According to new census data released on Tuesday, the number of Americans living in poverty in 2010 reached 15.1% of the population. (The federal government sets the poverty line for a family of four at $22,314 in annual income. For an individual, the amount per annum is $11,139.)
Forty-six million people in the United States are living in poverty. One of every six. Right here in America.
We're hittin' the skids, people.
Check this story from Indiana:
Or this from Washington, DC:
Even the most tax-begrudging conservative can see that not all of these people are dead-beats and loafers. These are not irresponsible people who can't manage their money correctly. They aren't basement-dwelling stoners or welfare queens. These are people who, ten years ago, were living more-or-less middle class lives; whose jobs were destroyed in the wake of the massive financial collapse at the end of the Junior Bush era.
Meanwhile, corporate profits are up 8.3% over 2010, which was itself a record year for corporate profits. These are profits reaped by the same corporations that extorted the federal government out of billions in tax-payer bailout dollars in late 2008. Bail-out dollars that were necessary because of the criminal behavior of corporate executives motivated by greed.
Someone, please tell me... How can a reasonable person argue that the solution to the problem of poverty in the United States is to eliminate corporate taxes and slash social programs?
Or, if that question doesn't suit you, try this one: How long before we start seeing the riots and social upheaval that are precursors of something much worse?
