Poverty in America Part 2: What is Poverty?

What is the definition of poverty in America? Well, according to the Federal Government, a family of four that earns less than $22,050 is listed as living in poverty. That is a guideline. But what is the definition? For most Americans, the term "poverty" means destitution--the inability to meet a family's needs for food, shelter, healthcare, education, etc.

But what is the reality of "American Poor" relative to the guidelines put out by the Government and the definition most Americans think of when they are questioned about poverty. You may be surprised by the answers. We will provide some quantitative figures on the status of "poor" Americans in the next part of this series, but for now let me leave you with one little tidbit to chew on:

From the Department of of Labor we find that in 2001,expenditures per person for the lowest-income 20% of people in America equaled the expenditures per person at the median-income level in 1973, adjusted for inflation.

What that means is in a span of about 25 years, entitlements and transfer payments, which is really redistribution of income, brought the expenditures of the lowest 20% income-level persons of 2001 to the level where the median income used to be.

Or, in fewer words, our "poor" are pretty much at the median level of income as defined in 1973.

And in even fewer words: do we really have any poor?

See here for Part 1.