The United States Census has been in existence since it was added to the constitution in 1787. The constitution stipulates that a census be taken every ten years. The last census was taken in 2000, during the final year of Bill Clinton’s Presidency. The years and statistical data that followed that year paint a dismal picture for the first decade in the new millennium. The 2010 census data was released on Dec. 14, 2010. The information that follows will show the effects of an economy dominated by a republican agenda that lasted eight years.
Poverty has been an issue in this country since its inception. In a country touted as one of the richest nations in the world it is almost sickening to witness the levels of poverty that exist here in America. According to the 2010 U.S. Census report in 2009, 43.6 million people were in poverty, up from 39.8 million in 2008-the third consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty. This equates to 14.3 percent of the population of the country. With this information we as a nation should began to look at our country’s tax practices, wage regulations, as well as corporate policies that allow U.S. corporations to continue to send jobs overseas. Not only is this percentage high, but also according the 2010 Census this rate was the highest rate since 1994. This number is the largest “Poverty Rate” in 51 years, the largest it has been since the rate was published in 1959. Please see the graph below:
2010 U.S. Census Graph
As the graph above indicates, the number of Americans in poverty drastically increased during the beginning of the economic downturn. The 2010 census report states the number in poverty increased 1.9 percent points and 6.3 million between 2007 and 2009. This economic downturn can be attributed to the collapse of the banking industry that was spurred by the reprehensible mortgage practices of many of America’s Largest banking institutions such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and the infamous mortgage giant Countywide Home Loans. Many other investment firms who placed huge bets or trades against a self-created derivatives market also can be blamed for the collapse. Needless to say millions lost their jobs and became unemployed and ultimately fell beyond the U.S. poverty threshold. Of course some groups faired better than others. The census data reported that individuals listed as “Black” have a poverty rate (25.8) twice that of those listed as “White” (12.3) and triple that of those listed as “White, not Hispanic” (9.4). The differences in the poverty rate do not stop with race. They also affected the country itself differently. Based on the report the South seemed to be affected the most with 15.7 percent of the population classified as impoverished with the West following close behind at 14.8 percent. America’s Metropolitan areas appear to suffer the most in terms of poverty with 35.7 million residents classified as impoverished in 2009.
With this said it has become evident that a government ruled by a party of people who focus on allowing corporate greed to be its guiding principle, the majority of the American Public can be viewed as a doomed population. The so-called middle class seems to be shrinking at rate that is to fast to visibly detect. The affects of this will be felt for years to come and no one man or party can logically be expected to fix what took close to a decade to create to instantly wipe the slate clean and create an economy that will allow its people to flourish as it once did. This is the first installment of a three part series analyzing the 2010 Census data. We hope you find this information thought provoking to the point that it ignites a fire within you that allows you to hear our call to join us in the fight to restore some sense of order in this twisted reality that we have been dealt.
H.I.P
If Not Now, Then When!
Hope Initiative Party
H.I.P Wire 
Remnants of a Failed Regime
Posted: January 2, 2011 in Commentary, Community, Political News, Poverty, Social Issues, UncategorizedTags: Commentary, Community, Political, Poverty, Social Issue
The United States Census has been in existence since it was added to the constitution in 1787. The constitution stipulates that a census be taken every ten years. The last census was taken in 2000, during the final year of Bill Clinton’s Presidency. The years and statistical data that followed that year paint a dismal picture for the first decade in the new millennium. The 2010 census data was released on Dec. 14, 2010. The information that follows will show the effects of an economy dominated by a republican agenda that lasted eight years.
Poverty has been an issue in this country since its inception. In a country touted as one of the richest nations in the world it is almost sickening to witness the levels of poverty that exist here in America. According to the 2010 U.S. Census report in 2009, 43.6 million people were in poverty, up from 39.8 million in 2008-the third consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty. This equates to 14.3 percent of the population of the country. With this information we as a nation should began to look at our country’s tax practices, wage regulations, as well as corporate policies that allow U.S. corporations to continue to send jobs overseas. Not only is this percentage high, but also according the 2010 Census this rate was the highest rate since 1994. This number is the largest “Poverty Rate” in 51 years, the largest it has been since the rate was published in 1959. Please see the graph below:
2010 U.S. Census Graph
As the graph above indicates, the number of Americans in poverty drastically increased during the beginning of the economic downturn. The 2010 census report states the number in poverty increased 1.9 percent points and 6.3 million between 2007 and 2009. This economic downturn can be attributed to the collapse of the banking industry that was spurred by the reprehensible mortgage practices of many of America’s Largest banking institutions such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and the infamous mortgage giant Countywide Home Loans. Many other investment firms who placed huge bets or trades against a self-created derivatives market also can be blamed for the collapse. Needless to say millions lost their jobs and became unemployed and ultimately fell beyond the U.S. poverty threshold. Of course some groups faired better than others. The census data reported that individuals listed as “Black” have a poverty rate (25.8) twice that of those listed as “White” (12.3) and triple that of those listed as “White, not Hispanic” (9.4). The differences in the poverty rate do not stop with race. They also affected the country itself differently. Based on the report the South seemed to be affected the most with 15.7 percent of the population classified as impoverished with the West following close behind at 14.8 percent. America’s Metropolitan areas appear to suffer the most in terms of poverty with 35.7 million residents classified as impoverished in 2009.
With this said it has become evident that a government ruled by a party of people who focus on allowing corporate greed to be its guiding principle, the majority of the American Public can be viewed as a doomed population. The so-called middle class seems to be shrinking at rate that is to fast to visibly detect. The affects of this will be felt for years to come and no one man or party can logically be expected to fix what took close to a decade to create to instantly wipe the slate clean and create an economy that will allow its people to flourish as it once did. This is the first installment of a three part series analyzing the 2010 Census data. We hope you find this information thought provoking to the point that it ignites a fire within you that allows you to hear our call to join us in the fight to restore some sense of order in this twisted reality that we have been dealt.
H.I.P
If Not Now, Then When!
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