8 years of Taft and another 8 years of Bush will do that.

Yeah, that's not really poverty. They don't even factor in food stamps, unemployment and other assistance people in that bracket get. It's dishonest data. People think they're impoverished if they can't afford cable, $120 shoes and a Lexus.

The Bush legacy lives on...

And they wonder why crime is up. People will do whatever they have to do to survive and take care of their families. It is quite obvious that our government has very very little concern for us "We The People". When the stimilus package was announced, where did all of the money go? Straight to the big corporations. If they truely would have wanted to stimulate the economy, they would have put that stimulus money in the hands of the tax paying American people, mortgages would have been paid, car loans would have been caught up, new cars would have been sold, and it would have been recycled right back into the economy. But no, we are merely the backbone of this country, those of us that get up everyday at 5 in the morning to go to work, there are millions of us and we support this country and yet we are all treated as though we are ignorant, lied to, deceived, and taken for granted. If you are waiting for the government to help you out in anyway, don' hold your breath. And this government health care.....really, who do you think is going to end up paying for that when it passes? The government? Yeah...with our increased taxes, again. Kind a looks like we are in a now win situation doesn't it.

Super job by Reaganomics.....Bush "the destroyer". You have can now take credit for shifting more wealth UPWARD since Hoover. The top 1% now have as much wealth as the bottom 95%. Not surprised by these poverty stats at all.

oh that just means one in eight people is a lazy dead beat. The is Amerika!! You can bootstrap your way into a million dollars in no time flat with just a bit of elbow grease and some determination. I mean look around the other seven are wealthy millionaires with a quality of life far exceeding people in other countries. Well except the Swiss, French, Dutch, and a few other European countries.

So ya these people just need to get at it. Lazy dead beats. Heck I will pay them $7.30 an hour to come work for me. Now I don't pay overtime and or time in a half on holidays. But its $7.30 an hour more than they had.

Its not my fault school wasn't their thing. I realize Bill Gates and 9 of the other 12 richest men never finished school but that was a long time ago things have changed. You have to have to have to go get a pedigree...er I mean degree from an accredited school. Being taught old info by people who couldn't perform in the real world is invaluable in this day and age. Otherwise I at least better have known your dad if you want me to give you a job.


its the American way.

It's all the Mayor of Akron's fault, we should have another recall at whatever the expense to the taxpayer. And we should have a deadbeat lawyer lead the charge.

Situational poverty...

Yes, and here's a situation about which you may not be aware. As an adjunct instructor at The University teaching the maximum allowable load per academic year (which is only one class below full-time status) I am limited to earning $15,750 per academic year. My prospects for achieving better pay are virtually non-existent, as Ohio is one of only two states which exclude part-time faculty from the definition of "state employees" for collective bargaining purposes. It's institutionalized poverty where there are folks with master's and PhDs on foodstamps and medicaid. It's unconscionable.

To learn more go to http://www.newfacultymajority.info

New Faculty Majority: The National Coalition for Adjunct & Contingent Equity is fighting for better working conditions for academic labor throughout the United States. In Ohio, NFM is supporting Senate Bill 129 introduced by Senator Strahorn of Dayton. This bill can be viewed here:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_129

Pleased contact your state senator and state representative and ask them to pass into law this bill which would permit part-time faculty and graduate assistants the ability to bargain for better working conditions.

@Pure Speculation - The article states the poverty level is $22k/year for a family of 4. I doubt they have factored in taxes so you may as well take about 1/3 off. Not sure how many Lexuses (sp?) or $120 shoes someone can afford on that kind of money.

I think they'd qualify for the earned income credit and rebates... so add about 1/3. Then add another 1/3 for food stamps, WIC, etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090928/pl_politico/27643

Wall Street money rains on Schumer


Wall Street has showered nearly $11 million on the Senate since the beginning of the year, and more than 15 percent of it has gone to a single senator: Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York.

Schumer’s $1.65 million take from the financial services industry is nearly twice that of any other senator's — and more than five times what the industry gave to any single Republican senator.

While the industry has scaled back its political spending in the wake of last year’s economic collapse, data from the Center for Responsive Politics show that it’s still investing heavily in the Senate, where it’s likely to have its best shot at stopping — or at least shaping — the crackdown on Wall Street that President Barack Obama has proposed.

And it’s clearly looking to Democrats to do it.

Of the $10.6 million the industry has given to sitting senators this year, more than $7.7 million has gone to Democrats. Schumer got his $1.65 million; his New York colleague Kirsten Gillibrand took in $886,000; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of NEVADA received $814,000; Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd of Connecticut scored $603,000; Colorado freshman Michael Bennet got $401,000; and Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas— who will have a big say on the derivatives portion of regulatory reform — got $336,000.

More like 4 in 8

Joker-

ya its been years of "US tax payers rain money on KBR/Haliburton" while they kill our troops and do shoddy inept work your basic small municipality code enforcer would not pass in inspection.


were where you?

