4 In 5 Adult Americans Struggle With Joblessness, Near-Poverty Or Reliance On Welfare - Polidicks

[QUOTE]WASHINGTON (AP) — Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream. Survey data exclusive to The Associated Press points to an increasingly globalized U.S. economy, the widening gap between rich and poor, and the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs as reasons for the trend. The findings come as President Barack Obama tries to renew his administration's emphasis on the economy, saying in recent speeches that his highest priority is to "rebuild ladders of opportunity" and reverse income inequality. As nonwhites approach a numerical majority in the U.S., one question is how public programs to lift the disadvantaged should be best focused — on the affirmative action that historically has tried to eliminate the racial barriers seen as the major impediment to economic equality, or simply on improving socioeconomic status for all, regardless of race. Hardship is particularly growing among whites, based on several measures. Pessimism among that racial group about their families' economic futures has climbed to the highest point since at least 1987. In the most recent AP-GfK poll, 63 percent of whites called the economy "poor." "I think it's going to get worse," said Irene Salyers, 52, of Buchanan County, Va., a declining coal region in Appalachia. Married and divorced three times, Salyers now helps run a fruit and vegetable stand with her boyfriend but it doesn't generate much income. They live mostly off government disability checks. "If you do try to go apply for a job, they're not hiring people, and they're not paying that much to even go to work," she said. Children, she said, have "nothing better to do than to get on drugs." While racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poverty, race disparities in the poverty rate have narrowed substantially since the 1970s, census data show. Economic insecurity among whites also is more pervasive than is shown in the government's poverty data, engulfing more than 76 percent of white adults by the time they turn 60, according to a new economic gauge being published next year by the Oxford University Press. The gauge defines "economic insecurity" as a year or more of periodic joblessness, reliance on government aid such as food stamps or income below 150 percent of the poverty line. Measured across all races, the risk of economic insecurity rises to 79 percent. Marriage rates are in decline across all races, and the number of white mother-headed households living in poverty has risen to the level of black ones. "It's time that America comes to understand that many of the nation's biggest disparities, from education and life expectancy to poverty, are increasingly due to economic class position," said William Julius Wilson, a Harvard professor who specializes in race and poverty. He noted that despite continuing economic difficulties, minorities have more optimism about the future after Obama's election, while struggling whites do not. "There is the real possibility that white alienation will increase if steps are not taken to highlight and address inequality on a broad front," Wilson said. [/QUOTE] [URL]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/28/americans-poverty-no-work/2594203/[/URL]

Sad.

Sounds about right

America fucking sucks.

[QUOTE=Lost Hybrid;41628887]America fucking sucks.[/QUOTE] There is a beacon of hope to the north.

[QUOTE=laserguided;41628905]There is a beacon of hope to the north.[/QUOTE] Yep, let that national pride wash over you... Yeah, feels good to live in a slightly better country gloating about my neighbors.

[QUOTE=laserguided;41628905]There is a beacon of hope to the north.[/QUOTE] We have the same economic problems as the United States

[QUOTE=Emperorconor;41628942]Yep, let that national pride wash over you... Yeah, feels good to live in a slightly better country gloating about my neighbors.[/QUOTE] slightly better? ha, our min wage is still fucking $7.25 with the standard of living still rising every fucking day.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;41628945]We have the same economic problems as the United States[/QUOTE] But Canada is a magical land where the streets are paved with (ice covered) gold!

[QUOTE=Zeke129;41628945]We have the same economic problems as the United States[/QUOTE] A little bit better...

