holy Bible teaches Christian burials.
It teaches neither Jewish nor Christian cremation.
(There are, in the Old Testament, certain instances of cremation.)
1
Policies Schmolicies. There is no reason on earth for a broke young person in the USA to have 4 children. Do they know what causes that? Buy a clue. Of course you are going to be poor and stay poor if you have a huge family you cannot support. What are people thinking? I just cannot believe it. How stupid is that? We had 2 children once we were done with school and could afford it. Why would you have FOUR if you have no money???
25
And when you're trying to support a family of six on a $40,000 salary, it's totally nuts to be driving a vehicle worth $30,000.
18
That extra dollar an hour is going directly into paying for higher rents, utilities and food. I beg the NYT to go and talk to food banks, housing authorities and fuel assistance. People are mostly living paycheck to paycheck, barely scratching by. These 'happy days are here again' articles are purely junk.
32
Four years into G.W. Bush's presidency, poverty rates for Hispanics, Asians, blacks and whites were lower than they are after eight years of President Obama, if The Times graphic is to be believed.
7
@Hugh. You write in clear and easily understood Standard English sentences. Accordingly, I assume that you were alive and sentient as recently as January 2009, when Pres. Obama took over the country from George W. Bush. We were at that time, thanks to Bush and his cohorts, in the worst financial straits since 1929. I hope to assume that you were also alive and sentient when George W. Bush took over the country from Bill Clinton. We were at that time, thanks to Clinton and his policies, in the best financial shape since the 1950s. So your comparison is neither honest nor helpful.
3
What were the poverty rates for those same groups after eight years of W's presidency?
Do you guys *ever* tire of cherry-picking your data?
Do you guys *ever* tire of cherry-picking your data?
2
I now look back on the Bush 43 years with nostalgia and a bit of a tear in the eye....I can't believe how much worse things have gotten since then.
Yes, the economy crashed in 08....in the last few MONTHS of the Bush 43 Administration. But up until then, it was doing far better than today. My home was worth 70% more in 2006 than it is today (and I could have easily sold it, had I wished, in a few weeks -- today it's more like a YEAR to sell a home here!).
I remember perusing the classified jobs section, and it was thick and full of jobs. Today, it's a 1.5 page list so skimpy, you have to wonder that ANYONE is still working.
I had far, far better health insurance -- better coverage, more comprehensive -- and about 60-70% cheaper than I do today. Thanks, Obama!
But it's more than that: I am surrounded by empty stores, closed shopping malls, shuttered restaurants, abandoned factories. I don't see new businesses moving in or starting up. Maybe a few fast food restaurants, not much else.
So where all these new jobs are coming from....that is a TOTAL mystery to me.
Yes, the economy crashed in 08....in the last few MONTHS of the Bush 43 Administration. But up until then, it was doing far better than today. My home was worth 70% more in 2006 than it is today (and I could have easily sold it, had I wished, in a few weeks -- today it's more like a YEAR to sell a home here!).
I remember perusing the classified jobs section, and it was thick and full of jobs. Today, it's a 1.5 page list so skimpy, you have to wonder that ANYONE is still working.
I had far, far better health insurance -- better coverage, more comprehensive -- and about 60-70% cheaper than I do today. Thanks, Obama!
But it's more than that: I am surrounded by empty stores, closed shopping malls, shuttered restaurants, abandoned factories. I don't see new businesses moving in or starting up. Maybe a few fast food restaurants, not much else.
So where all these new jobs are coming from....that is a TOTAL mystery to me.
6
I have to say that I'm not feelin' it in Seattle. I'm of that class—the Lower Class—that waits on you at a store, cleans your house, washes your dishes at a restaurant, is a janitor, is a landscaper, makes your latte. Many of us are being driven out or to rather crappy peripheral areas. You get the picture. Our new minimum wage law, good progress that it represents, does much less for anyone who works for a company with 500 or less employees. There are many, many of us in this city which will soon rival the expense of San Francisco or NY.
As above, so should it be below, commensurately.
As above, so should it be below, commensurately.
12
I agree with you and others who have made a similar point, but just as a reminder, not everyone reading or commenting here uses all the services so often given as examples. Other than a store cashier, I myself use none of the other services mentioned.
America ia a disastah, A DISASTAH! I'll be honest with you. Believe me. We're gonna make America great again. That, I can tell you!
NY Times readers do not need to read today's long, pesky lead editorial. The sentence above says it all, the long and short of substance in the Trump campaign.
It's easier to pedal downhill. Let's all race to the bottom!
www.endthemadnessnow.org
NY Times readers do not need to read today's long, pesky lead editorial. The sentence above says it all, the long and short of substance in the Trump campaign.
It's easier to pedal downhill. Let's all race to the bottom!
www.endthemadnessnow.org
5
This is terrific news, an in-your-face slap against all of those who say that Obama has made everything worse. But...
