Poverty Stats Going In Wrong Direction
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G eorge Cleveland, Republican state representative from Onslow County, made headlines last March when he declared, during a legislative hearing: "We have nobody in the state of North Carolina living in extreme poverty."
Anyone disagreeing, Cleveland declared, was just being led astray by "a government agency perpetuating a poverty class." All that came as quite a surprise, no doubt, to the hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians who were, indeed, living in poverty. The story even provided late-night TV comics with material at the national level.
We imagine that Cleveland has since had occasion to regret his words. We hope he and others will not seek similar reasons to explain away the latest predictions from economists, who say they expect that poverty levels here and elsewhere are heading for their highest levels since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty first kicked in.
It's Getting Worse
Cleveland may have been thinking that there was no longer any excuse for anyone to remain grindingly poor in this day when there are so many well-intentioned programs out there to help them. There might possibly have been an element of truth to that at one point. But we are living at a time when a great many such programs have been left in tatters because of our dire current economic straits.
Last year, some 47 million Americans - nearly one in six - were officially classified as living in poverty. Whether that qualifies as "extreme" poverty or not, it is still a national disgrace.
Now comes a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which casts the picture in even starker terms - especially for the nation's children, most of whom have little or no reason to be aware of whatever programs may still exist to help them.
In the decade between 2000 and 2010, the study found, poverty among the young jumped by nearly one-third, hitting 22 percent. And experts expect that this number, already far ahead of the 15.1 percent overall poverty rate, has soared even higher in the past couple of years.
Can't Sweep It Under the Rug
It should come as no big surprise - except perhaps to Rep. Cleveland - that the numbers for North Carolina are even more discouraging than the national ones. Our overall poverty rate for 2010 was 17.8 percent. And the rate for children was a mind-boggling 25 percent, meaning that one in every four North Carolina children grows up in an environment of deprivation. The rest of us should not be able to sleep well knowing that.
Such statistics can be especially hard to grasp for someone going about his daily life in a county such as Moore, where the image - and often the reality of daily life - is one of "a lot of rich people playing golf," as a vice president of AAA of the Carolinas famously commented to a Pilot reporter on the subject of why gasoline prices tend to be higher here.
But one doesn't have to go very far off the beaten cart path, even here, to find alarming levels of "hidden poverty." The problem is even more severe in other parts of the state, and it's only getting worse.
This may not be the kind of truth that many of those now in charge of our state legislature like to hear, but it's not going away.
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Comments
The_AnonymusProfit 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Ok here is a pointed question, and putting the children aside,( I dont think there is a person in this county who would not do anything they could to feed, cloth, etc a child) So putting that aspect aside, how many of the poverty stricken people are actually willing to work to bring themselves out of poverty? You may think this is a harsh question, but I would really like an answer, recently a person in my church who has been out of work for sometime and has children came to my attention. I was pleased that I was able to offer him employment.
Instead of relishing the chance for gainful employment however all I have heard is complaints, I have seen little to no work ethic etc etc.
So again my question is how many are willing to actually work?
Also please define poverty. My definition of poverty is cleaning clothes in a river that doubles as a toilet and a source of drinking and cooking water,(africa) my definition of poverty is eating cakes made of mud (hatii) my definition of poverty is etc etc.
emb6683 9 months, 4 weeks ago
If you really want to see poverty, specifically 'extreme poverty' visit some of the hell-holes in Africa or South Asia.
How many of the 47 million Americans that are classified as living in poverty have a television? cable? satellite? cell phone? car? How many spend their below-poverty-level money on smokes or beer? or drugs?
Bentpan 9 months, 4 weeks ago
The definition of real poverty seems to be the issue, I'm certain Rep. Clevelands idea of extreem poverty is no home, no food, no where to go, and he's right we as a society have ample safety nets in place. Noone need go hungry or in need of shelter or clothing. But this system is being wildly abused, go to any goverment supplied project housing and you'll find a pletora of late model cars with expensive custom accessorys, cable tv hooked up in most units many to large flat panel TVs, So instead of attacking a messenger of truth Pilot staff, how about an expose' of the abuses of the system and the apparent blindness of those administering it, You can start with the projects across from the armory on Morganton, The one where all drive exits save one have been blocked and a chain link fence surrounds it to allow police better control.Where weapon discharges can be heard most nights. Where many if not most have been there for years, after all they have little incentive to give up their free ride through life, thats your democrat supported poverty.
The_AnonymusProfit 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Amen BentPan!
JD 9 months, 4 weeks ago
To me poverty is needing $1200 a month for rent, food, power and water and only making $900-$1000. It doesn't seem that bad but for those constantly being behind in payments I am sure it is stressful. If you you get sick and have to wonder which bill can I put off because any spare money on the paycheck is spent before even putting it in the bank.
Yes I know some do not have personal fiscal responsibility, but for those that do and still live on the margins I am glad there are organizations like Friend to Friend and Back Pack Pals along with other charities to assist.
Toda 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Moore County has Invisible Fences: Municipal Underbounding in Southern Moore County.
The_AnonymusProfit 9 months, 4 weeks ago
JD i would agree with your statement, and that is why we have private enterprises that assist those in need, however saying that we have abject poverty like what is found in places like somalia, rawanda, uganda, ethiopia, etc etc is just not true.
Toda you are correct that we have invisible fences in moore county. I think this is the first time we have agreed on anything. I remember an article awhile back of some woman mad because her daughter got shouted at by some teens at the basketball court.
I have noticed that more and more teens are coming to the basketball courts in downtown sp every day. I am very happy that this is happening. Maybe one day well get over ourselves and stop seeing minorities as minorities and just as people, but this will require minorites to do the same.
JD 9 months, 4 weeks ago
however saying that we have abject poverty
Never did. Just worried for those under the radar. Somalia is something else all together.
Bflat 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Every County has an income scale that determines Low Income. Anything under that is considered poverty, though the media doesn't usually publish those figures. Yes, we do have people living in poverty in our county. There are hardworking people barely scraping by that proudly do their jobs.
On the other side of the coin are the "needy" people who are signed up or recommended for the freebies at Thanksgiving and Christmas . When deliveries are made , there were plenty with the cable TV, cell phone, plush furniture, nice cars and plenty of toys that the persons delivering couldn't afford. That means that something needs to be done about that system.
The_AnonymusProfit 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Not saying you did JD was commenting then on the article.
Thatcher 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Many good points made here. There is a homeless problem in Moore County, most often (from what I've seen) involving single mothers and their children. I would humbly urge anyone who has an interest to support Family Promise. My church is a host congregation. http://www.familypromiseofmoorecounty.org/index-3.html. We (as well as all the other churches listed) provide food, shelter, fellowship, and safety for these folks, while they work to get back on their feet. And most get back on their feet. Volunteers from each church do the cooking, and provide beds and safety for these folks... sleeping in the church...then another church takes over doing the same thing, etc. Please consider supporting us and Family Promise. Thanks. Cheers!
Thatcher 9 months, 4 weeks ago
And these kids are so sweet, and so innocent. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the choices made by their parents, these are sweet, innocent kids.They will ask you the same types of questions your own kids did years ago...in the same, sweet way. Regardless of your politics, you can show them respect, understanding, guidance and love. Please give it some thought. Cheers!