General Discussion

FirstLight

(15,771 posts)

179. that's it right there

Sat Nov 16, 2013, 03:31 PM

Nov 2013

maybe I reacted emotionally to something I don't really understand.
I just know how it FEELS to be here and unable to get out of a hole that I don't remember putting myself into - just life circumstances i guess, and yet I live with the constant shaming and hostility for my lot in life, and even get smacked by the system for trying to better myself.

as I said above, i hardly post here anymore, because people have become much more hostile, snarky and fixated on arguing the details of where the decimal point goes -rather than discussing the REALITY that a huge proportion of us live with and the trauma it entails on a daily basis.

It looks like "we" democrats are no more compassionate than the republicans we claim to despise.... and our president is not faultless - but how dare I say *that* at all?

thanks for your understanding

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

202 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

80% of the US Population is at or below the POVERTY line - WHY is this NOT a National Emergency??? [View all] FirstLight Nov 2013 OP

Can't get to the article Chuuku Davis Nov 2013 #1

trying to see why the link isn't working FirstLight Nov 2013 #3

Worked for me. n/t RebelOne Nov 2013 #6

Near poverty is when average cost of living expenditures are equal or close to total income. haele Nov 2013 #23

Thank you for that. Bohunk68 Nov 2013 #45

Yeah, it's more accurate to say that 80% of Americans aren't all that financially secure, at best. nomorenomore08 Nov 2013 #112

Poverty is everywhere now billhicks76 Nov 2013 #132

Yes, not one branch or one party. merrily Nov 2013 #2

Because we live in a plutocracy. Rex Nov 2013 #4

so we just give a simple one sentence answer and forget about it? FirstLight Nov 2013 #5

There is no critical mass, people will get used to living with far far less. Rex Nov 2013 #12

Sadly, this is the way I see it too, constant adjustment to disaster capitalism. Also, I think RKP5637 Nov 2013 #72

Unfortunately I agree Cosmocat Nov 2013 #169

Who says a one sentence post = forgetting about anything in real life? merrily Nov 2013 #21

We need that smilie here at DU. Brigid Nov 2013 #91

I hate it when I hear 'Both sides are at fault' Iwasthere Nov 2013 #7

nope FirstLight Nov 2013 #11

The record shows aggressive pursuit of a corporate agenda. woo me with science Nov 2013 #17

FUCK yeah! FirstLight Nov 2013 #20

Exactly what is happening, the surveillance noose is tighting all of the time, every minute RKP5637 Nov 2013 #80

People look at me funny Kelvin Mace Nov 2013 #41

It's absurd, isn't it. woo me with science Nov 2013 #49

+++ 1,000,000,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #83

That is the essence of it, apparently, in the USA. Ghost Dog Nov 2013 #109

It's time for the rise of the socialist party passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #190

In short, R=D when it comes to $$$$$, but many live in denial of that fact. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #76

Your video link is no longer available Oilwellian Nov 2013 #116

Thank you for the heads up. I've replaced it. woo me with science Nov 2013 #117

I agree with your sentiments. merrily Nov 2013 #141

Great post and it's exactly what you say it is. truedelphi Nov 2013 #185

the corporatists, D and R, are to blame. HooptieWagon Nov 2013 #32

Maybe we are, too. merrily Nov 2013 #143

I love PBO. Still, the Presidency is a very well-paying, lifetime position. It pays much better libdem4life Nov 2013 #53

I hope that what you posted is simply your opinion. sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #133

I didn't say that. It is a job and it pays very, very well, as it should. It holds historical libdem4life Nov 2013 #137

Well, I don't disagree with most of what you said, including that he was never sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #181

Funny, I just wrote a post that helped me clear up that war vote...I strongly opposed that. But libdem4life Nov 2013 #186

Well, I live in Ny and did at that time. Most NYers did not want a war in Iraq and those who sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #195

