Exclusive: 4 in 5 in US face near-poverty, no work

WernherVonTrapp · 07-28-13, 09:33 AM

This is a bit disconcerting. All those figures that they release periodically about the "jobless rate improving" must be inaccurate.

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 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."

2 Sources:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/217290501.html

http://azdailysun.com/news/national/...7f1dee08f.html

07-28-13, 09:53 AM

Quote:

All those figures that they release periodically about the "jobless rate improving" must be inaccurate.

Not necessarily -people may be finding work, but in insecure jobs, paying low wages. This is nothing new, and merely a reflection of what has happened elsewhere in the world. There is no reason to assume that the U.S. would be immune from the general trend.

August · 07-28-13, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

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

That's kind of a wide net they're casting. My first period of unemployment was in the 1970's. My fathers the 1940's. His fathers the 20's and so on. That doesn't have anything to do with today's problems.

Platapus · 07-28-13, 10:32 AM

Good catch August. That "part of their life" is a big loophole.

You don't think those two sources may have a agenda do you? No that would be wrong.

August · 07-28-13, 11:02 AM

Yeah they have an agenda but the thing is we've increased our population while at the same time we've sent many of our jobs overseas and automated many others out of existence.

It's like adding weight to a platform while simultaneously knocking out it's supports. Eventually the whole thing is going to come crashing down.

Armistead · 07-28-13, 11:37 AM

How they do unemployment numbers is rather silly. Most agree the real number is somewhere between 16-18%.

You would think Obama, the socialist, would see the failure of his programs and spending. Government can't create jobs in a lasting fashion, they can only create an atmosphere for jobs. Seems Obama has done exactly what the GOP has done for years, create an atmosphere where only the elite can get richer, the rest of us poorer.

I am amazed how the cost of everything has increased, yet overall wages have decreased. Only CEO's can claim a 40% increase in wages over the last two years.

America was never prepared for the coming global economy. We passed numerous laws allowing outsourcing of US jobs right before the global economy hit....well planned out and paid for by corporations I expect.

The other scary thing, people living on welfare, food stamps, etc., probably have more income than min. wage jobs, so they don't go looking.
Hard to know the real truth, but many a great mind says we'll face an even worse economic crisis before 2020, one that the govt. won't be able to bail us all out.

Anyway, the only way jobs are coming back is when Americans work for the same pay as those in China or India, building is cheaper, regulations less, taxes lower. If we simply lower taxes, corporations will do as they have in the past when they got a tax holiday, use it to build more plants overseas.

We are falling so far behind overall regarding education, I don't see America leading the world much longer... In reality, as a world power, we had a short run.

Gargamel · 07-28-13, 12:13 PM

Part of it is technology.

What was once considered the only essentials to have (Rent, food, water, electric), is only a portion of what comes out of the monthly income of most families.

Cars, TV, Internet, etc.

Yes, they are not truly essentials, but in todays world, at least where I'm at, you're basically a pariah without these.

Good luck filling out a job application without a internet connection. No ISP? just go grab a public wifi access point. Oh, no laptop? Oh just use a public library! Oh, so you frown upon releasing personal info on an unsecured public terminal? Too bad.

It's 28 miles to your new job. Oh, you can't cover the gas money? Get a better car with better mileage....

And on and on.

These Corporations keep jacking up prices for near essential services with no basis other than greed.

Then education.... For a lot of people, it's either put food on their table for their kids, or pay tuition for school.

Sometimes I believe a purely communist society is the way to go.... then I remember humans would be involved.....

nikimcbee · 07-28-13, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

How they do unemployment numbers is rather silly. Most agree the real number is somewhere between 16-18%.

You would think Obama, the socialist, would see the failure of his programs and spending. Government can't create jobs in a lasting fashion, they can only create an atmosphere for jobs. Seems Obama has done exactly what the GOP has done for years, create an atmosphere where only the elite can get richer, the rest of us poorer.

I am amazed how the cost of everything has increased, yet overall wages have decreased. Only CEO's can claim a 40% increase in wages over the last two years.

America was never prepared for the coming global economy. We passed numerous laws allowing outsourcing of US jobs right before the global economy hit....well planned out and paid for by corporations I expect.