Poverty in America is not a single status as defined by govt. statistics. Another level consists of the near poor, those who live just above the bubble and can fall back any time, and the modestly poor just above them who can pay most of their bills, live fairly decently but who can't really enjoy the full benefits of living in a wealthy nation. The latter group consists of people who never get a vacation (or one every five or six yrs.), are always tied down by payments and have almost no way to ensure that their kids get a crack at a better life.
The existence of the near poor and the barely making it would not be quite so galling if others in our society weren't slopping themselves at the trough of wealth so hardily. Came the news this week that the woman in charge of new accounts at Wells Fargo, encouraged to leave because of the false credit accounts scandal, took 100 million from the bank as her parting gift. No company can give out 100 million dollar bonuses unless they have perfected a high level of stealing, legalized or other wise. It isn't possible if they are paying all of their employees well and not gauging their customers.
Something is rotten in Denmark and, to mix a metaphor, the fish stinks from the head first. The top of our economy is on a merry ride taking or stealing everything they can get and laughing at the rest of us.
Poverty in America is not a single status as defined by govt. statistics. Another level consists of the near poor, those who live just above the bubble and can fall back any time, and the modestly poor just above them who can pay most of their bills, live fairly decently but who can't really enjoy the full benefits of living in a wealthy nation. The latter group consists of people who never get a vacation (or one every five or six yrs.), are always tied down by payments and have almost no way to ensure that their kids get a crack at a better life.
The existence of the near poor and the barely making it would not be quite so galling if others in our society weren't slopping themselves at the trough of wealth so hardily. Came the news this week that the woman in charge of new accounts at Wells Fargo, encouraged to leave because of the false credit accounts scandal, took 100 million from the bank as her parting gift. No company can give out 100 million dollar bonuses unless they have perfected a high level of stealing, legalized or other wise. It isn't possible if they are paying all of their employees well and not gauging their customers.
Something is rotten in Denmark and, to mix a metaphor, the fish stinks from the head first. The top of our economy is on a merry ride taking or stealing everything they can get and laughing at the rest of us.
36
We have a very large top. The 10% earning over $125K a year in household income are participants in a skewed economy that is rigged for their benefit. Since they have unprecedented numbers of people, their control is much more unbreakable than you might suppose.
2
It is going to take a lot more than these phony stories to keep Hillary afloat. Nobody believes this.
45
Speaking for yourself, I assume.
11
As of this moment there are 14 others who agree with me.
1
Those folks in the basement of the RNC are up early this am, aren't they?
4
Ugh these headlines kill me. Good timing though. Goodbye Fourth Estate!
23
Wow, right before the no , one day before the debate, what's the chances of that. The MSM cartel is out n force.
32
Actually, this data has been out for a week, and why do I think that had the data led to opposing conclusions, you would have been trumpeting that news as undeniable fact.
19
I must be missing something. I don't see things getting better for people on the lower end and many so called middle class are struggling and can never retire unless they have a government pension.
26
sounds like folks could use a Union.
19
"...many so called middle class are struggling and can never retire unless they have a government pension."
And the Relublican response to this kind of information? Eliminate those on a pension! See? People who have organizations that support their work often bargain for decent wages and health care and pensions...all the things that the GOP has attacked for 40 years with some "success". Yet, those same people, who've been at war with the American working and middle classes and poor, and who've worked tirelessly for policies that perpetuate this war, complain that Democratic and Progressive views are the problem. Incredible.
And the Relublican response to this kind of information? Eliminate those on a pension! See? People who have organizations that support their work often bargain for decent wages and health care and pensions...all the things that the GOP has attacked for 40 years with some "success". Yet, those same people, who've been at war with the American working and middle classes and poor, and who've worked tirelessly for policies that perpetuate this war, complain that Democratic and Progressive views are the problem. Incredible.
13
Very interesting data. It is just 2 days before the first Presidental debate and about 1.5 months before the election. So what all that means;tilting the election to some one's favor,
26
This info is released at the same time each year: September 16, 2016, September 16, 2015, September 16, 2014....all easily verified online.
2
How did St Ronnie put it? Are you better off than four years ago? How about eight? As another president put it facts are stubborn things. Take that with you in the voting booth November 8.
17
Read the data: the poverty rate is still higher than it was eight years ago, despite last year's minuscule drop. So here's your answer: most poor people are worse off than they were 8 years ago (as are most middle class people).
18
@Joseph. Eight years ago we were in the economic free-fall that Bush and his Republican cohorts bequeathed to Pres. Obama; an economy that was shedding 150,000 jobs each and every month. So your comparison is not intellectually honest. Since then, we've enjoyed the longest-running economic recovery in the history of the country. And Obama has accomplished that single-handedly, in the teeth of unanimous opposition from the GOP in Congress. You're really going absolutely nowhere if you think you can convince anyone who was alive at the time that we're not way better off in every measure that it's possible to observe today, as compared to January 2009. But carry on.
2
I detested former POTUS GW Bush and spoke out against his policies and actions often.
