Not So Poor

THE Census Bureau has just issued its annual poverty report, claiming that nearly 35 million Americans (13 percent of the population) are “living in poverty.” But just what does living in poverty mean?

Today, the typical American defined by the government as poor has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a VCR, a microwave, a stereo, and a color TV. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not over-crowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry, and in the last year he had sufficient funds to meet all his essential needs. While his life is not opulent, it is far from what the popular consciousness understands by “poverty.”

RR

About the Author

Robert Rector

Mr. Rector is a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

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THE Census Bureau has just issued its annual poverty report, claiming that nearly 35 million Americans (13 percent of the population) are “living in poverty.” But just what does living in poverty mean?

Today, the typical American defined by the government as poor has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a VCR, a microwave, a stereo, and a color TV. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not over-crowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry, and in the last year he had sufficient funds to meet all his essential needs. While his life is not opulent, it is far from what the popular consciousness understands by “poverty.”