Just read the linked article...interesting read. It brings a couple of questions to my mind.
I wonder what effect the lending/credit industry has on some of the numbers in the stats. By that, I mean how many families out there have material possessions (a car, a house, a/c in their house, a color tv...) but are so far in debt that they will never come close to paying off any of those items that they have "purchased?" Do we make it too easy for people to buy things they really can't afford? and at the same time get into deep financial trouble? Is owning a car/tv/whatever even a useful indicator of wealth??
The problem I have with this article is that IMO it seems like its purpose is to downplay and minimize poverty in America. It almost sounds like the author wants to present poor people in this country as priviledged and spoiled. Sure, poor people in America live better lives than poor people in most other countries. But, each and every one of us (living in America) can go just a few miles and find a place close to our own home where we see people living in really bad conditions...At the same time, we'd probably also find a place in which we are very thankful that we don't live. Again, IMO, that's where you define poverty...not in misleading statistics or in the pages of a magazine/journal.
I need to get off the computer...wish I could go for a ride...
Will