However, since Obama has been elected (yes, I voted for him in 2008! shame on me!)....I've seen things continue to get worse and worse. No recovery has occurred in my region (Rustbelt Midwest). I drive by boarded up stores and factories EVERY DAY on my way to work (*no raise in 4 years, no health insurance). I consider myself VERY lucky to have remained employed, but I know many folks who are NOT this fortunate.
I now look back on the Bush years (2001-2009) with nostalgia and a little tear in my eye, because it seems like a virtual PARADISE compared to the way things are now....I don't even recognize my country, and frankly that scares me.
However, since Obama has been elected (yes, I voted for him in 2008! shame on me!)....I've seen things continue to get worse and worse. No recovery has occurred in my region (Rustbelt Midwest). I drive by boarded up stores and factories EVERY DAY on my way to work (*no raise in 4 years, no health insurance). I consider myself VERY lucky to have remained employed, but I know many folks who are NOT this fortunate.
I now look back on the Bush years (2001-2009) with nostalgia and a little tear in my eye, because it seems like a virtual PARADISE compared to the way things are now....I don't even recognize my country, and frankly that scares me.
6
The economic "recovery" is a chimera based on selective statistical research. Based on what I have seen at temp. agencies as well as state employment offices the opportunities are few and far between. The largest employer in the state of CT is the education system; outside of that productive industries are shrinking. Your journalists need to get out in the field at mingling with actual job seekers not respond to whoever is driving these stories with whatever "wishful thinking" they may be employing.
31
Employment in Connecticut is up only 4.2% since 2010. For the nation as a whole, employment has increased 9.5%. That means there are states out there that have grown even faster than 9.5%. I think you are seeing a part of the picture, but not necessarily a representative or typical part.
3
This could be cured by chucking Malloy and his fellow Democrats, which will happen sooner or later.
It's hard to make an argument like that with so many "Help Wanted" signs right in front of everyone.
1
This data was trotted out last week in this election year. Here are some less rosy facts from the report:
The Census report actually suggests that “longer hours for low wages” would have been a concise description of the situation facing millions of US workers.
Several pieces of data support this conclusion. For example, the households which saw the biggest jump in median income were headed by single women without children. While their median pay rose by 8.7 percent, this was from an incredibly low base: from $26,703 in 2014 to $29,022 in 2015.
The Current Population Survey found: “During the 4-year period from 2009 to 2012, 34.5% of the population had at least one period of poverty lasting 2 or more months.” The number is stunning: about 110 million people. The official poverty line is ridiculously low—$24,250 for a family of four, or $11,770 for one person. But over a third of all Americans fell below that low marker for a significant period of time!
According to the Census, only 2.7 percent of the population lived in poverty for all 48 months of 2009-2012. This underscores the fact that poverty in the US is most frequently the result of an illness, a lost job, an accident—which plunges people below the official poverty line. After the trauma, they scrape their way back up, often with help from friends, family or charity, although they usually remain living “one paycheck away” from disaster.
The Census report actually suggests that “longer hours for low wages” would have been a concise description of the situation facing millions of US workers.
Several pieces of data support this conclusion. For example, the households which saw the biggest jump in median income were headed by single women without children. While their median pay rose by 8.7 percent, this was from an incredibly low base: from $26,703 in 2014 to $29,022 in 2015.
The Current Population Survey found: “During the 4-year period from 2009 to 2012, 34.5% of the population had at least one period of poverty lasting 2 or more months.” The number is stunning: about 110 million people. The official poverty line is ridiculously low—$24,250 for a family of four, or $11,770 for one person. But over a third of all Americans fell below that low marker for a significant period of time!
According to the Census, only 2.7 percent of the population lived in poverty for all 48 months of 2009-2012. This underscores the fact that poverty in the US is most frequently the result of an illness, a lost job, an accident—which plunges people below the official poverty line. After the trauma, they scrape their way back up, often with help from friends, family or charity, although they usually remain living “one paycheck away” from disaster.
20
Unfortunately, once again, perception trumps (you'll pardon the word...) reality. Sure, the numbers/stats don't (or rarely) lie. But if "people" are not actually FEELING like there has been a positive change, then no amount of stats in the world - no matter how good or accurate - are going to change their perception. And perception is much of what Trump voters are voting on.
18
But the "change" has been kleptocracy doling out counterfeit fiat currency to corporateers, cronies, & among cities, counties, & states along with propping up the fraud-ridden equity market scams that pension funds have been fooled into relying upon as well as goobernment hiring while exploiting & imposing austerity upon others.
9
How stable are all these jobs?
How much above poverty are people now? Did they make tens of thousands above the poverty line? Or just $2 and that technically counts?
What about cost of living or taxes?
Income is just one measure but doesn't accurately describe the situation. What about household debt? Credit card debt? Auto loans? Student loans? Mortgages? Housing shortages? More people renting? How precarious is the economy? Especially with China slowing down and sending countries into recession.
The people who I know are poor, still feel like crap and that things haven't gotten any better. They still feel poor. Even if you make an extra $100 or $1000, that really is not a lot of money. The inequality is still gaping.
