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[teruterubozu]

The findings come as President Barack Obama tries to renew his administration's emphasis on the economy, saying in recent speeches that his highest priority is to "rebuild ladders of opportunity" and reverse income inequality.

YES! Finally!


Yeah right.

 

[entremet]

When the American worker became less important than the American corporation, this is what you get.

 

[jchap]

So any period of unemployment in 40 years or at any point making only 150% of the poverty line. All I can say to that is no shit 4/5 have been in that situation.

 

[Alastor]

So , there's equality... in being poor. Everyone can be poor!

 

[Newline]

Still can't believe the disparity between pay within organizations in the USA. That shit really needs to be sorted out.

 

[Jack_AG]

Actually, I believe a majority of Americans even to this day place a majority of blame on Bush for the economy than Obama.

Bush was a huge problem but so is Obama. Its been almost 5 years and the only thing he managed was a gov't takeover of 1/6th of the economy :/

Bush may have started it but our current President hasn't done much to fix it. He owns it now and he can't get away from it. Its a fucked up position to be in but he didn't give a shit his first term.

 

[DragonSworne]

"Poverty is no longer an issue of 'them', it's an issue of 'us'," says Mark Rank, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis who calculated the numbers. "Only when poverty is thought of as a mainstream event, rather than a fringe experience that just affects blacks and Hispanics, can we really begin to build broader support for programs that lift people in need."

Did anyone else find this qoute distrubing?

Bush was a huge problem but so is Obama. Its been almost 5 years and the only thing he managed was a gov't takeover of 1/6th of the economy :/

Bush may have started it but our current President hasn't done much to fix it. He owns it now and he can't get away from it. Its a fucked up position to be in but he didn't give a shit his first term.

Can't do much when Congress is actively trying to destroy his presidency and America at the same time.

 

[Megalosaro]

It is interesting to think about how this works across society. Considering one's self middle-class is ingrained in American thought, even if it's not really true. It's a pretty unhealthy mentality that makes it easier to label "poor" people as some other, even when in reality it applies to one's own circumstances.

The truth is that class isn't just about financial assets. There is most certainly a relationship, but it's not dependent. Class is more about social mobility and other factors than it is hard income.

 

[ThisWreckage]

Actually, I believe a majority of Americans even to this day place a majority of blame on Bush for the economy than Obama.

No, there's plenty of blame to go around. This year has been a clusterfuck for Obama. The only thing keeping the economy out of the spotlight is the many scandals surrounding him this year.

 

[jason10mm]

This article seems deliberately inflammatory and misleading. Are they counting me because I filed 1040EZs while in college/grad school that were clearly within 150% of the poverty line? Or if I take 6 months off between jobs, while living off of savings set aside for that purpose? Given the number of folks going to college these days it seems like it would totally skew this statistic to the point of meaninglessness.

 

[gutter_trash]

Meh, Canada is closer and devoid of satan's spawn.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I guess everyone still forgets that Reagan was president and had a Democrat-controlled House and Senate for the majority of his terms. The same mindless twats that whine because an inept Republican controlled House is 'sabotaging' Obama.

No point in nuanced discussion, we got some tired-ass memes to spam.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

I guess everyone still forgets that Reagan was president and had a Democrat-controlled House and Senate for the majority of his terms. The same mindless twats that whine because a Republican controlled House is 'sabotaging' Obama.

No point in nuanced discussion, we got some tired-ass memes to spam.

The democrats were actually trying to work with Reagan, just as republicans were working with Clinton. Now we have a house full of republicans who let it be known on day one their goal was to make Obama a one term president. You can't do much when one side will flat out reject anything you want to do even when what you propose are their own policies! Then you have these tea party clowns whose only job is to say no to everything.

 

[pje122]

So any period of unemployment in 40 years or at any point making only 150% of the poverty line. All I can say to that is no shit 4/5 have been in that situation.

Exactly. But what a thread title it makes!

And they have the nerve to depict blacks as welfare queens and moochers. When will Americans stop voting against their interests, unite under class lines, and stop seeing poor minorities as their enemies?

Here's a hint: This article doesn't actually mean what you want it to mean...

 

[The Technomancer]

Bush was a huge problem but so is Obama. Its been almost 5 years and the only thing he managed was a gov't takeover of 1/6th of the economy :/

Bush may have started it but our current President hasn't done much to fix it. He owns it now and he can't get away from it. Its a fucked up position to be in but he didn't give a shit his first term.