AkronAdjunct, what you should do is finish your academic program and then get out of there.

Take your credentials and then go somewhere where people actually have money to buy what you're selling.

...and none of this has anything to do with Bush or Cheney or Halliburton (which is a good company, I once did some work for them) or anything else.

Ohio has problems with regard to demographics and business culture that go back to its constitution and even back to its founding. Things are a little better down towards Columbus and Cincinnati but bottom line, the state's economy won't improve until there's real change and that can't happen until certain people aren't around anymore.

If you're under forty with skills and education, it makes a whole lot of sense to just leave.

I also would say 4 in 8 are in poverty in Ohio and it is going to get much worse. Leave Ohio...I did and I am glad I did. Ohio is alot like a reserve for slaves than a state.

I'd like to point out fairtax. org. It's a website that explains the flat tax. I read it over and think it makes a lot of sense as a progressive tax. I would be curious to hear what others think about it.

Our esteemed leaders (from both parties) have done us no favors for the last 30 years. This state needs to let go of trying to attract manufacturing jobs & go after businesses that will thrive in the 21st century. I have told both of my kids to get the H out of town after they graduate...and I plan on following them. This state has been in a funk for the last three decades and I see no signs of it improving.

STOP BLAMING BUSH !!!!!!! This problem started in the 1980's. Steel mills laid off thousands. Foreign companies bought out US Steel, cutting back. Anyone remember Noble Shoes. Couldn't compete with that new store, hmm. Payless Shoes? Instead of a small selection, this new store offered tons of choice for far less than Noble Shoes. Clothing and shoe manufactures moved oversees with the blessing of our representatives. Next came NAFTA, another death blow to the American manufacturing worker. Sure, the unions can take some blame. TIME has a great article on Detroit. The UAW required each automaker to pay the same pay. Even as Chrysler was having a tough time, they could not reduce employee pay or benefits, they had to pay the same as a worker in Ford or Chevy! Add to the fact that shareholders and corporation board members allowed CEO pay to shoot to the sky. Then, once again our reps failed us. Corporations that once were prohibited to buy out smaller competitors, the thought was 'bigger is better for the consumer'. Now we have a handful of companies owning a large market share, and now they are 'too big to fail'. Plus, there are suspect to manipulating market prices and policies. All these forces in the last 30 years have brought us to our knees today. The question is ........ what will be done to bring back real change ???????

@zombie...: Arlen Specter has been pushing for a flat tax for years. I agree to his proposed 17%.

Denying 1 in 8 Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; opportunity; to produce amount; they use for life; for wages or independent business profit; enabling them to pay; for EVERY product and service; they use for life; Makes free, fair, and affordable commerce IMPOSSIBLE; Makes funding schools, infrastructure, and etc. IMPOSSIBLE; Makes balancing every budget IMPOSSIBLE; Makes union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and America’s grandchildren’s children LIFE UNAFFORDABLE; and created the $40 trillion social security and the $9.3 trillion national debt. America’s grandchildren’s children are responsible to pay interest with this debt until they are 18 years old. Then pay the debt with the $6.85 per hour government mandated labor wage!
There is no reason to believe America’s grandchildren’s children that go to bed hungry can afford life; and pay this debt in a hundred million years; with money derived from wages or independent business profit!

Loren, you are on a roll today. How do you come up with such rants?

Strickland has been in office awhile now and unemployment is surging even though Obama PROMISED his plan, if signed immediately, would stop unemployment at 8%.

Now he is ringing up trillion dollar deficits with all of his spending.

Reality 2 electric bogaloo:

This is the greatest county ever. If you don't like it, leave.

Now, of course, I've never actually LIVED in another county. In fact, I can't tell you much at all about any country other than what I hate about them. Like the French, those cheese-eating surrender monkeys.

So you really should leave, although I guess if everyone who disagreed with the status-quo just left then we'd all be speaking British about now.

But that's besides the point. Why do you hate America? You want China to take us over. You're in love with Stalin. The terrorists win because of you.

I have never seen so many poor people with cable, cell phones, FAT, etc.

If you want real povery, go outside little Akron. Yes, there are so who are 'poor', but for the VAST majority, they choose to be this way.

It is much easier to take welfare and foodstamps and complain than try and work.

I forgot to mention tatoos, drugs, beer and dope.

David T- According to the BBC, deregulation during the Bush years was the largest contributor in todays mess. Banks had all of this low interest money available, and they went out looking for home buyers. Because of deregulation, these toxic assets were sold overseas hidden in other packages. I agree you've mentioned some valuable points, but in the big scheme of things, it falls in Bush's lap!

Man you talk about having special rights!!!! For something the city is so excited about and they don't even have a comment section on it. Too controversial. The article right below this one in the local news. LOL

Pure Speculation is correct. A family of four earning $22,000/yr is better off than that same family earning $30,000, after "taxes" and welfare benefits.