This article reads like an endorsement/propaganda for the Democratic party and for Obama/Hillary when in reality, things aren't much better as they should be or as was promised. In reality, all we have recovered from was a stock market scare fixed by printing money/QE
How much above poverty are people now? Did they make tens of thousands above the poverty line? Or just $2 and that technically counts?
What about cost of living or taxes?
Income is just one measure but doesn't accurately describe the situation. What about household debt? Credit card debt? Auto loans? Student loans? Mortgages? Housing shortages? More people renting? How precarious is the economy? Especially with China slowing down and sending countries into recession.
The people who I know are poor, still feel like crap and that things haven't gotten any better. They still feel poor. Even if you make an extra $100 or $1000, that really is not a lot of money. The inequality is still gaping.
This article reads like an endorsement/propaganda for the Democratic party and for Obama/Hillary when in reality, things aren't much better as they should be or as was promised. In reality, all we have recovered from was a stock market scare fixed by printing money/QE
39
No where in the article did I see a politician named. I will agree that data and facts have an inherent liberal bias, simply because data are collected and used to produce these reports. In fair and balanced reporting, conservative and liberal economic think tanks cited in the article gave similar upbeat statements. Let's be grateful for any improvement and continue to work towards more.
7
You are mistaken if you think the Great Recession was a "stock market scare". We had stock market scares in the 90's and in 1987, but they were certainly not accompanied by the loss of more than 9 million jobs (including mine) and millions of people losing their homes.
It's absolutely fair game to criticize the pace of the recovery. It's silly and untruthful to trivialize the scope of the Great Recession.
It's absolutely fair game to criticize the pace of the recovery. It's silly and untruthful to trivialize the scope of the Great Recession.
6
dc,
Good news is good.
Bad news is bad.
Whoever is President.
Humans see 100,000 colors,
Not just red and blue.
Good news is good.
Bad news is bad.
Whoever is President.
Humans see 100,000 colors,
Not just red and blue.
And as long as the price of oil is low, things will go this way...
11
Everyone wants to feel good but before we get too excited, it's worth remembering that earlier this year it was estimated that more than 50% of American households live from paycheck to paycheck. Even a 5% increase in median household income is going to make only a tiny dent in that: slightly less awful. In the Northeast the median household income is now (after the increase) $62,182. Can you imagine a household with two adults and two children getting any kind of after-tax financial security from that? It stills means little or no money saved for retirement. It still means egregious loans for college education. The best that can be said is that the trend is positive. But we have so much further to go before a household with two incomes is really guaranteed a decent standard of living and a moderately secure retirement.
183
The national median income for a household with a married couple is over $84000. Given that the northeast has the highest incomes of any region, the median for a married-couple in the northeast is going to be higher. I agree that $62000 doesn't go far for a family of four. But please recognize that the median family of four is earning substantially more than that.
2
The numbers don't mean much until you factor in the cost of living in any particular area -- mostly, the cost of housing or rents. In San Francisco or NYC, even a person earning $75,000 a year would struggle to find safe, affordable housing! (and you can forget homeownership, ever).
On the other hand, an income of $35,000 in most of the South & Midwest would make you middle class, and likely able to own your own (modest) home.
$35,000 in San Francisco would likely leave someone living in a cardboard box under a freeway overpass. The average apartment rents for $3750 a month, meaning it would take more than 100% of such a person's income BEFORE taxes!
On the other hand, an income of $35,000 in most of the South & Midwest would make you middle class, and likely able to own your own (modest) home.
$35,000 in San Francisco would likely leave someone living in a cardboard box under a freeway overpass. The average apartment rents for $3750 a month, meaning it would take more than 100% of such a person's income BEFORE taxes!
6
JohnK:
Not sure where you are getting your data but the US data just released for 2015 puts "real median household income" at $56,516 for the nation. Which of course is even lower than the figure I quoted for the Northeast. If you have better data than the US government, please share it.
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo...
Not sure where you are getting your data but the US data just released for 2015 puts "real median household income" at $56,516 for the nation. Which of course is even lower than the figure I quoted for the Northeast. If you have better data than the US government, please share it.
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo...
4
Obama makes America PROSPEROUS again.
Trump wants to make America PREPOSTEROUS.
Vote wisely.
Trump wants to make America PREPOSTEROUS.
Vote wisely.
42
I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure it was a deliberate choice to run this article the night before the debate. To balance it out, how about a front-page article the night before the debate about the many businesses that have moved out of the US to China, Mexico, etc?
62
Uh.....apparently you weren't paying attention.
There were several recent front page articles and opinion pieces on NAFTA, Mexico, and the nature of trade relations between Mexico and the U.S. this last month.
Inconvenient truth perhaps?
Stop watching FOX.
There were several recent front page articles and opinion pieces on NAFTA, Mexico, and the nature of trade relations between Mexico and the U.S. this last month.
Inconvenient truth perhaps?
Stop watching FOX.
17
Donald and Ivanka Trump's clothing factories would probably be on this list.
