America's Poor Are Living Large
They're overweight, they eat too much meat and they are living better than the average middle class family did in the 1970s. Who are these people?
They are America's so-called "poor."
The Heritage Foundation reports that the average American defined as "poor" by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer and a microwave. He also has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player and a stereo.
Over the next few weeks, you'll hear a lot of media whining about the poor because the U.S. Census Bureau just released a new report on poverty. The gist is that there were 37 million people in the U.S. living in poverty in 2005, about the same as previous years. Look for the media to declare welfare reduction policies of the 1990s a failure and to agitate for more government funded social programs.
But what they probably won't tell you is that the poor ain't so poor anymore. Most of America's "poor" live a lifestyle that would be considered comfortable or well-off by our grandparents' generation. Here are some statistics you probably won't read in the mainstream media:
- Today, the expenditures per person of the lowest-income one-fifth (or quintile) of households equal those of the median American household in the early 1970s, after adjusting for inflation.
- Forty-three percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
- Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
- Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
- The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
- Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.
- Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
- Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
- Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.
Tara, you should mention the excellent health care the "poor" get. For example, if you are one of the "saps" that works for a living and have stomach pain,etc., you have to jump through hoops to get certain test, etc., approved for payment by your insurance company. But, if you don't have insurance and go to the ER, they will preform every test they can to find the cause of your illness. All free too...plus medicine...why do we work...we get nothing but further behind and pay more to those that don't work...
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These majority of these "poor" also have plenty of money for liquor, cigarettes, Nike footwear, bling out the yazoo, lottery tickets and more. If a person is on welfare or any kind of government assistance, they should be evaluated on a needs basis. People taking my tax money to buy food should not have a DVD player, stereos, more than one (1) TV, cable/satellite, be buying cigarettes or liquor. Sorry -- you take my money -- you *make it* my business.
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So these people are "poor" in comparison to what??? While I truly wish for no one to suffer in life and gladly give my time, tax money and charity, I can't help but feel that I am being sucked dry at times. I receive NO free government services unless you include the postage used to send tax bills as a freebie and yet I am made to feel responsible and guilty for lack of material possessions that the "poor" must endure? I can't even imagine the amount of time and money spent by local churches, shelters and idividuals to help the "poor" (and this is in addition to government assistance)- I would be very curious to see a study like this in the Charlotte area alone. As long as our government continues to reward multiple births by single poor parents, put up with general laziness, and allow uneducated illegal aliens to reap their benefits, then we will all continue to pay the price. If we are to be forced to "take these people to raise" then shouldn't we be able to set some ground rules?
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Well, I just found out that I was poor. Imagine all of these years and I never knew it. My home had air conditioning in the 1950's,,I spent seven years in university,,I worked in a Philadelphia bank, private placements and economic research. Before the bank, I created the first HMO in the U.S. This was not Health MANAGEMENT, it was Health MAINTENANCE. It was for blue collar people after work. A health clinic at 5th and Diamond, staffed by moonlighters from Philly hospitals.
But, alas, our government classifies me as POOR. It would not matter if I had $13 million in assets, it would only matter if my income was Zero taxable.
Wow, I hate to be poor.
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Now that we know the "poor" have more than many in the "middle class", maybe we can stop subsidizing their transportation around Mecklenburg County.
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i have a college education and apply every job i see and cant get anyone to give me an oppurtunity, how many degrees do i need before i get hired, i tired of being over qualified and not getting the job, employers say they can find good people bull im here and can work.
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By your poor use of grammar and punctuation I am surprised that you graduated high school let alone college. You may want to have someone read your resume to make sure it is not as poorly written as your post. That may be why you are not getting hired.
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I am one of the working poor, I have every thing listed and have not been out of work in years.Ihave worked in the same textile job for 40 years.Both my children have finished college and are productive citizens,You do not have to be on government assistence to be one of the poor.
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Blog editor replies: You assume wrong, Hannah. I've lived in and worked in some of Charlotte's toughest neighborhoods over the last decade while renovating houses. It has been 10 years since I've called the suburbs home. Needless to say, I'm pretty familiar with the folks you describe.
Dear Tara,
Like you, I am not poor. Apparently unlike you, I have worked with poor people, and I can tell you that I would not want their lives. Many of them are abused and neglected. Many of the women have been raped multiple times. Their lovely three bedroom homes are in crime-ridden neighborhoods with drug dealers, drive by shootings, and terrible schools. Most have never seen a different way of life. Many are too psychologically scarred to work or properly care for their children, which sets their children up for similar lives. I invite you to work with these people (I'm sure your local charitable organizations can put you in touch with them, they don't live in your neighborhood, or on your side of town), and then judge their lives. I'll take middle-class in the 70's any day.
Hannah Harrison, Ph.D.
Clinical Child Psychologist
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You need to get out of Charlotte and see some other parts of our planet. Then you might have a more balanced view of the world.
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I guess I am in the working poor class.
I spend 12 hours per day either driving to/from work or AT work, working my butt off. I live from paycheck to paycheck. I own my mobile home in South Carolina but pay a millionaire for the right to park it on his property. I don't own the car I drive, which is a 1999 model 4 cylinder. It saddens me that I work so hard to try to get ahead, and see my paycheck eaten up for gasoline rent and mostly poor medical care. I am 32 years old with no children and my 30 year old girlfriend wants to start a family. Someone please tell me, why should I want to bring a child into this messed up world???
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#1 What have YOU done to improve your lot in life? Are you trying to get a better education? Are you trying to take advantage of any and every opportunity to move UP in your workplace? What is your opinion of personal accountability? Have your own choices led you to this point in life?
#2 The Millionaire owns the property, you pay the rent. That's the way it works. Sorry but that is reality. Unfortunately Life is not fair. It never was, it never will be. Don't expect it.
#3 Your GIRLFRIEND wants to start a family? That is another ticket into a deeper hole. Families are suposed to be started by MARRIED people. It is ignorant, and foolish to attempt to have children with someone you are not even committed to enough to marry.
#4 The worst medical care you could possibly get in the US is better than the best in most parts of the world, so be thankful for it.
#5 People in our country are whining way too much and appreciate virtually nothing.
#6 I am doing ok, but it has taking years of building, working, and seeking out every opportunity to move up and to gain a toe hold and an advantage over my co-workers. Nothing was given to me, it has taken years of moving ahead one little bit at a time. I would encourage you to do the same.
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Dear Poor People,
1. Hard work is good! Waking up before dawn, working all day then falling into bed exhausted is ideal.
2. I am 31 years old and a 6-year public school teacher. I am currently pursuing a EdS in Teaching and an MA in administration. It is now 9:53am; I've already been at work for 4 hours. I sleep less than 6 hours each night. I drink tons of coffee. Tonight I won't get home until after 9:00. I hold two part-time jobs in addition to teaching 50+ hours a week. I have three extremely hard working children- 4, 2, and 10 months. I qualify for WIC. I am so grateful to be able to work and continue my education. My children are already equating "work" with "fun".
3. Repeat this mantra to yourself everyday. "Doing good, hard work is my purpose today."
4. I was the first person in my family (on both sides) to graduate from college, which I paid for myself.
5. By the by- imagine the parental involvement that would ensue among our low socioeconomic citizens if welfare monies were contingent on the children in the house earning at least an 80% average in all classes.
6. Go to work poor people. No one feels sorry for you; we are too busy working.
7. One last thing- it is erroneous to attach a pejorative meaning to the word "poor". I love being poor. The last thing this country needs is more materialism. Live simple, learn the names of flowers, and work like hell.
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Whew! You solved the biggest problem in the US... there are no poor. Thanks!
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