Forum Post: NPR reports that 1 in 2 Americans are poor or low income

NPR article is available at

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/15/143770049/census-1-in-2-americans-are-poor-or-low-income

While this is not necessarily news, it is more evidence of a difficult situation that pleads for a solution. The comments at the end of the NPR article are also worthy of review.

What can low-income people do to improve their lot? Ask for more aid from their governments (their governments are bankrupt and controlled by near-sighted monied interests)? Ask for higher wages from their employers (Americans are now competing with low-wage/low-cost workers in other countries for this is now a world-wide economy)?

There are ways to live better while preparing to produce more independently: 1) move in with relatives; 2) share child care responsibilities; 3) buy nothing that is made in China - rather, shop at Goodwill and at other thrift stores; 4) fix things that break; 5) read for entertainment and read aloud to your children; 6) meet your friends face to face and work cooperatively with them; 7) go back to school, study classical economics, study health physiology, study psychology; 8) abandon TV, movies, drugs; 9) exercise daily; 10) vote independently.

Pay attention to the global mechanisms that impoverish a large number of people around the world, including Americans. Understand how we as individuals contribute to these mechanisms, than change our own ways so that we can free ourselves from them, and do no further harm to others. The 1% can only rule with our consent. Silence and ignorance have always granted consent.