Shocking American poverty statistic!

My word, this is just terrible!

Yet for a growing number of working families,
economic security is out of reach. Between 2007
and 2011, the share of working families that are
low-income—below 200 percent of the official
poverty threshold—increased annually and rose
from 28 percent to 32 percent nationally (see
figure 1). About 11 percent of working families
were below the official poverty line in 2011
($22,811 for a family of four with two children).

Note that these numbers are before any help or aid from the state that poor familes get. You know, tax creidts, housing vouchers or food stamps or anything.

But it\’s still a terrible condemntaion of the american system. Median houshold income is around and about $50k this past year. That makes the poverty level some 46% of median income. That\’s wquite low by international standards: but do note that it\’s before benefits.

200% of poverty level is thus 92% of median household income. And isn\’t it just appalling, a crime that cries out for vengenance from the heavens, that 32% of working families make less than 92% of median household income.

Someone really should have a word with Garrison Keilor.