Being Poor in the U.S. - RF Cafe Forums

Greetings:

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 2009 poverty level in the U.S. is set at $22,000 for a 4-person urban family. They make up 15% of the population.

Here is how my household compares to those considered as living in poverty in the U.S.

- 43% of all poor households actually own their own homes.
- I own mine (920 sq.ft.).

- Average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a 3-bedroom house with 1-1/2 baths, a garage and a porch or patio.
- Mine is 3-bedroom, 1 bath, 1-car garage, no porch or patio.

- 80% percent of poor households have air conditioning (btw, 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning).
- I have A/C.

-6% of poor households are overcrowded; only 2/3 have more than two rooms per person.
- I have 3 tiny bedrooms for 2 people - just 1-1/2 rooms per person (The typical poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other cities throughout Europe.)

- 3/4 of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.
- I own one vehicle, a compact car.

- 97% of poor households have a color television; over half own 2 or more color televisions.
- I have one LCD TV (26").

- 78% have a VCR or DVD player.
- I have a DVD player.

- 62% have cable or satellite TV reception.
- I have cable TV (DISH Network, bottom-end package, $25/month).

- 89% own microwave ovens.
- I own a 0.9 cu.ft. microwave oven.

-1/2 have a stereo.
- I do not own a setreo.

-1/3 have an automatic dishwasher.
- I installed a dishwasher washer.

So, that puts me in the same or worse situation that the "poor" in the U.S. My living situation is by choice in order to remain within my means and not burden anybody for anything. The "poor" pay nothing for my existence while I'm paying for my own existence AND for theirs. They receive all manner of subsidies from my tax dollars while they pay no taxes at all (only 50% of U.S. citizens pay any income tax at all), and many receive the earned-income credit where they get a check on top of paying nothing. They get free medical care, food stamps, fuel subsidies, housing subsidies, free school and supplies for their kids, free clothes, free meals for their kids (some schools send home dinner and weekend meal packs), free transportation where available, etc.

It is pretty clear that even though there are people in the U.S. who are truly "poor" through no fault of their own, the fact is that most live much better than those no labeled "poor" in most other countries. I've spent my entire life being a productive member of society, and not being a burden. Meanwhile, we have people on film during the last election talking about how if they elect the right person, they won't have to worry about buying gas for their cars or paying their rent anymore. What a pathetic bunch my fellow Americans have become!

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy." - Alexander Fraser Tytler (a variation of Alexis de Tocqueville).

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- Kirt Blattenberger
RF Cafe Progenitor & Webmaster

I'm with you Kirt. There is a huge list of benefits you left out, but we get the picture. Here where I live in Philly there are government crews installing insulation and replacing windows in houses for people and I'm paying for it (so are you living in PA paying PA taxes). My lifestyle isn't as reserved as yours but I pay my own way and have never collected a dime of welfare, unemployment or any form of handout in my 61 years. I'm disgusted with my fellow citizens (and the illegeal ones).

Just to give you the UK picture: a recent survey has shown that to keep a family of husband wife and 4 kids costs around 29K UK pounds, around $44k.
Here the same debate is currently gaining volume due to attempts to cut back the borrowing decifit that followed the finacial crisis. In turn this seems to have been caused by advisers to derivative fund managers, advisors who grossly over-valued assets that were being used as guarantees for loans.
Curiously over here, where we have a huge illegal immigrant problem, illegals have been buying social security numbers illegally so that, guers what? they can then pay taxes and social security payments that establish their legitimacy, or at best mask their illegitimacy. Such a practice, whilst costing them some money from income, does at least ensure their continuity of income, which is better than having it cut off as they are expelled. Strange world.

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At bottom, life is all about
Sucking in and blowing out.

Greetings nubbage:

Thanks for the input. I keep up with the UK news as well as here, so I'm familiar with your story. From what I've read, London is just barely English anymore. If it wasn't for the magnificent, undeniably English landscape and architecture, one would have a hard time telling from street photos that they were taken in England.

Unfortunately, your country and mine are among the ones that are not allowed to claim any special status in the world due to our accomplishments. We must instead be certain to acknowledge and elevate above our contributions those that were made 2000 years ago (... and not much but destruction since then) by other countries. If you dare to be proud of your heritage, you are a xenophobe.

I welcome all law-abiding, positive contributors to the advancement of mankind, regardless of origin, as long as those advancements are not defined as being in the direction of Neandrathal, Taliban-like standards. Do not, however, come to my country, legally or illegally, and demand that I adopt your customs or your language. I will respect your right to practice your legal customs here on your own, but remember why you left your country and came here.

_________________
- Kirt Blattenberger
RF Cafe Progenitor & Webmaster

Americans are getting the message about illegals. The whole boycott against Arizona is backfiring BIGTIME. Many states are adopting Arizona-like laws on illegals. People are learning (better late than never) about the true cost of allowing illegals in the country. We have a real problem with them here in Tennessee in the Memphis area. I'm sick of pay for them. Now I'm working my arse off to support myself and family, all the unempoyed for 99+ weeks, and the illegals (many that are keeping the unemployed unemployed). Get them the hell out.