Comments on: Some Thoughts on American Poverty http://www.kipesquire.net/2008/04/some-thoughts-on-american-poverty/ A Stitch in Time Saves Nine ... But Haste Makes Waste Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:02:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: A Stitch in Haste http://www.kipesquire.net/2008/04/some-thoughts-on-american-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-8282 A Stitch in Haste Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:52:19 +0000 http://www.kipesquire.net/?p=4123#comment-8282 [...] Been a “Success”? –The Working Poor, Retirement and Social Security –Some Thoughts on American Poverty addthis_url = [...] [...] Been a "Success"? –The Working Poor, Retirement and Social Security –Some Thoughts on American Poverty addthis_url = [...]

]]> By: Mark http://www.kipesquire.net/2008/04/some-thoughts-on-american-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-6153 Mark Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:45:14 +0000 http://www.kipesquire.net/?p=4123#comment-6153 Not surprisingly, I agree with all your stitches. But I think you missed one or two really important stitches. <br /> First (and most obviously) is the fact that this report does not factor in wealth - only income. As a result, a huge chunk of retirees (who often have no mortgage/rent expenses and who may have a sizable amount of equity to draw from in their home) are included in these numbers. <br /> Also- I didn't have time to find the source of their numbers. But if the source is federal income tax returns, then there is a big problem since income tax returns show only reportable income. Even assuming they use reported gross income rather than net income, there are some forms of income that don't even get included in gross income. <br /> <br /> <i>[Kip replies: Mark, the data source is as I recall a government-sponsored research database using Census Bureau data. They also note that some sources of aid (e.g., housing) are not included in some of their computations.]</i> Not surprisingly, I agree with all your stitches. But I think you missed one or two really important stitches.

First (and most obviously) is the fact that this report does not factor in wealth – only income. As a result, a huge chunk of retirees (who often have no mortgage/rent expenses and who may have a sizable amount of equity to draw from in their home) are included in these numbers.

Also- I didn't have time to find the source of their numbers. But if the source is federal income tax returns, then there is a big problem since income tax returns show only reportable income. Even assuming they use reported gross income rather than net income, there are some forms of income that don't even get included in gross income.

[Kip replies: Mark, the data source is as I recall a government-sponsored research database using Census Bureau data. They also note that some sources of aid (e.g., housing) are not included in some of their computations.]

]]> By: Dave http://www.kipesquire.net/2008/04/some-thoughts-on-american-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-6152 Dave Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:03:31 +0000 http://www.kipesquire.net/?p=4123#comment-6152 I would love for someone to explain to me why the Ward 9 "victims" in New Orleans are "poor" by any sensible definition of the word: they were, to a man, obese, smoking brand-name cigarettes, and decked out in brand name clothes (FUBU, Nike, etc.) Poor people are neither obese nor consumers of brand name cigarettes or clothes. <BR /> <BR />To those who think these people are poor, may I present to you an itinerant Bangladeshi? Or, if Latin America is more your style, perhaps a viewing of the Brazilian movie City of God would right your thinking. <BR /> <BR />There is a difference between relative and absolute poverty: I am poor relative to Bill Gates, as are all Americans, but all Americans are wealthy relative to the absolutely poor. I would love for someone to explain to me why the Ward 9 "victims" in New Orleans are "poor" by any sensible definition of the word: they were, to a man, obese, smoking brand-name cigarettes, and decked out in brand name clothes (FUBU, Nike, etc.) Poor people are neither obese nor consumers of brand name cigarettes or clothes.

To those who think these people are poor, may I present to you an itinerant Bangladeshi? Or, if Latin America is more your style, perhaps a viewing of the Brazilian movie City of God would right your thinking.

There is a difference between relative and absolute poverty: I am poor relative to Bill Gates, as are all Americans, but all Americans are wealthy relative to the absolutely poor.

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