The great American dream now seems to be out of reach for
millions
WASHINGTON More than one in 10 Americans, or 36.5 million people,
live in poverty in the United States, with children and
African-Americans the worst hit, according to an annual report by
the US Census Bureau released yesterday.
.
About 12.8 million children under the age of 18 around one-third
of the poor existed in 2006 on incomes below the threshold used
by the Census Bureau to determine who lives in poverty.
.
In percentage terms, three times more African-Americans 24.3 per
cent lived in poverty than the 8.2 per cent of white people who
did.
.
The number of poor out of the total US population of 302 million
was equivalent to the entire state of California paradoxically
one of the richest states in the US.
.
But the Census Bureau put a positive spin on the data, stressing
findings that showed that incomes are rising and the overall
poverty rate is falling.
.
President George W Bush said "more of our citizens are doing better
in this economy". "The census data shows that income gains in 2006
were substantial and widespread across all income categories. And
the largest percentage income gains occurred for people in the
bottom 20 per cent of incomes," he said.
.
But opposition leaders expressed concern over the findings. House
of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the report showed the
"American Dream is getting further out of reach" for millions.
AFP WASHINGTON More than one in 10 Americans, or 36.5 million
people, live in poverty in the United States, with children and
African-Americans the worst hit, according to an annual report by
the US Census Bureau released yesterday.
.
About 12.8 million children under the age of 18 around one-third
of the poor existed in 2006 on incomes below the threshold used
by the Census Bureau to determine who lives in poverty.
.
In percentage terms, three times more African-Americans 24.3 per
cent lived in poverty than the 8.2 per cent of white people who
did.
.
The number of poor out of the total US population of 302 million
was equivalent to the entire state of California paradoxically
one of the richest states in the US.
.
But the Census Bureau put a positive spin on the data, stressing
findings that showed that incomes are rising and the overall
poverty rate is falling.
.
President George W Bush said "more of our citizens are doing better
in this economy". "The census data shows that income gains in 2006
were substantial and widespread across all income categories. And
the largest percentage income gains occurred for people in the
bottom 20 per cent of incomes," he said.
.
But opposition leaders expressed concern over the findings. House
of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the report showed the
"American Dream is getting further out of reach" for millions.
AFP WASHINGTON More than one in 10 Americans, or 36.5 million
people, live in poverty in the United States, with children and
African-Americans the worst hit, according to an annual report by
the US Census Bureau released yesterday.
.
About 12.8 million children under the age of 18 around one-third
of the poor existed in 2006 on incomes below the threshold used
by the Census Bureau to determine who lives in poverty.
.
In percentage terms, three times more African-Americans 24.3 per
cent lived in poverty than the 8.2 per cent of white people who
did.
.
The number of poor out of the total US population of 302 million
was equivalent to the entire state of California paradoxically
one of the richest states in the US.
.
But the Census Bureau put a positive spin on the data, stressing
findings that showed that incomes are rising and the overall
poverty rate is falling.
.
President George W Bush said "more of our citizens are doing better
in this economy". "The census data shows that income gains in 2006
were substantial and widespread across all income categories. And
the largest percentage income gains occurred for people in the
bottom 20 per cent of incomes," he said.
.
But opposition leaders expressed concern over the findings. House
of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the report showed the
"American Dream is getting further out of reach" for millions.
AFP
