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Forum Post: NYT: Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 12:43 p.m. EST by looselyhuman (3117)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census

WASHINGTON — They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.

Down but not quite out, these Americans form a diverse group sometimes called “near poor” and sometimes simply overlooked — and a new count suggests they are far more numerous than previously understood.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/us/census-measures-those-not-quite-in-poverty-but-struggling.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


Another post on this same article: http://occupywallst.org/forum/is-this-the-us-you-want-to-live-in/


Also Elizabeth Warren gave a lecture on this phenomenon several years ago:

"The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A

11 Comments

11 Comments


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[-] 3 points by michael4ows (224) from Mountain View, CA 12 years ago

I came across Elizabeth's "The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class" lecture earlier today and have watched about half of it now. Very informative and insightful explanation of how this generation's family unit is at greater economic risk than the previous generation's. Haven't gotten to the part of the lecture about what to do about it yet, but looking forward to understanding her thoughtful insights on that too.

[-] 3 points by looselyhuman (3117) 12 years ago

She's prety amazing. Some more info:

On what to do about it:

http://www.brianrogel.com/the-100-percent-solution-for-the-99-percent

http://occupywallst.org/forum/robert-reich-stop-the-austerity-train-wreck/

And on Elizabeth Warren vs. Wall St, in today's NYT. We need to support her:

http://occupywallst.org/forum/99-for-warren-for-senate/

[-] 2 points by michael4ows (224) from Mountain View, CA 12 years ago

i like like what i've seen of her so far... very analytical and knowlegable. i'll be watching her run at the senate for sure.

[-] 2 points by ChristopherABrownART5 (46) from Santa Barbara, CA 12 years ago

Yep, and in many cases they are the backbone of the economy. They continue to be employed because they have diverse and valuable skills. They work for less than most which is job security. They no little about politics but have the education to understand. They watch television which is negative information.

They are true Americans disabled by media. They will join us but we'll have to get on TV to let them know.

[-] 1 points by powertoothepeople (280) 12 years ago

Thanks for the links.

[-] 1 points by looselyhuman (3117) 12 years ago

My pleasure.

[-] 1 points by ciavlad (85) 12 years ago

Vote petition on the Internet : http://wh.gov/jkl

[-] -1 points by AuditElmerFudd (259) 12 years ago

Everyone deserves the blame for the collapse. Too many fingers in the pie... from voters to the elected, from the military-industrial complex to the unconstitutional foreign policy decisions, from the homeowners to the money-lenders... All are to blame.

[-] 2 points by ChristopherABrownART5 (46) from Santa Barbara, CA 12 years ago

Choosing comfort over the true security of knowledge and truth is the failure.

[-] 0 points by AuditElmerFudd (259) 12 years ago

Yes.

[-] 1 points by ChristopherABrownART5 (46) from Santa Barbara, CA 12 years ago

Of course corporations and media colluded over at least 3 generations to make it so. The academic field of "semiotics" manipulated the public thinking with manipulation and exploitation of intstincts.

Are we sophisticated enough to compensate for those severely mislead Anericans?