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September 13, 2011 in Nation/World
Census: U.S. poverty rate swells to nearly 1 in 6
WASHINGTON — The ranks of the nation’s poor swelled to nearly 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment woes left millions of Americans struggling and out of work. The number of uninsured edged up to 49.9 million, the biggest in over two decades.
The Census Bureau’s annual report released today offers a snapshot of the economic well-being of U.S. households for 2010, when joblessness hovered above 9 percent for a second year. It comes at a politically sensitive time for President Barack Obama, who has acknowledged in the midst of a re-election fight that the unemployment rate could persist at high levels through next year.
The overall poverty rate climbed to 15.1 percent, or 46.2 million, up from 14.3 percent in 2009.
Reflecting the lingering impact of the recession, the U.S. poverty rate from 2007-2010 has now risen faster than any three-year period since the early 1980s, when a crippling energy crisis amid government cutbacks contributed to inflation, spiraling interest rates and unemployment.
Measured by total numbers, the 46 million now living in poverty is the largest on record dating back to when the census began tracking poverty in 1959. Based on percentages, it tied the poverty level in 1993 and was the highest since 1983.
Broken down by state, Mississippi had the highest share of poor people, at 22.7 percent, according to rough calculations by the Census Bureau. It was followed by Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona. On the other end of the scale, New Hampshire had the lowest share, at 6.6 percent.
The share of Americans without health coverage rose from 16.1 percent to 16.3 percent — or 49.9 million people — after the Census Bureau made revisions to numbers of the uninsured. That is due mostly because of continued losses of employer-provided health insurance in the weakened economy.
Congress passed a health overhaul last year to address rising numbers of the uninsured. While the main provisions don’t take effect until 2014, one aspect taking effect in late 2010 allowed young adults 26 and younger to be covered under their parents’ health insurance.
Brett O’Hara, chief of the Health and Disability Statistics branch at the Census Bureau, noted that the uninsured rate declined — from 29.3 percent to 27.2 percent — for adults ages 18 to 24 compared to some other age groups.
The median — or midpoint — household income was $49,445, down 2.3 percent from 2009.
Bruce Meyer, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, cautioned that the worst may yet to come in poverty levels, citing in part continued rising demand for food stamps this year as well as “staggeringly high” numbers in those unemployed for more than 26 weeks. He noted that more than 6 million people now represent the so-called long-term unemployed, who are more likely to fall into poverty, accounting for than two out of five currently out of work.
Other census findings:
—Poverty rose among all race and ethnic groups except Asians. The number of Hispanics in poverty increased from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent; for blacks it increased from 25.8 percent to 27.4 percent, and Asians it was flat at 12.1 percent. The number of whites in poverty rose from 9.4 percent to 9.9 percent.
—Child poverty rose from 20.7 percent to 22 percent.
—Poverty among people 65 and older was statistically unchanged at 9 percent, after hitting a record low of 8.9 percent in 2009.
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Stocks plummet as outlook in Europe dims 
fishinjay on September 13 at 8:42 a.m.
A ridiculously slim percentage of our nation owns the vast majority of our nation’s wealth. With that wealth they can entice our elected officials to pander to them with beneficial policies and laws, because they need the campaign donations from the only people who can afford to give.
There’s only so much wealth to go around. Do you really think those that have hoarded it all are interested in letting even a tiny bit of it go? The gap between the filthy rich and the average citizen isn’t going to get any smaller. The smart money is on that gap getting wider and wider.
Scoutster on September 13 at 9:03 a.m.
There is nothing here that more tax breaks to the very wealthy won’t fix.
The_Seer on September 13 at 9:10 a.m.
What else can we really expect? To the Rand devotee, Social Darwinist crowd, if you are poor it’s because you deserve to be poor.
ManleyPointer on September 13 at 9:11 a.m.
