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 [...]
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Tax season brings special problems for the low-income
Low-income families face additional hurdles with the advent of tax season. Forms can become more complicated and free tax help is scarce, leaving many waiting in long lines in the snow in hopes of volunteer assistance. Moreover, the complexities of the federal tax system keep many unaware of their options: Many will miss out... »
Making it in America
From 1999 to 2009, the output of U.S. factories rose by about one-third, while one in three factory jobs disappeared. The advent of globalization and computer-aided productivity dramatically transformed the U.S. job market: the rewards for the skilled have grown, but the opportunities for the unskilled have dwindled. The resulting job crisis and income... »
Child homelessness worsens in Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the worst 15 states in homelessness for children, according to a recent study that estimated the number of homeless children there at 19,775. The situation has steadily deteriorated: The state ranked 39th in 2010 and 24th in 2006. This slide is attributed to the recession with its accompanying joblessness and... »
Affordable gay-friendly senior housing scarce
Many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender seniors fear discrimination, disrespect, and mistreatment at elder housing facilities. Few explicitly LGBT-friendly senior housing options exist, and only the very wealthy have the means to afford them. This leaves low-income gays with many fears but limited options. LGBT advocacy and service organizations lag far behind in their efforts to ensure... »
More states limiting Medicaid hospital stays
A Hawaii patient under Medicaid can spend only 10 days a year in a hospital, and many other states are likewise tightening their allowances for poor and disabled patients. The states attribute the often-drastic cuts to rising health insurance costs, and hospital executives say the financial burden will shift to the hospitals providing care.... »
Widespread ‘skills gap’ leaves jobs unfilled
Thousands of Americans remain jobless, yet employers still struggle to find skilled candidates to fill vacancies. “There are plenty of job openings out there. Problem is there aren’t enough Americans trained to do them,” declared the CEO of Corporate Voices for Working Families. In response, federal and state governments are allocating more resources to... »
Comcast offers Internet classes to needy Miami children
Comcast is offering two free Internet classes to families enrolled in the National School Lunch Program in Miami, Fla., as part of its Internet Essentials drive, which seeks to open Internet access for low-income children. The classes will teach basic Internet skills while showcasing the web’s ability to help struggling parents find resources and aid. »
Flooded farmers rely on creativity to recover from Irene
Many New York farmers watched their crops and their annual income drown under the floods of Hurricane Irene. Those who qualify for government aid must navigate the tangles of bureaucracy; those who do not have turned to creative solutions to stay afloat. Photo credit: Phil Mansfield. »
U.S. income and wealth inequality, already sharp, worsens
The gap between the richest and the poorest in the U.S. is wide and growing wider. According to the CIA’s World Factbook, the U.S. ranks 39th highest globally in terms of income inequality. The wealthiest 20 percent of the country, according to a recent university study, controls 84 percent of wealth, while the bottom... »
Pests in NY, geese will be fed to the poor in Pennsylvania
New York City airports seek to solve their problem of geese overpopulation by slaughtering the birds and donating them to feed the poor in Pennsylvania, officials say. The dangers geese pose to planes prompted the extermination of hundreds of them last year, but the carcasses went to the landfill. New York lacks a program... »