It’s hell to be poor.
What’s worse than being poor? Being impoverished — otherwise known as living in poverty.
The 2010 Census reports 46.2 million Americans are currently living in poverty. In a nation of 312 million people, that means roughly 1 in 6 Americans lives in poverty.
The numbers are up on poverty, rising from 14.3 percent in 2009 to 15.1 percent in 2010.
The Census data also shows there are 49.9 million Americans living without health insurance. Again, roughly 1 in 6.
But what really is poverty? Hell, the government’s definition of poverty could be anyone who can’t afford the payments on their third Escalade. Sadly, this is not the case.
The government defines poverty as a family of four with a collective income of less than or equal to $22,314 per year, or a single person earning less than or equal to $11,139 annually. Unfortunately, I doubt one can afford two Escalades on this salary.
The report elaborates, citing that 27.4 percent of African Americans and 26.6 percent of Hispanics in the United States live in poverty — roughly 1 in 4. Poverty in the South is also higher than any other region of the country at 16.9 percent. Louisiana has the second highest population of poor people, behind Mississippi.
But this is fine — I’m sure every single one of those people who are living in poverty deserve it. It’s because they’re lazy and uneducated, all they do is sit on their asses collecting welfare and unemployment benefits so they can buy more crack.
Sure, let’s pretend all of that is true, even though you’d have to be blatantly ignorant to do so. But what about the children?
The report also states that 22 percent of children live below the poverty line. Do you think they sit back, play hooky and steal their parents’ welfare checks to renew their Xbox LIVE accounts?
Let’s be realistic for a second. Obviously, there will always be those who take advantage of the system. However, do you honestly believe that all of those living below the poverty line — 1 in 6 Americans and 1 in 5 children — really are in that position because they are lazy and are actively trying to milk the taxpayers to fund their drug habits?
If you do, then please come find me. We’ll walk over to mental health services together.
In my opinion, which I tend to favor, this number is far too high for the United States of America. This is the most powerful nation on Earth, the land of opportunity. This is the place where people come from across the globe with the expectation that if they work hard and are devoted to their job that one day, prosperity will find them.
For decades, we’ve marketed ourselves as the land where hard work pays off. I’m surprised Mexico hasn’t sued us for false advertisement yet. In 2008, hard working Americans everywhere got the spiked end of the shaft. These weren’t lazy people, these were hard working individuals just trying to make an honest living for themselves and their families. Now many of those people are among the unfortunate 1 in 6.
While there will always be those out there who do take advantage of the welfare and unemployment system, it is ridiculous and ignorant to think that this completely discredits those programs. Many hardwworking people need these programs. Being perpetually on welfare does not automatically make someone lazy.
My right wing counterparts will argue that welfare is a scam and everybody should take care of themselves. Then later that day, they’ll go to church, be told to love their neighbor as themselves and somehow think this statement doesn’t apply if your neighbor is a waitress with four kids from three different men. Hypocrisy is fun to point out.
Let’s make America credible again. I don’t want to see this country be the pitstop on the way to prosperity in China.
 
Parker Cramer is a 20-year-old political science junior from Houston, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_pcramer.
 
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Contact Parker Cramer at [email protected]