Poverty In America: Two TVs, One Xbox, etc. etc.

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Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:

● Lives in a home that is in good repair, not crowded, and equipped with air conditioning, clothes washer and dryer, and cable or satellite TV service.

● Prepares meals in a kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave as well as oven and stove.

● Enjoys two color TVs, a DVD player, VCR and — if children are there — an Xbox, PlayStation, or other video game system.

● Had enough money in the past year to meet essential needs, including adequate food and medical care.

No mention of "savings". My African friends would be astonished to learn that their highest economic aspirations would make them poor according to American standards. I remember some guy once said that anyone who has two pairs of shoes is not poor. One pair, or no pair -- that's poor.

Cable TV? Not poor.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

h/t Drudge

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Since When Is $50,000/Year A "Cycle Of Poverty"?

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As a single mother who entered university to try to break the cycle of poverty, I now find myself in a $48,800/year job (for which having a degree was mandatory) and carrying monthly Canada Student loan costs of $544/month and BC Student Loan costs of $200/month...

My son will be entering university in 6 years, at which time, I expect to still be carrying my own debt, and will be unable to provide full support for his educational costs, and so the cycle of poverty continues as he will be forced to amass debt as well.

Is this true? Is earning $50,000 a year in Canada now considered being in a vicious, unalterable, unending cycle of poverty?  If so, I need to reassess my income needs.

And, if I may make a conservative point which does not necessarily apply to the woman in question, but which I believe applies in general, the cycle of poverty doesn't begin with taking out a student loan. It begins with becoming a single parent of a child conceived and raised out of wedlock. Wanna break the cycle of poverty? Show some self-restraint and wait until you're married to a reliable individual person worthy of being your partner for life.

This would do more to alleviate poverty than all the grand plans of the NDP and Liberals combined.

But don't expect it to be raised as a suggestion any time soon.


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