6
Maybe instead some discussion on the changes in the US trade deficit in the years since NAFTA. Eye-opening.
2
"3.5 million out of poverty."
That sounds good, but it really is not when you see what the data shows -- only about 1% of our population have managed to climb out of poverty since the '08 economic dip.
With such egregious news spin, any wonder why the people don't trust the establishment anymore?
That sounds good, but it really is not when you see what the data shows -- only about 1% of our population have managed to climb out of poverty since the '08 economic dip.
With such egregious news spin, any wonder why the people don't trust the establishment anymore?
37
First of all, your interpretation is erroneous - it's not "since 2008", it's since last year. ("The Caicedos are among the 3.5 million Americans who were able to raise their chins above the poverty line last year, according to census data released this month.") The biggest increase since 1999. That is good news. Why are you trying so hard to figure out why it isn't?
16
@Tom,
Reading beyond the picture caption,
"... with the poverty rate falling from 14.8 percent in 2014 to 13.5 percent in 2015"
"... the poverty rate remained higher in 2015 than in 2007, when it was 12.5 percent"
You still dispute that poverty rate has not improved for more than about 1% of Americans since the economic downturn ?
Reading beyond the picture caption,
"... with the poverty rate falling from 14.8 percent in 2014 to 13.5 percent in 2015"
"... the poverty rate remained higher in 2015 than in 2007, when it was 12.5 percent"
You still dispute that poverty rate has not improved for more than about 1% of Americans since the economic downturn ?
5
(Repost with correction to the last line)
@Tom,
Reading beyond the picture caption,
"... with the poverty rate falling from 14.8 percent in 2014 to 13.5 percent in 2015"
"... the poverty rate remained higher in 2015 than in 2007, when it was 12.5 percent"
You still dispute the dismal poverty rate ? 1% *more* Americans are in poverty since the economic downturn.
@Tom,
Reading beyond the picture caption,
"... with the poverty rate falling from 14.8 percent in 2014 to 13.5 percent in 2015"
"... the poverty rate remained higher in 2015 than in 2007, when it was 12.5 percent"
You still dispute the dismal poverty rate ? 1% *more* Americans are in poverty since the economic downturn.
5
When will the Tea Partiers and the Republican and middle class learn that it is not the lower classes that are dragging them down, it is the upper classes that are pushing them down? And the Republican party only does business with, and for, the upper classes. The Democratic Party is, historically and presently the only political party that cares about poor and middle class Americans.
34
Yay. I have noticed my grown children haven't been looking for loans lately. Housing is still way too much though. Even though the interest rates are lower than ever, prices keep going up. That will be our downfall again if it doesn't end.
8
This is a one-time blip caused by the increase in the minimum wage.
7
You based that conclusion on what analysis? Please share with the class.
8
Try reading the article again.
In the face of rising minimum wages more people have found more stable employment at longer hours.
Hello?
This is what a healthy economy looks like.
In the face of rising minimum wages more people have found more stable employment at longer hours.
Hello?
This is what a healthy economy looks like.
11
Thank you for headlining some good news. The reduction in poverty has been in the news, but you usually have to dig to find it.
7
And I thank Obama for much of this. Why is it that so many people think Republicans are better for this country fiscally?
203
Why do people think TP/GOP is better for the economy? Because they watch Fox and other right-wing TV/radio, which will never give Obama credit for anything. Facts are merely an inconvenience.
37
They don't think.
And they reject facts.
No Republican tenor in office since Hoover has reduced poverty or unemployment.
Both of which were worse after the 12 long years of Reagan/Bush than when the 'Reagan revolution' began.
And they reject facts.
No Republican tenor in office since Hoover has reduced poverty or unemployment.
Both of which were worse after the 12 long years of Reagan/Bush than when the 'Reagan revolution' began.
2
The corporate mass media keeps pushing the idea that there is no money to invest in people. They never ask how we will pay for a three trillion dollar war, or cuts oh capital gains, which only the rich count as their main income, because their CEO s make clear what is acceptable to say and what is not.
Those that want to help people are class crazy and "pie in the sky." Those that don't are "serious."
Those that want to help people are class crazy and "pie in the sky." Those that don't are "serious."
3
Good news, so now let's all vote for Donald McRonald who'll make sure to reverse it. (Why is it that Democrats keep having to clean up the messes left for them by Republicans?)
149
Not only the Seattle business owner who raised the salaries of all of his employees, but we have the great example of the Founder of Chobani Yoghurt who gave all of his employees stock in the company, the amount based on the length of time they had worked for him. When the company goes public, some of them will be millionaires. Too bad more business people are not truly "Christian" in their behavior.
193
Giving employees stock in the company makes so much sense. It creates wealth, loyalty and more engaged employee!
