4 in 5 in USA face near-poverty, no work (Sounds like a depression to me)

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 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% 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."

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mystery on October 19, 2013 at 9:05am

Its sad but true. The economy has been in decline for years (rotting form the inside out) , but until recent years when it reached the middle class was it even a blip on the radar or the concern of record keepers or political parties. It was just accepted their were impoverished, the working poor, the poor, lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, rich, wealthy, the millionaires, then the ones that control all of the a fore mentioned. Now the gap has widened between the different classes of people, so the people are waking up, but what they don't seem to realize this is the way it has always been. We have always been controlled and told when and how to work. Why is only now a emergency? Sad but true.

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Permalink Reply by Frances Farmer on October 19, 2013 at 1:47pm

Its bad. So many are living in cockroach mode. I think since '08 the Fed has been funneling money around to create the illusion of a functioning economy. The idea that we wouldn't be "poor" or struggling if we weren't lazy or were just more motivated keeps us turning disdain and rejection inward. It needs to be turned outward toward the system. We have been raped, as a country. We have been determined valueless as individuals.

Is the prevailing force in life reaping the fruits of our own poor decisions? Can we find the answer to that in each others eyes? The daze of the weak. Economic/Social neo-Darwinism. As important as it is to us that we not be found irrational, stupid, crazy, over-the-top, etc., I argue that we can accept that we are nothing, that the PTB worked hard for every penny they ever made and every other bullshit thought control they've placed on us and still arrive at (either in spite of that reality or because of it) the conclusion that if we do nothing else- we're going to fuck some shit up. Why? Because fuck you, thats why.
I was going to post this a few days ago, but thought ... better of it. But because you were brave Tara, I will be too. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/07/britney-spears...

I would only add that "work" is defined as what you get paid to do, as opposed to what you contribute to the collective.