One would think, with an average annual government welfare expenditure in the range of $15-17K per poor person in this country, that the War on Poverty would be over, and that Poverty would have lost. Clearly this is not the case. The economy in this country continues to atrophy and the number of poor people is increasing. Instead of using this sorry state of affairs as an opportunity to bash the “filthy rich,” how about we discuss how we’re going to improve the overall economy in this country, so the situation in this country improves for everybody, including the poor? This would seem to be a better use of our time and energy than simply demonizing the “filthy rich” and whining about how downtrodden the fishinjays of this world are.
I believe, unlike fishinjay and his (or her) ilk, that economies do not present zero-sum scenarios. I think that economies, if properly motivated and enabled, can actually CREATE wealth and that everyone who chooses to participate in this process can see their own wealth increase. But we don’t get there by attacking the “filthy rich” and blaming other people; we get there by common sense and hard work.
monkeyman on September 13 at 9:35 a.m.
Soon Americans will be crossing (even more) into Canada for healthcare. Perhaps Canada is planning to erect a wall?!
BTW, what is the definition of poor?
fishinjay on September 13 at 9:38 a.m.
You’re right, we’re creating more wealth, but the money isn’t going to the average folks. It’s simply increasing the wealth of those who are already wealthy, as evidenced by the increasing number of poor.
Nothing in my comment is “woe is me,” or intended to bash the filthy rich. If I had their money I would look after my own interests too. But the fact is the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger, and the middle class is shrinking. Until we can change our system to allow the majority of individuals to influence our political systems, instead of the majority of wealth, then we’re going to continue this trend.
Instead of baseless personal attacks you could try staying on topic instead of “trolling.”
Marksman on September 13 at 9:44 a.m.
Hey Hope and Change gang; your Prez and his policies have in 3 years destroyed any gains made by the bottom third from Clinton through Dubyah! Better change that from Yes we can to No you can’t!
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on September 13 at 9:46 a.m.
monkeyman – from today’s NY Times article on this subject:
“The poverty line in 2010 was at $22,113 for a family of four. ”
Odd that the information doesn’t seem to be included in this (AP) article.
ManleyPointer on September 13 at 10:31 a.m.
Sheesh, don’t be so sensitive, ‘jay. There was nothing in what I wrote that was either baseless OR personal. My comment was directed toward the thinking of those who prefer to blame others for their economic woes and the existence of poverty in this nation, rather than try to do anything about it. Clearly you took the position in your remark/s that the problem in this country is the rich and their selfish ways, and you DID state that there’s “only so much wealth to go around” and that rich people are “hoarding” it instead of giving it away.
Just because I disagree with some of your assumptions and opinions doesn’t make me a troll.
mikeln on September 13 at 10:39 a.m.
It is wealth that buys corrupt polititians and it is corrupt polititians that pass the laws the wealthy’s lobbiests write for them. These elected officials are the ones that should be writing the laws, laws that benifit everyone, not just the few. The one job elected officials have is done by others, why are we paying them? Every american could be employed making enough to pay the bills the so-called job creators say we are responsible for, like overpriced energy costs, overpriced health insurance and other bills the private sector should not be in control of. It was corrupt officials that gave the few control over what belongs to all of us and now they have made it impossible to elect people that have the best interest of the american people in mind. Untill we find a way to take this control back, we will continue our slide into facism. Stock up, it’s going to be a long winter.
Diana on September 13 at 11:02 a.m.
Hey Marxman, please cite your source on your assertion that our “Prez and his policies have in 3 years destroyed any gains made by the bottom third from Clinton through Dubyah!”
Please be specific. Thanks
SpokaneLiberal on September 13 at 11:45 a.m.
MP
We don’t spend 3/4 of a trillion on “welfare” since the entire discretionary budget is 660 billion.
And the reason we spend so much per poor person is because of the cost of making sure their aren’t “cheats.” The cost to verify that everyone who applies for TANF is eligible, then make them do all the things they are suppose to do, and then kick them off exceeds the cost of allowing fraud to exist. But most of the onerous regulations that we now have to hire people to implement are backed by republicans.
SpokaneLiberal on September 13 at 11:46 a.m.
Stewart puts it all into perspective
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-18-2011/world-of-class-warfare–the-poor-s-free-ride-is-over?xrs=share_fb
Hiker on September 13 at 12:02 p.m.