28
What stuck me is that the article generally doesn't suggest that government programs led to this change. Based on the profiles presented, it was largely the motivation and self-determination of these individuals. It is a very complex mix of several factors, to be sure. Don't let anyone on the right or the left tell you it was due to X, Y, or Z. Read this article and others carefully--note the myriad factors underlying how an economy changes and shapes itself. No one person (no one president, in particular) truly "controls" the economy. Rather, it is a maddeningly complicated process of supply, demand, inputs, outputs, and rational (and irrational) behaviors. Whether you support Ms. Clinton, Mr. Trump, or one of the third-party candidates, don't delude yourself into thinking he/she has all of the answers. The truth is that 330 million Americans need to find ways that work for them, in their circumstances, and based on the skills they have or can acquire. All too often, we think one magic bullet will make the difference. If that were true, no nation would ever know recession or economic hardship.
176
Well, yes, there are myriad factors at work. But we can draw a couple of conclusions from the article. First, the article does rather clearly suggest that minimum wage laws have directly contributed to pulling people over the poverty line. One party generally favors and believes in the efficacy of these laws for just such a reason. The other does not.
Second, one party and its candidate are running on the notion that the policies and approach of President Obama have been misguided and that change is needed if we are to reverse course and start making people better off. A
Second, one party and its candidate are running on the notion that the policies and approach of President Obama have been misguided and that change is needed if we are to reverse course and start making people better off. A
10
Sorry, but a president can destroy an economy with two unfunded wars, a deregulated banking system, and unfunded social entitlements. I lived thru it, so did you.
5
Wow, youre so wrong, there are lots of countries who have had decades of modest yet stable growth precisely because of their policies.
2
How interesting that these creative statistics just happened to emerge right before the first Trump-Clinton debate. Gee whiz, what a coincidence.
51
Annually, and usually in late September, the census reveals this report. It's not a coincidence that it's before the debate; this is typically when it's released. What is interesting however, that we are FINALLY beginning to make forward momentum on reducing the poverty and near poverty gap through sensible reforms and policy changes, like increasing the minimum wage and the affordable health care act. It does not surprise me that it took nearly eight years to begin to dig out from under the conservative social policies from the previous administration. What concerns me more is the lack of recognition that social change is not instantaneous, and the possibility of rolling back these emerging gains if we end up electing a misanthrope.
297
This article is based on census data just released this month/Sept. So it took a few days/couple of weeks for the NYT journalists to look at the data, do some interviews, write the article and get it published. That seems like a reasonable timeline.
So you're resentful about - what exactly? A news outlet publishing a timely article based on recently released, official government data?
So you're resentful about - what exactly? A news outlet publishing a timely article based on recently released, official government data?
34
Why believe figures when an imaginary conspiracy can explain away progress.
23
Look at the accompanying national map of poverty.
Still highest in the Old Confederate Bible Belted Republistan...
...and lowest in a few Northeast states, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Hey America, you know what kind of public policy helps American society as a whole ?
Democratic public policy - higher wages, more unions, more education, more opportunity and more progress
The Republican alternative is little more than Grand Old Poverty personified.
We have an election November 8.
D to go forward; R for reverse over another Republican cliff.
Still highest in the Old Confederate Bible Belted Republistan...
...and lowest in a few Northeast states, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Hey America, you know what kind of public policy helps American society as a whole ?
Democratic public policy - higher wages, more unions, more education, more opportunity and more progress
The Republican alternative is little more than Grand Old Poverty personified.
We have an election November 8.
D to go forward; R for reverse over another Republican cliff.
858
@Socrates,
How does your conscience permit you to play politics with poverty ? These are fellow Americans. If you cannot offer anything constructive to help the poor, at least stop with the negativity.
Ps: Socrates was a wise soul, and your comments are a stark contrast to his scholarship.
How does your conscience permit you to play politics with poverty ? These are fellow Americans. If you cannot offer anything constructive to help the poor, at least stop with the negativity.
Ps: Socrates was a wise soul, and your comments are a stark contrast to his scholarship.
19
I agree, but actually it's Minnesota and Michigan who have the lowest poverty rates in the Midwest. Wisconsin used to be a strong union state before Scott Walker took away collective bargaining.
7
Your point is correct even if you got the states wrong...that's Minnesota, not Wisconsin! Minnesota is led by Governor Mark Dayton, a strong Democrat. Wisconsin has that Republican buffoon Scott Walker as a Governor and they have gone down the tubes with their idiotic anti-union and anti-progressive policies.
12
As usual, the poorest states are all red states. Go figure.
347
They have always been poor, Jeff. They were poor back during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, and poor during the Great Depression, and never enjoyed the Big Prosperity of the 1950s post-WWII era.
It's mostly rural areas in the South.
Good to remember that until the 70s, the South was almost entirely hard-core Democratic....ergo, BLUE.
It's mostly rural areas in the South.
Good to remember that until the 70s, the South was almost entirely hard-core Democratic....ergo, BLUE.
7
They're not as poor as they look, when you adjust for the cost of housing and taxes.
If you're going to work for the minimum wage, you'll live much better in Alabama than you will in New York City.
If you're going to work for the minimum wage, you'll live much better in Alabama than you will in New York City.