Have...you paid attention to the fact that Obama literally cannot pass a single thing through congress? Literally. He can't do anything. He's been resorting to using executive orders on stuff like education because legislation is impossible.

 

[The Elite]

This is a thoroughly depressing read on a Monday morning.

 

[Feroce2]

Have...you paid attention to the fact that Obama literally cannot pass a single thing through congress? Literally. He can't do anything. He's been resorting to using executive orders on stuff like education because legislation is impossible.

Sorry, but Obama abusing the notion of executive orders doesn't make him any better.

 

[Mr. B Natural]

The luddites were right. Took a while to see the vision come to fruition.

 

[T'Zariah]

Sorry, but Obama abusing the notion of executive orders doesn't make him any better.

Yeah! How DARE he use powers explicitly authorized in the Constitution!

The fiend!

 

[Mr. B Natural]

Have...you paid attention to the fact that Obama literally cannot pass a single thing through congress? Literally. He can't do anything. He's been resorting to using executive orders on stuff like education because legislation is impossible.

What is he trying to pass to make this situation any better?
Education is not the issue here. You should be able to make a decent living doing anything productive in society. The notion that you need to reach the top of the education chain to survive or thrive is part of the problem, not the solution. We, as the middle and lower class, need to stop looking down upon ourselves, and that includes the white collar vs blue collar bullshit.

 

[tokkun]

I am the only one who kind of wishes the figure were 5/5?

I think a brief encounter with poverty might do some people good in terms of their view of the world.

 

[Feroce2]

Yeah! How DARE he use powers explicitly authorized in the Constitution!

The fiend!

Not quite, there is no actual provision in the Constitution stating that a president is explicitly granted the power of an 'executive order'. Also, Obama seizing the potential to control all communications via an executive order isn't an abuse of power?

Obama overriding the wishes of Congress via executive order does not make for a balanced government. If he wants something to pass, negotiating is better, but the concept of 'for the greater good' is too much of a slippery slope.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

This can't be right. That means statistically I should know more people in poverty.

I only know one.

I knew things were that bad but damn...

 

[ToxicAdam]

This can't be right. That means statistically I should know more people in poverty.

I only know one.

I knew things were that bad but damn...

I don't find it terribly surprising. Most people have had to live through 3-4 recessions now, 2 of which (1983, 2008) were incredibly disruptive.

 

[TheRagnCajun]

So although I agree the US has a poverty problem, I don't really know how usefull this statistic is. Most people struggle with joblessness or poverty at least once in their life.

 

[Miletius]

This article seems deliberately inflammatory and misleading. Are they counting me because I filed 1040EZs while in college/grad school that were clearly within 150% of the poverty line? Or if I take 6 months off between jobs, while living off of savings set aside for that purpose? Given the number of folks going to college these days it seems like it would totally skew this statistic to the point of meaninglessness.

While your reasoning is correct I don't think that obscures the statistic to meaninglessness. College is incredibly disruptive to a persons lifestyle and if they can't rely on help from their parents (a more common thing now than before) then they fall into poverty for all intents and purposes. They adopt a poor lifestyle, even if only for a few years until they graduate and move on to a better life.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

This article seems deliberately inflammatory and misleading. Are they counting me because I filed 1040EZs while in college/grad school that were clearly within 150% of the poverty line? Or if I take 6 months off between jobs, while living off of savings set aside for that purpose? Given the number of folks going to college these days it seems like it would totally skew this statistic to the point of meaninglessness.

Oh ok. Was about to say...

I never considered my periods of unemployment as poverty.

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Remember kids, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything, including getting a better job!

 

[Captain Tuttle]

and the dumb-ass, ignorant, and apathetic masses will continue to let themselves get fucked in the ass by the government and corporations. not much we can do.

"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

Not sure if it was Steinbeck or not, good quote though and it gets to the heart of the matter.

 

[slit]

So at what point is the American public going to do something or are they still too busy updating their Facebook status?

 

[CharlieDigital]

4 out of 5 Americans are lazy fucks.

Strongly disagree.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans that shipped manufacturing jobs overseas to China.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans that willingly hire workers without papers and pay them under the table.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans who increased their own pay while increasingly putting downward pressure on employee pay.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans who decided to cut employee benefits for the sake of shareholder benefit.

 

[Mighty Chin]

Page 2: Where the Stupid make their points.

 

[slit]

Strongly disagree.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans that shipped manufacturing jobs overseas to China.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans that willingly hire workers without papers and pay them under the table.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans who increased their own pay while increasingly putting downward pressure on employee pay.