Poverty for Americans age 18 to 64 is at a record high: at 13.7 percent. It’s highest poverty rate for this age group that the Census has on record since 1959.
All of the reductions in child poverty in the 1990s have been erased in the last 10 years.
By contrast, the poverty rate for seniors is at a record low: in 2009, it was at 8.9 percent, and it’s remained essentially flat since then.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-great-recession-in-five-charts/2011/09/13/gIQANuPoPK_blog.html
Why? Seniors have an effective social safety net with Social Security and Medicare. The rest of the country doesn’t.
How can a country with 22% of its children living in poverty expect to be successful in the future?
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on September 13 at 12:09 p.m.
^^^ most bootstraps are now made in China ^^^
BlondeSquawker on September 13 at 12:20 p.m.
Clearly Bush, Cheney and the terrorists have won. : (((
SMARTGUY on September 13 at 12:21 p.m.
I agree if you are poor it is because you are unmotivated. So go rob a rich person and take their money.
Scoutster on September 13 at 12:40 p.m.
SMARTGUY..
Yup, that’s what happens throughout human history when the haves have too much and the have nots, regardless of effort or work ethic, are unable to climb.
See Greece, London/Manchester, Spain. Coming soon to us.
Dazzeetrader11 on September 13 at 12:56 p.m.
“Hey Marxman, please cite your source on your assertion that our “Prez and his policies have in 3 years destroyed any gains made by the bottom third from Clinton through Dubyah!” Says the chubs.
Look around you fake nurse. This has all happened and worsened with Obama. No need for a link or reference. Read the abover article. Thats you reference. The article itself spells it our or you can move your lil chubby fingers to do the google site and do it yourself. Reference poverty during the years of each pres ( just a hint for you).
misjustice on September 13 at 1:04 p.m.
I, for one, am not amused.
These poor people are just plain lazy, obviously too lazy to pick themselves up by their stinky boot straps and get a job. What are doin’ tryin’ to make us look bad?
Where’s my (bigger) tax cut?
detroitdude on September 13 at 1:12 p.m.
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/11/7/129021008687645509.jpg
ManleyPointer on September 13 at 4:46 p.m.
I’m not saying the poor are lazy. I am saying that the focus should be less on taking money away from rich people, and more on improving the overall economy.
And I respectfully decline the invitation to get “perspective” from watching Jon Stewart………..
misjustice on September 13 at 6:16 p.m.
Well, I’m sayin’ it, the poor are lazy. And they smell funny, too; they reek of public education.
They are stayin’ poor on purpose, just to make the USA look bad.
That and it’s a (good) way of life. Everyone else pays for their big screen teevees, their Cadillacs, their pool boys, and their iPhones, while they sit home and collect their unemployment, TANF, food stamps, heat assistance, rent assistance, phone assistance, WIC, free medical care, and home deliveries from the food bank. For the poor, livin’ is easy.
I’m tired; I’m tired because I am working 12-16 hour days, for weeks in a row, with no time off, just to pay the taxes to keep these poor, smelly people in the style to which they have become accustomed.
Are there no prisions? No work houses? SOMEBODY MAKE THEM GO AWAY!
Where’s my (bigger) tax cut?
SpokaneLiberal on September 13 at 8:06 p.m.
Yeah MP I know you wouldn’t want to broaden your horizons, listen to another point, or actually have some facts pointed out.
Stewart wins the day.
Very few of those on UI want to continue on UI. Some may think a job is beneath them, some don’t have the skills but almost no jobs in Spokane are going unfilled. I know of an couple of entry level 24K a year benefited positions that posted recently. One received nearly a thousand applications because they posted the bar so low (no experience or degree required according to the posting). They got wise with the second, almost identical position and made it 2 years experience and a BA and still got almost 250 apps. There are not enough jobs period.
DickAdams on September 13 at 8:06 p.m.
MisJ, you make being poor and unemployed, sound pretty good. I wonder how I can get their excellent benefits these lazy critters receive. I`d pay a nominal fee too.