5
And for the most part these are the states that rake in more tax subsidies than they contribute. And these are also the states that vote for Republicans and for "less government." Go figure.
6
Kennedy/LBJ.
Clinton
And Obama admins have all been able to reduce poverty.
In the previous two cases however their admins were followed by - Nixon, and then Bush - who made poverty worse all over again.
We must not allow Trump to become President and undo the progress we have made from the Great Recession which President Obama ended 7 years ago almost to this month - Q4/2009.
Clinton
And Obama admins have all been able to reduce poverty.
In the previous two cases however their admins were followed by - Nixon, and then Bush - who made poverty worse all over again.
We must not allow Trump to become President and undo the progress we have made from the Great Recession which President Obama ended 7 years ago almost to this month - Q4/2009.
134
This is excellent news, but to what/whom do we attribute these gains? I'd like to say that the gains are a result of President Obama's programs, but the current Congress has resisted this administration's fiscal policy programs at every turn for the past 6 years. Is it a validation of classical economic theory, which posits that left alone, the economy will improve without government intervention? Or are we riding on the effects of an unprecedented level of monetary policy? This is a crucial question, because it will inform us which path to take the next time we fall into recession--and there is always a next time.
6
re: 'd like to say that the gains are a result of President Obama's programs, but the current Congress has resisted this administration's fiscal policy programs at every turn ....
^ But it has not.
The affordable health care act has been implemented in spite of congress and in fact - when it was passed the unemployment rate was 10 percent.
Bush tax cuts were repealed for the wealth in 2014 - and in 2014 the US gained 3 million jobs, setting the table for 2015s record reduction in poverty.
Policy matters.
^ But it has not.
The affordable health care act has been implemented in spite of congress and in fact - when it was passed the unemployment rate was 10 percent.
Bush tax cuts were repealed for the wealth in 2014 - and in 2014 the US gained 3 million jobs, setting the table for 2015s record reduction in poverty.
Policy matters.
24
@strangerQ: Note that I said congressional resistance has occurred over the past 6 years (the ACA passed during a Democratic Congress in December 2009). The most significant gains to the economy have occurred largely in the past 2 years; even with policy lag time, typically 18-24 months, that still puts the gains in the time frame of policy obstruction. You could be right about the tax cuts, particularly if the additional revenue translated directly into job programs--I just don't see much evidence of that since 2011.
5
The 3 million jobs sound good but, you left out the part about obama bringing 10,000,000 illegals to the country.
2
Sorry, not "millions", only 3 millions and only a 1.2 per cent drop in poverty--why is that impressive? Let's not exaggerate. And raised how much over the poverty line--$500? Furthermore, to compare to 1999, not a great moment either (can we compare to better times, the 1970s or 80s?) may be a bit disingenuous. And what kind of new jobs were created? Burger King jobs? Precarious jobs? We need a keener analysis of the data's significance.
170
Improvement is improvement. Remember the trough our economy had to climb back out of starting in 2007 - 2008. That doesn't happen over night.
79
Sorry, not "millions", only 3 millions and only a 1.2 per cent drop in poverty--why is that impressive? ...
^ Because its the biggest drop every in a single year.
The 1.2 percent deference is a nearly 8 percent drop from the previous level.
If you can repeat that for 3 more years - you will have poverty of under 9 percent which would be the lowest poverty rate in US history.
^ Because its the biggest drop every in a single year.
The 1.2 percent deference is a nearly 8 percent drop from the previous level.
If you can repeat that for 3 more years - you will have poverty of under 9 percent which would be the lowest poverty rate in US history.
23
Statistically, when you're talking about large numbers (like the population of the US), even small changes have a big impact, positively or negatively.
3 million people out of a national population of ~340 million? 1.2% drop? That's a good trend across large numbers.
In recent years, we've seen an increase of "only" ~1 degree in average global temperature. Does your mindset mean we should ignore climate change until we get a "big enough" number?
3 million people out of a national population of ~340 million? 1.2% drop? That's a good trend across large numbers.
In recent years, we've seen an increase of "only" ~1 degree in average global temperature. Does your mindset mean we should ignore climate change until we get a "big enough" number?
12
President Obama is leaving our eceonomy infinitely better than when he inherited it, taking us from the worst recession indecades.
George W. Bush, following failed Republican economic ideology, led us into said recession.
Let's keep things going forward by keeping the White House blue.
George W. Bush, following failed Republican economic ideology, led us into said recession.
Let's keep things going forward by keeping the White House blue.
427
Don't forget Congress, unless you like obstruction with your reconstruction.
16
@NM,
I agree that Obama inherited a mess when he took office, but to blame it directly on Bush and Republican economic ideology shows you are either clueless or stuck on your left ideology. One of the main causes for the 2008 crisis came from the housing bubble burst. It was Bill Clinton who along with Republican backing that repealed the Glass–Steagall Legislation, and it was the Bush administration that from 2001 through 2008 warned that deregulation of GSEs, government-sponsored enterprises was a catastrophe waiting to happen.