Thank you for your reply of experience and your thoughts. I was in the Flower Power Generation on libdem4life Nov 2013 #199

+1 merrily Nov 2013 #138

It's that a second term does not turn a President back into a Populist. He has a legacy to build libdem4life Nov 2013 #187

Somewhere along the way he became a millionaire too 7962 Nov 2013 #75

I am sorry but BOTH SIDES ARE AT FAULT. truedelphi Nov 2013 #176

Because the median net worth of a US Congress person is $6.5 million. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2013 #8

true, historically and psychologically FirstLight Nov 2013 #14

We've been in a Class War with Republicans at least since Reagan, Agnosticsherbet Nov 2013 #25

Americans are held in a financially repressive society, nothing akin to jacquerie among the poor RKP5637 Nov 2013 #88

As a species, we've probably been in class warfare with the rich and/or powerful merrily Nov 2013 #140

The most recent Woody Allen movie featured a grocery store LibDemAlways Nov 2013 #54

You're absolutely right .. even these renowned film makers can't get it right .. they're too rich. YOHABLO Nov 2013 #131

$3000 a month or more. In reality she'd be commuting in from Oakland or Concord. diane in sf Nov 2013 #139

Way MORE than $1500 a month in San Francisco SoCalDem Nov 2013 #158

That's what gets me about Modern Family fasttense Nov 2013 #166

The Honeymooners. Sognefjord Nov 2013 #198

$1,500? Beacool Nov 2013 #197

As long as very rich people get richer, all is right with the world. valerief Nov 2013 #9

Reminds me of the line from Lear...Replace "gods" with "rich." Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #24

Old school. Now they do it because they think the "takers" deserve to die. merrily Nov 2013 #144

It's shocking how coldly indifferent to suffering and death so many rightwingers are. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #172

At, below, or near gollygee Nov 2013 #10

I salute your outrage, but question your stats Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #13

not my stats, but you are going to turn away just because it isn't *that* bad? FirstLight Nov 2013 #19

Nobody's turning away from anything Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #29

Errr, correction needed dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #114

Fair enough Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #123

You literally said you didn't say exactly what you said - enough said dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #125

Really? That's what you're hanging your hat on? Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #126

OK, sorry dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #128

Facts matter. I'm poor and I was questioning those stats cali Nov 2013 #30

And that was my point Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #47

The median household income in 2012 was over 50,000, pnwmom Nov 2013 #69

a $50K income anywhere in Maine is very high. In NYC, San Francisco, Honolulu... magical thyme Nov 2013 #163

And the median is much higher in those cities. It still doesn't work out pnwmom Nov 2013 #175

Agreed. And I followed the links to the source, which is a study that showed that 80% struggled... magical thyme Nov 2013 #184

Poverty line is different in each community dickthegrouch Nov 2013 #43

Agree on all points Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #50

You missed the point entirely..... llmart Nov 2013 #78

You've got a curious definition of "middle class" Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #121

oh, I think it can be a decent life hfojvt Nov 2013 #164

...actually OmahaBlueDog Nov 2013 #98

Agree, doesn't seem quite right treestar Nov 2013 #182

What is meant by "4th quintile of US household income" truedelphi Nov 2013 #188

A quintile is 20% Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #193

Got it. truedelphi Nov 2013 #201

That 80% number simply isn't true. Captain Stern Nov 2013 #15

Uhhhhhhh....what exactly is your definition of "Near"? jeff47 Nov 2013 #16

+1 CountAllVotes Nov 2013 #40

+ a lot. I imagine almost everyone has been unemployed at some point in their lives 7962 Nov 2013 #81

Single payer zipplewrath Nov 2013 #18

Huge K&R. It should be an emergency. But what is on the horizon? woo me with science Nov 2013 #22

I am so right there with you... FirstLight Nov 2013 #31

Hey, woo me with science, here's some math. pnwmom Nov 2013 #73

Because the GOP controls Congress and want to see non-GOPers suffer and blame Obama AND kelliekat44 Nov 2013 #26

