As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Insecurity
Low homeownership in one Pennsylvania county a sign of financial fragility
Regions with high poverty and unemployment rates frequently rank low in homeownership, and Erie County, Pennsylvania, exemplifies this fact. The county’s minority populations are even less likely to own homes than their white counterparts. Experts find these trends discouraging, since homeownership frequently indicates an individual’s measure of financial stability and progress toward self-sufficiency. »
“Near poor” startle the census
The Supplemental Poverty Measure found 51 million Americans with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line. This places 100 million people either in poverty or among the “near poor,” a figure that exceeds the official count by 75 percent. The census reveals the causes and effects of various government programs upon a... »
Alternatives offered to payday lenders
Some 9 million U.S. families do not have bank accounts, and many that do consider themselves “financially frail,” according to a new study. Now, somecompanies are reaching out to the “unbanked and underbanked” with alternatives to high bank fees and infamous payday lenders. Not only do these programs promise greater financial stability, they may even reduce crime rates in low-income neighborhoods. »
California farmers feed nation, but struggle to feed themselves
The population of Tulare County, Calif., is reeling under deep budget cuts passed in Sacramento in early July. Although the county is the second-largest agricultural producer in the U.S., many residents are on food stamps: one-third get government aid, the highest percentage in the state. Meanwhile, state cuts to higher education, medical programs, and... »
Many Americans face retirement insecurity
Recent surveys reveal that a record number of workers have lost faith in their ability to afford retirement. More than a quarter of workers said that they were not confident about having enough money to live comfortably once they retire, while half said that they did not think that it was possible that a... »