The other scary thing, people living on welfare, food stamps, etc., probably have more income than min. wage jobs, so they don't go looking.
Hard to know the real truth, but many a great mind says we'll face an even worse economic crisis before 2020, one that the govt. won't be able to bail us all out.

Anyway, the only way jobs are coming back is when Americans work for the same pay as those in China or India, building is cheaper, regulations less, taxes lower. If we simply lower taxes, corporations will do as they have in the past when they got a tax holiday, use it to build more plants overseas.

We are falling so far behind overall regarding education, I don't see America leading the world much longer... In reality, as a world power, we had a short run.

Great post!

I blame PCness for killing our schools. (insert cassette tape, hit play) The education system (I think) Should have a max focus on Math/science. I still like the German model for education (as I remember it/understand it) with the different tiers of education. I mean, university prep, trade schools, etc. I feel like US kids are all pushed into a university education, when many of them just take stupid classes and a useless degree for the real world. Then they just drink, party, accrue debt, then drop out and want everybody else to pay for their good time.
All of our engineers at work are Indian or Korean/Chinese. Only 1 US born one in our group.

I think we need to change "Idiocracy" from a comedy to a documentary.

07-28-13, 09:33 AM	#1
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Exclusive: 4 in 5 in US face near-poverty, no work This is a bit disconcerting. All those figures that they release periodically about the "jobless rate improving" must be inaccurate. 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 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." 2 Sources: http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/217290501.html http://azdailysun.com/news/national/...7f1dee08f.html __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

07-28-13, 10:32 AM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,395 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Good catch August. That "part of their life" is a big loophole. You don't think those two sources may have a agenda do you? No that would be wrong. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-28-13, 11:02 AM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,226 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah they have an agenda but the thing is we've increased our population while at the same time we've sent many of our jobs overseas and automated many others out of existence. It's like adding weight to a platform while simultaneously knocking out it's supports. Eventually the whole thing is going to come crashing down. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-28-13, 11:37 AM	#6
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	How they do unemployment numbers is rather silly. Most agree the real number is somewhere between 16-18%. You would think Obama, the socialist, would see the failure of his programs and spending. Government can't create jobs in a lasting fashion, they can only create an atmosphere for jobs. Seems Obama has done exactly what the GOP has done for years, create an atmosphere where only the elite can get richer, the rest of us poorer. I am amazed how the cost of everything has increased, yet overall wages have decreased. Only CEO's can claim a 40% increase in wages over the last two years. America was never prepared for the coming global economy. We passed numerous laws allowing outsourcing of US jobs right before the global economy hit....well planned out and paid for by corporations I expect. The other scary thing, people living on welfare, food stamps, etc., probably have more income than min. wage jobs, so they don't go looking. Hard to know the real truth, but many a great mind says we'll face an even worse economic crisis before 2020, one that the govt. won't be able to bail us all out. Anyway, the only way jobs are coming back is when Americans work for the same pay as those in China or India, building is cheaper, regulations less, taxes lower. If we simply lower taxes, corporations will do as they have in the past when they got a tax holiday, use it to build more plants overseas. We are falling so far behind overall regarding education, I don't see America leading the world much longer... In reality, as a world power, we had a short run. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

07-28-13, 12:13 PM	#7
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Part of it is technology. What was once considered the only essentials to have (Rent, food, water, electric), is only a portion of what comes out of the monthly income of most families. Cars, TV, Internet, etc. Yes, they are not truly essentials, but in todays world, at least where I'm at, you're basically a pariah without these. Good luck filling out a job application without a internet connection. No ISP? just go grab a public wifi access point. Oh, no laptop? Oh just use a public library! Oh, so you frown upon releasing personal info on an unsecured public terminal? Too bad. It's 28 miles to your new job. Oh, you can't cover the gas money? Get a better car with better mileage.... And on and on. These Corporations keep jacking up prices for near essential services with no basis other than greed. Then education.... For a lot of people, it's either put food on their table for their kids, or pay tuition for school. Sometimes I believe a purely communist society is the way to go.... then I remember humans would be involved..... __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.