[QUOTE=Zeke129;41628945]We have the same economic problems as the United States[/QUOTE] The same is a overstatement. We did very well in comparison to the U.S. during the financial crisis.

the whole world has the same economic problems as the united states

[QUOTE=laserguided;41628977]The same is a overstatement. We did very well in comparison to the U.S. during the financial crisis.[/QUOTE] We also happen to have 9x the population. It's just a matter of scale

[QUOTE=Emperorconor;41628942]Yep, let that national pride wash over you... Yeah, feels good to live in a slightly better country gloating about my neighbors.[/QUOTE] It does, I love Canada. [editline]28th July 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Zillamaster55;41629010]We also happen to have 9x the population. It's just a matter of scale[/QUOTE] Uh no it's not just a matter of scale. We faired better. Hell, our democracy works!! We also have less debt proportionally. [B]"Canadian debt levels still better than U.S. experienced before crash: TD Bank"[/B] and also this: [url]http://www.fin.gc.ca/pub/report-rapport/2010-6/cgel-lemc2-eng.asp[/url]

[QUOTE=An Axolotl;41628965]But Canada is a magical land where the streets are paved with (ice covered) gold![/QUOTE] Nope, it's just a country that's a bit better than yours. What it seems like to you is just a contrast created by yourself.

[QUOTE=laserguided;41629011] Hell, our democracy works!! [/QUOTE] That was a pointless stab :v: Never thought the term 'Canadian Nationalist' would be a thing.

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;41629051]That was a pointless stab :v:[/QUOTE] I'm just joking with you, just like American's do to us. <3

Saying that Canada is a little bit better is an understatement. Universal healthcare makes it pretty much better by a lot. Not to mention the economic crisis isn't as bad, but it's close. [sp]this is an opinion[/sp]

[quote]and an elusive American dream.[/quote] Wasn't it always a pipe dream, though? Last I checked the 'American Dream' was to live in a suburb raising 2.25 kids, living in a $250K home, driving two $60k SUVs, all while financing it by being in debt up to your fucking eyeballs while hoping to god that you died before bankruptcy showed up. Which was never tenable. The poverty problem is indeed severe, yes. But some people brought it on themselves by spending way more than they ever made trying to chase a dream that's untenable for most. We need a little give from both sides. We need more good paying jobs in this country so people can get to work, and we need people to learn how to live within their own means so they don't get hit quite so hard when the economy does tank like it did. [editline]28th July 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr_Awesome;41629110]Saying that Canada is a little bit better is an understatement. Universal healthcare makes it pretty much better by a lot. Not to mention the economic crisis isn't as bad, but it's close. [sp]this is an opinion[/sp][/QUOTE] Their automotive regulations can get a bit absurd, though.

Reliance on welfare? Does that count people who are getting SS and Medicare? [QUOTE=Cabbage;41629181]This seems like a 'sinking ship' alarm bell to me.[/QUOTE] Seems like a shitty sensationalist article to me...

This seems like a 'sinking ship' alarm bell to me.

[QUOTE=Cabbage;41629181]This seems like a 'sinking ship' alarm bell to me.[/QUOTE] The bells been ringing for quite a while, it just hasn't been loud enough and the crew is still too busy partying to hear it.

And yet all those working poor white people still vote for Republicans that say the government helps them too much.

Yeah guys, we're totally on the road to economic recovery!

[QUOTE=JgcxCub;41629289]Yeah guys, we're totally on the road to economic recovery![/QUOTE] But we are. Rising GDP, improving share prices, increase in comsumption, (which is happening now) is better than the opposite.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;41629221]And yet all those working poor white people still vote for Republicans that say the government helps them too much.[/QUOTE] What does skin color have to do with this?

[QUOTE=Aphtonites;41629320]What does skin color have to do with this?[/QUOTE] I think he is taking a jab at republicans anti-immigration policy.

Does this take into account people who simply don't want to work? I know of many people abusing SS and disability.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;41628945]We have the same economic problems as the United States[/QUOTE] Just ask the UK for some ching ching, you're apart of the commonwealth

[QUOTE=breakyourfac;41629366]Does this take into account people who simply don't want to work? I know of many people abusing SS and disability.[/QUOTE] Seriously, every year when my family gets together, somebody new is bragging about how they got to quit their job because they got on disability over practically nothing. Another problem I've noticed lately is that many employers are axing full time workers in favor of creating two part time positions. I guess as a means to avoid giving benefits required by Obamacare and other such laws.