And some would rather shout "It's not Obama's fault" than to face the actual problem Doctor_J Nov 2013 #33

Owned? How can you say owned? Ace Acme Nov 2013 #93

I think the country has been mortgaged dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #115

Well stated. Ace Acme Nov 2013 #127

Food Stamps were cut recently. That's House, Senate and Oval Office. merrily Nov 2013 #145

Probably not a national emergency because your numbers are way off.... cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #27

again, not MY numbers...but hey, that's a good enough reason to NOT care, right? FirstLight Nov 2013 #34

actually it is....nobody wants to have a discussion with someone with incorrect facts. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #38

They aren't? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #59

...except that the OP isn't about income equality... brooklynite Nov 2013 #67

If the claim is that "80% of americans are below poverty" how could it not be about inequality? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #94

+10000 Valid numbers that illustrate the emergency have been posted all over this thread. woo me with science Nov 2013 #108

Those numbers are HUGELY off - it's more like 15-16% Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #120

This is the callous, dismissive garbage we have come to expect from the Third Way. woo me with science Nov 2013 #39

Facts are now "callous, dismissive garbage"??? That is exactly the problem. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #71

Facts are not dismissive, but your post was dismissive. merrily Nov 2013 #146

+1000 Katashi_itto Nov 2013 #113

It is! The PTB want to get it up to 95% or so. Doctor_J Nov 2013 #28

In a country where money is speech, the poor are voiceless. eShirl Nov 2013 #35

you win - sums it up perfectly FirstLight Nov 2013 #37

+10000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #52

Well said!!! Exactly!!! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #92

100% of Americans cannot walk*! alcibiades_mystery Nov 2013 #36

OK, that one almost made me spit out the drink....... 7962 Nov 2013 #89

You win the thread... SidDithers Nov 2013 #124

sorry, forget I said anything FirstLight Nov 2013 #42

Oh please. jeff47 Nov 2013 #58

... FirstLight Nov 2013 #60

Reading beyond the first sentence might be a good idea. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #61

Sure. So would some empathy for a fellow DUer on food stamps who just had them cut and merrily Nov 2013 #152

Except that's not what she was doing in this thread. jeff47 Nov 2013 #168

Yes, that is what she was doing in this thread. Just not explicitly. merrily Nov 2013 #170

don't let them get to you questionseverything Nov 2013 #173

the medium income is bs since the millionaires and billionaires are averaged into that passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #191

Wow. merrily Nov 2013 #151

Poverty sucks and our system is lacking in fairness and safety nets Matariki Nov 2013 #44

Because rich people own every media source in the country Taitertots Nov 2013 #46

not shiny and new, not newsworthy, won't sell products (what the media thinks) NRaleighLiberal Nov 2013 #48

In a historical context, this nation is ripe for signficant social unrest. 1000words Nov 2013 #51

Wish I did and you'd never know it from this thread. merrily Nov 2013 #147

that's it right there FirstLight Nov 2013 #179

A real national emergency is when some pop star shakes her butt on TeeVee. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #55

Yeah. And our pop stars can't even do that right agent46 Nov 2013 #68

Since when is 50 million people 80% of the population of over doc03 Nov 2013 #56

"At or near." The near part must suck up a lot of people. pnwmom Nov 2013 #63

I am a retired person and own my home. It's a mobile home, RebelOne Nov 2013 #79

The other thing I realized is that the national median household income pnwmom Nov 2013 #86

Median on wage income is a different statistic than median on population. haele Nov 2013 #105

The groups you listed are included in median household income figures. pnwmom Nov 2013 #107

The stat in the actual article is 80% are at or near poverty at some point in their lives jeff47 Nov 2013 #90

Well, that explains it. Probably 80% depends on a regular job to get by. pnwmom Nov 2013 #96

Exactly. Doesn't mean it isn't a problem, but it does require a different fix. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #97

