America was clobbered over the head with more bad news this month when the Census reported that the domestic poverty rate, and deep poverty rates, have reached record highs. Over 44 million Americans are living below the poverty rate — $11,139 for one person, and $25,625 for a family of four — and one out every seven Americans are poor.
One out of five children live in poverty, while one out of six is being served by at least one government anti-poverty program. At 14.3%, these are the highest poverty levels since 1994, George W. Bush’s first term.
Republicans have immediately and almost universally laid the blame in a neat package at President Obama’s doorstep. They argued that the stimulus package failed and other Obama programs created a monumental drag on the economy. They have also argued that Obama’s policies overtax job creators, the otherwise most wealthy Americans. Finally, they argue that his policies have stymied job and wealth growth in the middle class and in low-income communities.
Read the rest here: http://www.loop21.com/channel/american-poverty-rise
