Poverty Statistics

[This entry is currently incomplete; please check back in a few days once I've had a chance to complete it]

The issue of poverty is one that tends to be waved off as insignificant. Those at or below poverty level are labeled "lazy" and "leeches"(and those on government assistance are referred to as "animals"). However, this topic is anything but insignificant. Here are some verifiable statistics:

• In 2014, the US poverty rate stood at 46 million people, or 14.8 percent of the population.
• Children living in poverty in 2014 numbered 15.5 million, or 21.1 percent (of all ages under 18).
• The White poverty rate in 2014 was 19.7 million, or 10.1 percent.
• The Black poverty rate in 2014 was 10.8 million, or 26.2 percent.
• The Hispanic poverty rate in 2014 was 13.1 million, or 23.6 percent.
• The Native American poverty rate in 2014 was an astounding 28.3 percent.

Despite popular rhetoric, those who live in poverty and receive government benefits are made up largely of the elderly, the disabled, or those in working households. These groups account for over 90 percent of government benefit recipients. [source: CBPP, 2012] In other words, those who receive "welfare" are not able-bodied persons who just don't feel like working.

The top ten states with the highest poverty rates in the country are almost all states that tend to lean to the right (some more than others). They are:

• Mississippi, 24.1 percent
• New Mexico, 22 percent
• Louisiana, 19.8 percent
• Georgia, 19 percent
• Washington, DC [strongly Democrat], 18.9 percent
• Kentucky, 18.8 percent
• Alabama, 18.7 percent
• Arizona, 18.6 percent
• South Carolina, 18.6 percent
• West Virginia, 18.5 percent

[source: Business Insider; includes additional information]

(this post will be completed over the next few days)

Clarification Post

I want to make it clear that this is not a campaign blog. While I support Bernie Sanders and have a link to his website in my sidebar, that's about the extent of any "advertising" I may do for him. If there is factual data that involves Sanders, it will be mentioned, but again it isn't campaign advertising. I have added the link largely for the convenience of anyone who would like more information on Sanders, what his history is, and what his ideas for the future are. There are a lot of people who still aren't terribly familiar with him, so here's your opportunity to learn. :)

Introduction

Are you American? Are you fed up with America's politics and policies? Are you sick of being the butt of the world's jokes?

I am. So I made a blog.

I don't really anticipate a large audience, but if it happens, all the better. My goal is to get enough factual information out there in order for people to make informed decisions. It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican - we're all on the same sinking ship. With extremists on both sides (though primarily the right), we've been put in to a nosedive that we may not be able to pull up from.

For full disclosure: I am a registered Independent with liberal leanings. I am not an extremist. I am not an uneducated moron. I do not unquestioningly believe everything the media or government puts forth. I support Bernie Sanders. I'm calling for moderates and undecideds of any flavor to pay attention, get the facts, and make some noise.

A lot of us are very quiet when it comes to asserting our beliefs or our desires for how the country needs to be put back together. There are a large number of right-wing extremists who are extremely loud, extremely pushy, and extremely determined to set the country back a few hundred years. The scary part, the part that needs to be put in check, is that they are making headway. They won't stop until we've been stripped of a large number of our freedoms and most of us are living in poverty (some of us already do - I'll give you more about me in a different post). They want to install religion in to our government, yet carry on about how much they support the Constitution - the document the expressly forbids the installation of religion in to our government. They spread lies, hate, disinformation, and propaganda that actually works on a large number of people.

There are plenty of problems on the left as well, so don't go thinking I'm the sort to ignore such issues. Hillary Clinton is a terrible choice for President; she carries too much baggage. Joe Biden is a good guy, but doesn't appear to want to run (for legitimate reasons - at least he can acknowledge that he is currently not fit to serve). That leaves Bernie Sanders, the only candidate not being paid for by major corporations, and the only one - from either side - who gives a hoot about the average person. There are also problems with left-wing extremists who really seem to not actually care about anything - they just want to scream in your face about whatever their topic of choice for the day is. The Black Lives Matter movement so very unfortunately has fallen in to this category of extremists - calls for the actual killing of police and white people do nothing to attract allies and make the whole thing look like just another hate group. It is my wish that civil-minded folks take back control of BLM and get them back on the correct path.

This is just an intro post. I have plenty of material to go deeper in depth with. I just wanted to give people a feel for what's probably going to be going on here. I do not care who or what you are - Republican, Democrat, Christian, Muslim, Athiest, Jew... everyone is welcome. My only request (requirement) is civil debate, using facts, not propaganda (this applies to EVERYONE). Tossing out words like "libtard" automatically discredit anything else you have to say; labeling all Muslims as "terrorists" automatically discredits anything else you have to say; labeling Christians as "Christofascists" automatically discredits anything else you have to say... I'm sure you get the point by now.

Please pass this blog along to anyone you think might be interested. Thanks!