It wasn't these 4 out of 5 Americans who decided to cut employee benefits for the sake of shareholder benefit.

I don't think he was being serious.

 

[Deleted member 13876]

"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

Thought that quote was much more recent. Interesting.

 

[T'Zariah]

So basically America is holding America back.

 

[ThisWreckage]

So at what point is the American public going to do something or are they still too busy updating their Facebook status?

I touched on that earlier in this thread. People won't revolt until things have already completely collapsed. As long as people are occupied with their smart phones and always-connected-lives they're not going to do anything. The Internet is one of the biggest cancers to grace our lifetime because of its ability to completely sedate people. Compare the fraction of people that use the Internet to access real information and real news compared to the people that use it as just another distraction and reprieve from their shitty existence.

 

[BigDug13]

What a terrible list of inclusion to reach the 80% figure. Anyone who has been unemployed in their adult life? I quit my cashier job when I was 18 2 months before I left for boot camp. I guess I fall into their 80% figure? I'm now retired at 38 and currently not working. Am I considered "unemployed" for the purposes of this study?

America has major problems but I don't think artificially inflating figures like this to make your point is entirely helpful.

 

[Rhomega Beta]

I touched on that earlier in this thread. People won't revolt until things have already completely collapsed. As long as people are occupied with their smart phones and always-connected-lives they're not going to do anything. The Internet is one of the biggest cancers to grace our lifetime because of its ability to completely sedate people. Compare the fraction of people that use the Internet to access real information and real news compared to the people that use it as just another distraction and reprieve from their shitty existence.

So how about video games, television, and rock & roll?

 

[Midnight Moon]

What a terrible list of inclusion to reach the 80% figure. Anyone who has been unemployed in their adult life? I quit my cashier job when I was 18 2 months before I left for boot camp. I guess I fall into their 80% figure? I'm now retired at 38 and currently not working. Am I considered "unemployed" for the purposes of this study?

America has major problems but I don't think artificially inflating figures like this to make your point is entirely helpful.

You're retired at 38? Holy hell

 

[BigDug13]

You're retired at 38? Holy hell

Military retired. By no means is it an income I can live comfortably on, unless I move to Thailand or something.

 

[Vicetrailia]

Well, its getting uglier, but still isn't bad enough for whites.

Maybe another recession will do it...

Americans are currently getting less back for their tax dollars than other developed nations.

 

[ThisWreckage]

So how about video games, television, and rock & roll?

The Internet has become integral to one's life. The thing you listed are not. Some people will tell you with a straight face that they cannot live without the Internet. It's the 2013 version of water, shelter, etc.

I don't see how the comment above me can be considered anything other than a racist comment.

 

[injurai]

I am the only one who kind of wishes the figure were 5/5?

I think a brief encounter with poverty might do some people good in terms of their view of the world.

The difference is that debt in our country is crippling and is being used as a way to push town people that would otherwise rise up. It takes a single slip up or unfortunately life circumstances for many people. Banks prey on the young who can't be faulted with their inexperience and immaturity when approaching life.

The debt is basically like a "not so secret secret-tax" that is being used to funding the entire investment banking system.

 

[Parch]

First World status officially revoked.

 

[Evolution_1ne]

Not quite, there is no actual provision in the Constitution stating that a president is explicitly granted the power of an 'executive order'. Also, Obama seizing the potential to control all communications via an executive order isn't an abuse of power?

Obama overriding the wishes of Congress via executive order does not make for a balanced government. If he wants something to pass, negotiating is better, but the concept of 'for the greater good' is too much of a slippery slope.

meanwhile you have a congress who literally went on record to say they will never negotiate with this man. So what then

be someone who negotiates and gets nothing done and be considered weak person who can't fulfill promises or use executive powers to get anything done and be the person who's abusing your power

 

[Lonely1]

nm. Wrong thread.

 

[Onion_Relish]

4 out of 5 Americans are lazy fucks.

I hate to play backseat mod, but this is easily one of the worst posts I've ever seen in my entire life, on neogaf or any other forum.

Back on topic. Tax rates are low and no one had jobs, how do the Republicans get away with this shit?

 

[ToxicAdam]

I hate to play backseat mod, but this is easily one of the worst posts I've ever seen in my entire life, on neogaf or any other forum.

Luckily for us, mods are wise enough to recognize such blatant sarcasm.




http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=55654988&postcount=3