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/10/2008100...
I would assume that even if McCain, god forbid with his ridiculous running mate had taken office the economy would have faltered and then righted its self. It's the way Democracy and a free enterprise work! So while a applaud Obama's work, he's not a miracle worker.
I agree that Obama inherited a mess when he took office, but to blame it directly on Bush and Republican economic ideology shows you are either clueless or stuck on your left ideology. One of the main causes for the 2008 crisis came from the housing bubble burst. It was Bill Clinton who along with Republican backing that repealed the Glass–Steagall Legislation, and it was the Bush administration that from 2001 through 2008 warned that deregulation of GSEs, government-sponsored enterprises was a catastrophe waiting to happen.
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/10/2008100...
I would assume that even if McCain, god forbid with his ridiculous running mate had taken office the economy would have faltered and then righted its self. It's the way Democracy and a free enterprise work! So while a applaud Obama's work, he's not a miracle worker.
9
Too many Americans are under the illusion that Republicans are better for this country fiscally. Why is that? Partly because the Democrats are so poor at public relations. If Americans are not getting the message about how much better we are doing than 8 years ago, then the message is not being delivered clearly enough.
8
So let me guess ... there's an election coming up and the paper wants to run a story that they feel will PUMP their candidate ???
73
^ Census data on poverty is released every year around the same time.
Sour grapes in the face of good news is highly unattractive.
Sour grapes in the face of good news is highly unattractive.
32
Why not present some credible counterpoint to the data to express your viewpoint rather than criticizing the messenger? Newspapers report news, and yes, I am sure they sometimes look to report news that is helpful to a political candidate that they support. Not a surprise to anyone. The point remains as to whether the information is true or not, and in this case, it is good news benefiting all, so why object? The Times has run articles critical of certain aspects of Clinton, and if you read the comments regularly, you will see that conservative comments often are NYT picks. Again, it is best to assess the information presented to make a point, I think.
26
its a good time to take stock, don't you think?
6
PBS news had a segment tonight about the young Seattle business owner who was making millions processing credit for small businesses, realized how unfair the runaway wealth inequality is in America and took action - he gave every employee a minimum $50,000 per year salary immediately, raised it to $60,000 per year this year and will raise it to $70,000 next year. He is taking the same pay as his employees. They showed their appreciation by recently buying him a new Tesla - the car of his dreams - the employees can now afford to live near work and many are having families because of the stability. There were 4500 job applications processed since the announcement and business has increased significantly.
I'm sure that if the owner has to cut back in the future, or if they run into a problem, every employee will pitch in to help keep the company successful and make any necessary sacrifices.
Everybody Wins. THAT is a successful business model.
I'm sure that if the owner has to cut back in the future, or if they run into a problem, every employee will pitch in to help keep the company successful and make any necessary sacrifices.
Everybody Wins. THAT is a successful business model.
574
I think you need to follow up on this OLD story, if it is the one I am thinking it is. It has actually BACKFIRED on the guy.
5
"Everybody Wins. THAT is a successful business model." Actually, in this example, I hesitate to point out that it's all those small business clients who are paying for all of this, simply because they need credit (in other words, at the end of the day, this company is a banker doing well... what do ya know?).
2
The OP said the program aired on PBS tonight. Easily verified on the PBS schedule web page. The experiment did *not* "backfire", it was very successful.
From the PBS website: "More than a year later, Gravity Payments now reports the company's revenue and clientele has grown substantially, despite critics' predictions that the move would cause the company to fail. "
From the PBS website: "More than a year later, Gravity Payments now reports the company's revenue and clientele has grown substantially, despite critics' predictions that the move would cause the company to fail. "
20
Good start, I hope the trend continues. Franklin Roosevelt was right to seek out freedom from want as a fundamental goal of this nation, and we have what it takes to achieve it.
42
"and we have what it takes to achieve it." surely you can't be thinking this and realizing that we have had a DO NOTHING CONGRESS since 2008? I'm srry to say that there was only 1 FDR and Johnson did some good with the Civil RIghts and Great Society, Carter has done more OUT of office than in, and the rest have done precious little. If Obamacare holds, it might help, but a lot of companies are dropping out, part of this is subsidized by medicare costs--yep, my medicare insurance costs went up over and above any COLA I got, , etc etc etc. and thanks to WS, my incomes declined by 50%.
When I read the article I thought--election year
"We approve this message"
DNC and RNC
When I read the article I thought--election year
"We approve this message"
DNC and RNC
7
The more interesting question is: Why in the richest nation on earth are millions of people in poverty to begin with?
591
"Why in the richest nation on earth are millions of people in poverty to begin with?" Success or failure in the high-church of Capitalism is measured in dollars, with little in the way of handouts.
10
Answer: Republicans. They drove our economy into a very deep ditch and are determined to keep it that way, e.g., McConnell, Ruan, Brownback, Jindal,.
19
GOP Trickle Down economic policies would be a good place to start. And then consider the 8 years of obstruction that President Obama has had to deal with.
10