Because another 10 percent TBF Nov 2013 #57

It's not a national emergency agent46 Nov 2013 #62

This is what FREEDOM feels like..... DeSwiss Nov 2013 #64

+100000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #84

Just checked census site jehop61 Nov 2013 #65

The US public has been dumbed down so much that . . . aggiesal Nov 2013 #66

It would be an emergency if it were TRUE, but it isn't. pnwmom Nov 2013 #70

Then lower the line for Gods sake. Bonhomme Richard Nov 2013 #74

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #77

50 million is 16% of the population Boom Sound 416 Nov 2013 #82

Really? ananda Nov 2013 #85

It is a simple answer, too many of those in poverty votes for candidates who take good care of the Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #87

It starts with deciding who are the candidates, though. merrily Nov 2013 #148

I don't have time to read the whole thread now...but passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #95

I hope that when you do read the whole thread, you will cut the OP some slack. merrily Nov 2013 #149

You are correct Merrily passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #192

I didn't think is was that bad Jack Rabbit Nov 2013 #99

"What will it take?".... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #100

Because the rich rule the world liberal N proud Nov 2013 #101

That...just...isn't...true. Throd Nov 2013 #102

Why? ReRe Nov 2013 #103

I agree it's higher than it should be in this great country.. Chakaconcarne Nov 2013 #104

It's pretty simple why LittleBlue Nov 2013 #106

Shocking Study: 4 out of 5 in USA Face Near-Poverty and Unemployment < Is the headline jtuck004 Nov 2013 #110

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #111

I don't think your statistics are correct. BlueToTheBone Nov 2013 #118

Because it isn't true!!! Try 15 - 16% Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #119

Its not a national emergency because the information is bogus bhikkhu Nov 2013 #122

But I love how certain posters are determined to K&R even though these numbers are way off Number23 Nov 2013 #129

115 recs for this turd... SidDithers Nov 2013 #156

Stupidity knows no political boundary Android3.14 Nov 2013 #162

Neither does insenstivity. merrily Nov 2013 #171

Your right, of course Android3.14 Nov 2013 #180

Legal double standards are a fact of American life now, too. Until Wall St. cons go to jail, that's ancianita Nov 2013 #130

The Oligarchs And Corporations Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us cantbeserious Nov 2013 #134

The title is misleading BainsBane Nov 2013 #135

It is where our political/corporate leaders want us. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #136

Because the 1% owns everything, including DC and the Media. blkmusclmachine Nov 2013 #142

First Light, I am sorry that you are in this situation and also sorry merrily Nov 2013 #150

thanks FirstLight Nov 2013 #183

The real numbers are bad enough scheming daemons Nov 2013 #153

Exactly DFW Nov 2013 #155

Nailed it...nt SidDithers Nov 2013 #157

When we dig down into the report, we learn the magic phrase "for at least parts of their lives..." MADem Nov 2013 #177

Reminds me of The Hunger Games Clear Blue Sky Nov 2013 #154

This message was self-deleted by its author Android3.14 Nov 2013 #159

The 80th percentile has an income Progressive dog Nov 2013 #160

Uh...no. Android3.14 Nov 2013 #161

Will we have to reach critical mass and be on the brink of starvation before we 'storm the bastille' CrispyQ Nov 2013 #165

It is always so amazing to come in contact with people in their early twenties. truedelphi Nov 2013 #189

Trickle Down is Buy-Partisan. Octafish Nov 2013 #167

The headline is so false that this OP is highly counter-productive cthulu2016 Nov 2013 #174

It is a cherry pick of this story from back in July... MADem Nov 2013 #178

"reliance on government assistance" = S.S. and Medicare, for example. Govt pensions, maybe. WinkyDink Nov 2013 #194

There's something wrong with that figure, 80% of Americans are not at or below the poverty level. Beacool Nov 2013 #196

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #200

What? hrmjustin Nov 2013 #202