by MD » Tue 22 Nov 2011, 11:08:25
It's only startling if you haven't been paying attention to the simple math:
Cheap housing $4000/year
15000 miles driving. $5000/year
Very efficient energy bill $1500 per year.
Oops! You've already used up your $10500 poverty wages for the year! Better skip the car!
Cheap housing $4000.
food, clothing, medical, all else $5000.
Very efficient energy bill $1500.
That's better!
The truth is, we don't have very much real poverty in this country, when measured against the rest of the world. Our "bottom dwellers" eat, enjoy some medical care, almost certainly have a cell phone, have daily access to a computer, very possibly have a car, or access to a ride, a warm bed, air conditioning, clean clothes, and running water.
To find true poverty in America you have to count the homeless, the crack house occupants, rural slums, and downtown mission refugees found in all American cities. The count is still very small, in comparison.
Stop filling dumpsters, as much as you possibly can, and everything will get better.
Just think it through.
It's not hard to do.