American Poverty Worsening - Who's Fault?

This article from the Daily Reckoning is mind blowing. It is scary, and it is true. If 47% of Americans do not pay taxes because most of them are considered below the poverty level, just think of when that percentage rises above 50%. One of the most profound statements ever said or written in regards to this issue comes to mind at this time: "When one robs Peter to pay Paul, one can always depend on the support of Paul." The Daily Reckoning Presents

US Poverty Stats: Where the Feds Are At Fault

19 Statistics About The Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You. #1 According to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of “very poor” rose in 300 out of the 360 largest metropolitan areas during 2010. #2 Last year, 2.6 million more Americans descended into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the US government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959. #3 It isn’t just the ranks of the “very poor” that are rising. The number of those just considered to be “poor” is rapidly increasing as well. Back in the year 2000, 11.3% of all Americans were living in poverty. Today, 15.1% of all Americans are living in poverty. #4 The poverty rate for children living in the United States increased to 22% in 2010. #5 There are 314 counties in the United States where at least 30% of the children are facing food insecurity. #6 In Washington DC, the “child food insecurity rate” is 32.3%. #7 More than 20 million US children rely on school meal programs to keep from going hungry. #8 One out of every six elderly Americans now lives below the federal poverty line. #9 Today, there are over 45 million Americans on food stamps. #10 According to The Wall Street Journal, nearly 15 percent of all Americans are now on food stamps. #11 In 2010, 42 percent of all single mothers in the United States were on food stamps. #12 The number of Americans on food stamps has increased 74% since 2007. #13 We are told that the economy is recovering, but the number of Americans on food stamps has grown by another 8 percent over the past year. #14 Right now, one out of every four American children is on food stamps. #15 It is being projected that approximately 50 percent of all US children will be on food stamps at some point in their lives before they reach the age of 18. #16 More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid. Back in 1965, only one out of every 50 Americans was on Medicaid. Today, approximately one out of every 6 Americans is on Medicaid. #17 One out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one government anti-poverty program. #18 The number of Americans that are going to food pantries and soup kitchens has increased by 46% since 2006. #19 It is estimated that up to half a million children may currently be homeless in the United States. Now, dear reader, we ask ourselves: how could the most sophisticated, most dynamic, best capitalized, high tech enhanced capitalism in history produce such an outcome? The answer is simple: capitalism doesn’t give you what you want. It gives you what you deserve. And it usually does so with such a long delay that few people connect cause with effect. Instead, they rant and rave. They blame the rich. They call for more regulation. More distribution. More handouts, subsidies, and bailouts. They demand that the feds ‘do something!’...not realizing that the feds — more than anyone else — are responsible for their misery: The feds tricked them into spending more than they could afford — with artificially low rates and EZ credit. The feds loaded them up with mortgage debt — thanks to their federally subsidized mortgage industry. The feds practically invented sub-prime mortgage debt; and directed lenders towards the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the society. The feds enticed old people into complete dependence — with the Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare programs. The feds led the young into debt too — with easy student loans that effectively transferred money from them to the education industry. The feds jimmied the health system into such a mess that Americans now spend 45 times as much as Cubans...and have the same life expectancy. The feds’ funny money system caused the export of millions of good jobs to emerging markets. Rise up, ye debt-trodden masses! Rise up against your real enemy: the feds. You have nothing to lose but your chains Regards, Bill Bonner for The Daily Reckoning The feds, under this administration, will continue their unconstrained use of the US monetary system presumably to keep the country from bankruptcy. And as long as the those of us who have been severely affected by the financial crisis demand that the feds “do something”, it seems certain to me that the the poverty level numbers will increase. And, as the poverty level continues to increase as the feds answer the response, the higher the percentage of poverty rises and the more the masses demand the government do something. As I said, "To rob Peter to pay Paul, one can always depend on the support of Paul." That will equate to more than 50% of Americans voting for government control over those individuals who are taking responsibility for themselves. When this happens, and it is not that far in the future on this course, the real America will not exist. Now, is this what Americans want? Yes, there are those who want this to happen. They are called liberals or socialists and Marxists. Some say the definition of communism! In their culture, the disparity between the rich and the poor increases ten fold. Those in charge reap the benefits and the rest remain a collective mass of down trodden people begging for the morsels that are left. It has not taken long for America to come to this place in history. With the continued support of the ignorant and the apathy of those who know better toward the errant political strategies of this administration, America is moving at lightning speed toward a different culture. 4 more years of these tyrannical and dictatorial policies without constraint, will destine us to a life none of us really want, even Paul.