"The poverty rate has risen from a recent low of 11.3 percent in 2000, meaning an additional 4.3 million people are living in poverty as defined by the government."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5829707/

Not to mention, Record Crude oil prices, record Deficit, Record Trade Deficit.....

 

I'm 4 years older and richer than before. Plus, I have a shiney new F-150 sitting in my driveway. Interest rates are low, inflation stable, and the home market is out of control. I have a stable job and have monthly call from recruiters offering me even more money. I'm gettin' fat check back from the IRS and my property value is 50k higher than when I bought the place. Gimme 4 more years of this and I'm in heaven.

 

I wonder of the ADDITIONAL 4.3 million NOW in poverty think so.....

It's sad though, Clinton left Bush with a Record LOW poverty rate in 2000 and a 3.8 unemployment rate to our now 5.5. All those jobs lost, 4.3 million NEW poor people since 2000, 800,000 New poor KIDS since just LAST year, and 5 million MORE uninsured people.

I'm sure Bush's "Base" is doing a lot better though...

I guess we need to cut the taxes for the Rich even more to get these people out of poverty... That seems to be working really well...

Bush's "Base" Video

 

There is always poverty. boo-hoo. My life rocks, its only getting better, and I don't see any problems around me. Why would I want some other nut in office? The .com ecomony blew up. Sheet happens. Economic swings happen. Each time it does, things get better. After the cluster f**k of the Clinton years things blew up. Now we are finally returning with the economic upswing. This time, with more regulations to stop the crap that caused the crash to begin with.

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=234

 

Let's be clear about the term poverty. It doesn't always mean someone is living in the gutter, barely alive because they have 4 kids and only have a McDonald's income to live on. I have known and still know people that would qualify for the poverty label (officially), yet they have cable TV, or satelittle, broadband internet, etc, etc. My mom used to take me to the public housing area here in the Cincinnati area, where she had a friend. I've seen plenty of examples of people throwing away any dime they're given. If you want a good example of what poverty really is, go to Africa and look around. I even have some family members that would be able to get the poverty label officially slapped on their forehead. Poverty sure ain't what it used to be.

Having said that, I honestly feel for those that DO bust their butt and have a hard time making ends meet. If you want another good example of poverty, drive down to the mountains of KY where my wife's grandparents grew up and you'll still see people with nothing. Irony is, many of them don't know they're living in poverty...they actually enjoy the simple life for the most part. Raising their own food, etc. Poverty in the urban areas these days usually means you can't afford ALL the cable movie channels...can't get the proper brand of smokes, etc. Crpa like that.

And please don't anyone lecture me about how I've got a lot and I don't need to be busting the little man's chops. I started out with nothing. I have no college because my parents couldn't afford it. I joined the Army to get my start. I had a used bicycle as a Christmas present...hand-me-down clothes..etc. Personally, I'm proud of where I am now, just because I know I earned it all by working hard for it. I could go on and on about people in my family who've had the same opportunities that I have had and yet they're throwing away every chance at success they get. Why?...who knows. That guy Kwame on The Apprentice said it best...America has the greatest access to opportunity than anywhere else. It's what you do with your endless opportunities that makes the difference. I made the decision to make my life better.

 

How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty
http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/povdef.html

 

5.5% unemployment is historically considered low, so it's a bit disengenuous to imply that it is anything but. It's not as low as 3.8%, but that was quite unusual, as the dot-com era ushered-in the largest creation of wealth this planet has ever seen.

And dont even think about crediting Clinton with that, as it is common knowledge that AL GORE invented the internet

Talk to any recruiter now - I know a lot of them because a girl I date is a recuruiter at a large recruiting firm - and they'll tell you that they are SWAMPED with job openings.

BTW - I make more money than I ever have. And I attribute that to NO political party, only hard work because I bust my **** day-in, day-out.

You can take any stat out of context and spin it any way you want. Look at the whole picture, then decide for yourself.

 

The economy was starting to turn down while Clinton's term was ending. 9-11-01 would have further hurt regardless of who was in the oval office.

While your facts are true, they are misleading. Like any survey, you can the results to prove anything out of context. I can do the same thing:

My gross income is 50% more now than in 2000.

 

So the NEW 800 Thousand Kids that just dropped into Poverty just aren't working hard enough but probably have cable TV and high speed internet?

So under Bush, 4.3 million just lost motivation to succeed, and That's why they're Poor now? But somehow under Clinton 4.3 million were willing to work harder????

I'm not going to go up to one of these guys who lost his manufacturing job and Health care for him and his family and just became officially Poor and tell him "ahhh, You're not poor, Untill you're all anorexic and have flys all over you, Then you'll know what Poor is.."

 

Umm, substitute driveway with garage and I couldn't have said it better.


Hmm lets see, .com came crashing down.
Other countries are using more oil, supply and demand takes over.
9/11.

I'd say were doing pretty d@mn good coming from what has happened.

 

Hmm lets see, .com came crashing down.
Other countries are using more oil, supply and demand takes over.
9/11.
Bush elected President

I'd say were doing pretty d@mn good coming from what has happened.

 

BHibbs

MAINTAIN 65MPH IN THE SPIN ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please stop spinning the recession that Clinton handed over to President Bush in 2000. Please stop spinning the disastrous national security Clinton handed over to President Bush that made it possible for the 911 attack.

Those two issues, that Clinton had full responsibility for while President is what led to this whining about the economy you are doing now. 911 is not the fault of President Bush, nor was the failing economy that Clinton handed over from years of raising taxes.

We are MUCH BETTER off today then we would have been had Algore been President. Unemployment would be more then double had Algore been President because he wanted to raise taxes on EVERYONE if he had become President. You can damn well bet we most likely would have had a few more 911 had Algore been President because he was as weak on national security as his boss Clinton was.

The question, the REAL question should be:

”Are you better off today then you would have been had Clinton remained in office or if Algore got elected to office?”

Then the honest answer would be YES WE ARE BETTER OFF TODAY because President Bush is in office…

You liberals are just going nuts now aren’t you? It’s them swift boat guys coming out with the truth about your traitor war criminal hero LMMFAO….

Oh, oil prices are high because the world economy is doing much, much better then it ever was while Clinton was in office. China's import of oil have risen more then 40% since just a few years ago. Search the web and you shall find the truth...

 

Hong Kong, Chinese poverty...



Ethiopia, African poverty...



American poverty...

 

We have very, very FEW poor people in America. As a matter of fact America has the world’s RICHEST poor people and that is a fact…

If you own a car and a TV you are NOT poor…

 

Lets see.....

I have not gotten a raise in 4 years.

Im still employed, and the company has hired 2 additional people within the past 2 months.

Im in the manufacturing sector, and business has increased towfold within the past year.

4 years ago business was flat, big layoffs, hanging on by a shoestring.

Guess my answer after weighing all the factors is yes.