Even better, is the single mom with 3 kids, living off of $10,000/yr, with another $30,000 in bennies (figure $2,000/month just in subsidized housing and medical).

And we wonder why people are lazy? It PAYS. Pays a lot better than 2 parents working opposite shifts at $10/hr.

Johnson's Great Society assumed that Amreica's inner drive to succeed would trump the entitlement mentality.

Those erroneous assumptions'll bite ya in the arse every time.

I understand the Obama chant is going to make this all go away.

Born in the rust belt- The Obama chant will not make this go away! The damage has been done!

skepical- What are your sources, I do not believe you're accurate?

I've lived here 50yrs and best I can say about Akron lately...


1. Akron!! it smells better than New Jersey.

2. West Virginia is almost heaven and Akrons almost West Virginia.

3. Akron the undiscovered toxic waste dump.

4. Industry what industry? see #1

5. Akron, where you won't miss not having any money.

6. We need more college professors, they are the only ones with good jobs here.

7. Even the lawyers are leaving, really even the lawyers are leaving.(good
news really)

8. But one crack dealer get one free.

9. Where everyones selling cell phones or real estate. Thats working out well.

10. 100 chickens lost their lives in canton today.(06/01/09) Boy this is one podunk sh$$hole.

and thats the news.

We are impoverished, and our leaders are crooked.

They aren't even done with the corruption probe in Cuyahoga County, and they haven't told us what's up with the Summit County one yet.

Jeez.

Not surprising at all, anyone that really thinks this economy is going to turn around, is living a pipe dream. The U.S. government is THE largest employer in this country (about 30% of all employment) look it up. I'm not going to be so shallow as to blame any one person or administration. Corporate America amd special interest are running the politicians and the politicians are running the people. Both parties are guilty Republicans and Democrats. WE've outsourced evrything in America like: manufacturing, aerospace, even telemarketers. They call your house and they are from India. Both political parties have their slogans and both of them are a lie. Republicans say they are for smaller government and lower taxes, yet both continue to increase even when they are in control. Democrats say they are for the working man, yet they except special interest money and sign Nafta. It's really a US against THEM game, sad to say, but true. As long as they can use the diversion of pitting the american people against one another and take all focus off of the real problems , they will.

So 7 out of 8 aren't, correct?

And property taxes go up!!!!

Well said @ skeptical & just an observer.

AkronAdjunct - quit your whinning, and get a real job if you are so unhappy with what Akron U is paying you.

Why does Medina County have such a low poverty rate? What are those local leaders in Medina County doing to have a much lower poverty rate as compared to Stark, Summit, and Cuyahoga Counties?
Perhaps those counties' leaders should visit Medina County and maybe they could adopt whatever is going on there to help here.

I agree with the third poster. The 'poverty' line is far too high. People can live on far less, but they are spoiled and want more than they can afford.

Drive through a poor neighborhood and check out the nice cars and satelite dishes. Yes, many don't have either but c'mon. Spend that money on needs, not luxuries.

test

I don't remember for sure, but it's either 50% or 75% of the World population that live on less than a dollar a day, so people are right. People in America are spoiled and out of touch with the reality of poverty. Although America also is suppose to be the Worlds leading super power and be an example to others and bring other countries up. Atleast that's what all the politicians tell us when they want to sign a new trade deal. So let's not advocate, by saying that people in this country aren't poor enough yet, let's bring everyone up and stop being such a selfish greedy country.

MaD - Bush tried to rein in the Dem Loans for Losers programs and was beaten back by the likes of Dodd and Barney Frank.

In a purely deregulated environment, banks would not give money to losers. But in an environment where Gov't backed agencies backstop the loans and Obama front groups like ACORN storm your banks. You loan to the losers, sell the paper and move on. You make money and avoid the thugs at ACORN.

Making a comparison between the United States and Third World or developing countries on the basis of income alone does not make sense. The economic well-being of the people in a given society also has to do with the purchasing power of what they do earn. The cost of living in the U.S. is much greater than it is in most developing countries, and non-essential items such as cable TV, cell phones and the like are a relatively small part of that cost. The fact is that the middle class is under a lot of financial strain and is getting smaller, while the group of people that can be classified as "working poor", underemployed, and/or unemployed is getting larger.

Biblio - our middle class is wealthy compared to other countries. Just look at Obama's Hut Brother. He lives in a hut and is the brother of the President.

spirit of reagan- What are you talking about loans for losers? Unless you're confusing this with Bush's Dream Bill of 2003 which put tens of thousands of unqualified into homes!

www.americandreamdownpaymentassistance.com/whsp12162003.cfm

Four years later was the forgiveness act because so many of these people defaulted!

bmazhomes.com/180/mortgage-forgiveness-act-signed-into-law

Show me some sources!