80 Percent Of U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Unemployment: Survey

[RandySF]

WASHINGTON — Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.

Survey data exclusive to The Associated Press points to an increasingly globalized U.S. economy, the widening gap between rich and poor, and the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs as reasons for the trend.

The findings come as President Barack Obama tries to renew his administration's emphasis on the economy, saying in recent speeches that his highest priority is to "rebuild ladders of opportunity" and reverse income inequality.

As nonwhites approach a numerical majority in the U.S., one question is how public programs to lift the disadvantaged should be best focused – on the affirmative action that historically has tried to eliminate the racial barriers seen as the major impediment to economic equality, or simply on improving socioeconomic status for all, regardless of race.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/28/poverty-unemployment-rates_n_3666594.html

[leftstreet]

1. USA!! USA!! We're Number...uh, like 28th or something!!

DURec

[DJ13]

2. Maybe not even that high

We aint so good at math, either.

[WCGreen]

3. Yea, but I still got my gun....

[Brigid]

5. Yeah, and Honey Boo Boo is still on . . . or something.

[hollysmom]

4. Look, I have been unemployed in the past with almost nothing in the bank account -

Last edited Mon Jul 29, 2013, 02:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Well, maybe 3 or 4 times before. I talked to the bank (remember when we had small understanding local banks - sigh) and when renting, talked to the land lord and got a reprieve while I looked for work. Never had to go on welfare, but got loans from family and friends - thankfully my family loved me. I returned the favor for my brothers and sister and friends when they needed it.

I know things are worse today, but I find it hard to believe they are that worse. I have lots of friends struggling to get by, but only one is trying to get on food stamps. I mean several have lost their houses, but still had a place to go and enough money to still live on thanks to social security or parents or ..... other family members taking them in.

ETA

Let me rephrase that - the 80% number is misleading because it includes the past as well as the current.
I have 4 friends that have lost their homes in the last 8 years and another that came very close. But they had family to move in with and that is probably the saving grace. If your parents are alive and still have your bed room, it is a great help.
The homeless people are growing and that is wrong, the wrongly foreclosed tend to get ground up in the system. so much is wrong with the system it is just too much to mention and the dems hang out with the wall street people and that makes things worse.

And this is the end of my explaining, if you think I am cold, you are wrong, but there is nothing I can do or say to convince you otherwise.

[chervilant]

8. You're lucky.

Do avoid generalizing your personal experience to represent those of us who've been chronically un- or under-employed. My family blames me for my chronic joblessness, and wouldn't spit on me if I was on fire. I've had to use food stamps, and I can assure you I'd rather not deal with the censuring glares I've gotten when I whip out my EBT card.

I have a job now, thankfully, but all my retirement and savings was exhausted just keeping a roof over my head. It really IS that bad out here...

[FirstLight]

9. amen

I have a family that 'helps' as much as they 'want' to...usually it's just paying a utility bill once in a while. I have been on & off welfare & FS more times than I can count, and had almost as many jobs. Just can't seem to hold one down when I'm a single mom and kids get sick and there's nobody to take care of them, or you get sick and then miss more work and finally they just let you go...

Trying to get out of the hole my entire adult life is wearing thin. I'm in a last ditch effort to finish my BA online and it's gonna take a LOT to just finish by March. THEN maybe I can get a 'real' job..."maybe" being the functional word. Even so, my idea of money and income is so skewed that if I got a job making $30K a year I'd think I was rich....when it's still WAY below the poverty line.

Hope it improves for many of us sooner rather than later ...but I doubt it will.

[hollysmom]

13. yes, I am, but I find it hard to believe 80% of the people are unlucky.

I just think that number is inflated and that inflated numbers hurt our arguments. a lot of us have been on the brink and did not consider ourselves desperate. I realize these times are harder and there are more people, just not 80%.

Anyway, I believe I stated that I was very lucky to have a loving family. (not that we don't screw with each other time to time) I know more people with dysfunctional hateful families than people who are desperately broke. Including one friend who had a Sybil like up bringing tortured by her mother, but luckily her mother died young and she escaped before she was destroyed, just scarred for life. Or the one child in the family who was picked on by every one (hit hard enough he is deaf in one ear) and as a result he hates everyone in his family for not ever helping him when the parents beat him.

My heart goes out to everyone who is struggling. I know it is a large number and how hard it is to dig your way out of the hole without someone backing and supporting you. I wish I could help all of them, but I, sadly, am not one of the 1% or even 20% or even... heck, I am retired. I do periodically write to congress for a jobs bill or pre-school for kids.

[chervilant]

15. Perhaps you could look at this statistic

another way:

We MUST stress how bad it is for the vast majority of us. When I quit mortgage lending to become a teacher, I read an article that stated that the unemployment rate among women my age (50-55, at the time) had increased 330%. I basically had a reaction similar to yours herein. I have since learned that the "330%" was a fairly accurate percentage.

The corporate megalomaniacs who've usurped our media, our politics AND our global economy have created a dystopia. Recognizing this is a key step toward regaining our democracy.

[duffyduff]

11. Clueless, utterly clueless

Today ISN'T like times past. It is almost impossible to get back on one's feet, especially if you're older.

Ever tried living on a couch in a relative's house? NOT fun, and I have been doing this shit for three damned years and not making it at all.

I always got back on my feet before, but not this time.

Thank Washington politicians in BOTH parties for failing to do one damned thing about joblessness and the economy.

[hollysmom]

14. trust me I am not clueless -

maybe not the best at making my point clear - I know things are bad, and that some people are worse off than ever.

There are some careers that are just gone with no notice. Mobility is hard and taking advantage of friends is hard at best embarrassing and inconvenient at worst.

But to calculate this 80% they had to go into the past, so that is one reason I am saying it is misleading. The real figures are bad enough. If we brandish around numbers like this, people will start doubting things are as bad as they really are today.

I hope something shows up for you soon. Trust me I was laid off in my very late 50's and I have not worked since, just officially retired at 62, but was lucky again to see it coming for decades ahead. it is hard to get a job when you are older, stupid young whippersnappers, Heh. Good luck to you. You do need it.

[moparlunatic]

6. The economy is

getting better, the guberment says so.

[RebelOne]

7. I am headed toward poverty.

I am on social security, but fortunately, I live in a mobile home and have low expenses. I have no credit cards and will not have any, as credit cards got me into trouble several years ago, and I had to declare bankruptcy.

I have some money in my savings account, but I am facing a very expensive dental bill in the coming weeks, so that is going to take a chunk out of the savings.

My son has been bugging me to move in with him and his wife, and I have been resisting, but it looks like I may have to do that by the end of the year. But at least I have somewhere to go and will not be out in the street.

[egduj]

10. It could be worse.

Although it never has been...

[KentuckyWoman]

12. Deliberate lying or just poor titling...AGAIN

This article keeps getting rehashed but no one ever fixes the titling error. Does Huffington really think we are all so stupid that we'll believe 80% of America is CURRENTLY in or near poverty?

The original article this is taken from doesn't say that.....and it was titled to be misleading too. The original article does a great job of showing wealth and income inequality.

[chervilant]

16. Which is why critical thinking is essential.

Yes, the title is a 'hook.'

This:

Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.

is what resonates for me.

My concern is: "Survey data exclusive to The Associated Press..." Which means I will look for other research to substantiate or refute this article.