Bad Economy Hits Poor, Seniors, and Children the Hardest

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I guess Les does not want to discuss businesses that went under.
Only the poor and downhearted suffer. No sympathy for stock holders.

Bill Hedges of MO 9:00AM November 09, 2011

I agree with one comment you made, that the children of our elderly should be held more accountable, I have been to Spain and there, the children live with thier parents until they are married. I met a guy there who after his divorce, moved back into his parents house. He told me there they either live with thier parents or there spouse.
However Leslie, as far as the Bush Tax Cuts, you are a bit off. you claim we should look to History to see that tax cuts for the wealthy were a bad idea. Me thinks you should learn actual History and not just the history of the last decade. History goes a little beyond that. Every other time in History Tax cuts were given to the wealthy it helped grow government revenue as well as the economy. Look at what Kennedy did.
One thing I cannot deny, is that your Generation of Baby Boomers are the first to be so selfishly greedy thay almost destroyed our economy. Not blaming you personally but your generation grew up like the current generation is growing up, without any sense of consequences. You protested a Vietnam War and villified the Veterans of it. Then upon thier return did nothig to assist in easing them back into a changing society. Not only that, you protested and picketed American Greed, and then grew up to be the greediest generation ever. Now you are raising your kids to be even more selfish and greedy than you are.
When I was younger I got a job bagging groceries at 14 years old and also worked with a neighbor who did Heating and Air during the summer, to pay for my first car. How many 16 year olds did you see 5 years ago getting brand new cars, and never even so much mowed a neighbors yard. So if it's history you want to look at, go back a little further than Bush's Presidency as well as look at a few things being tried right now by our current President that have been tried and failed in other countries numerous times.
I will end this rant on one note. You can't just simply throw money at a problem and hope it goes away. A little hard work and sacrifice is needed by Congress, not the American people they already know how to do that.

Ymerej of SC 9:45AM November 08, 2011

The census bureau data is for individuals living in America. Not all of those are "Americans" legally in the country. The illegal population has poverty rates that are higher that the overall population. So the numbers are not a bad as reported in this article.
But there is still a significant poverty problem in the US. It is the government's responsibility to help those in poverty escape poverty. But the poor also have a responsibility to change their behavior. If you cannot support the children you have, don't have more children. If you dropped out of high school, go back to class or get a GED. A recent article in my local newspaper illustrated that lack of a high school education was a major factor in poverty.
A large percentage of the adult poor are poor because of decisions they have made during their life. Children are a different story. Many are poor because of the behavior of their parents. How do we help the children without rewarding irresponsible behavior by their parents?

Bob of TX 9:34AM November 08, 2011

Leslie Marshall states: "The elitist on the right would have you believe they're hippies, homeless, druggies, and lazy, non-working Americans who you would find at an Occupy Wall Street protest in a city or town near you."
Let me clue you, Ms. Marshall! These people are just exactly that and worse! They are vagrants, bandits, robbers, thieves, child molesters, and rapists! Have a look at any mugshots.com in any city in the country and there they are....
Last Wednesday, my curiousity brought me and my friend to the Port of Oakland to see if "occupy" was doing any good at all. After I saw the "reverse vigilante", along with the "chanting" (which turned to violence later on, btw), I got my little a-- out of there in a hurry! This even made the national news: "Occupy Oakland Violence: Peaceful Occupy Protests Degenerate Into Chaos" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/occupy-oakland-violence-_n_1073325.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HP%2FBusiness+(Business+on+The+Huffington+Post)
I'm here to tell you it isn't just the elitist right who believe this "occupy" junk is denegrating .....it's anyone who has a lick of sense!
Which brings me to you and your "blog", Ms. Marshall. I firmly believe YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! You are merely a propagandist, through and through!

Barbara Hensley of CA 7:07AM November 08, 2011

Sorry bruce , R.L. Schaefer is spot . More money into a goverment under control ( spending less ) is more money for the truley needy . R.L. plan will bring big money into the goverment by putting more people to work and thus create less people dependant on the goverment ( bad for democrats )
Ms Marshall , quite the bias article . You leave out the poverty level has been raised . You leave out what the people in poverty really have and pay for ( I phones and such ) . You leave out how the numbers have grown under Obama as has the food stamps . The idea is get people jobs , better jobs and a competitive job market .
R.L. Schaefer , only problem I see is . if we create to many jobs that require effort and common sense the public education system hasn't produced enough people to do them .

Hunter of WI 7:19PM November 07, 2011

somethings never change,the sun rises in the east,set in the west,and the republicans,led by paul ryan and the leadership, are hell bent on futher oppressing those most vulnerable by their callous and punitive ideas and actions.
the figures quoted in miss . marshall's column speak volumes about whats happening to an ever growing segment of our population.
her comments on the bush tax cuts are also spot on!

bruce b of NV 5:56PM November 07, 2011

AMERICA IS TOAST.... UNLESS,
1. Eliminate the Capital Gains Tax for investment in companies that create jobs based on a preset formula.
2. Reduce corporate income taxes based on a "jobs" formula, and raise taxes on exec pay. Salaries and bonuses at 400 times that of the average worker are obscene and unwarranted.
3. Massive tax incentives for companies who bring "out sourced" foreign jobs back home - Penalties on those who don't.
4. Put the "hard green" dogma/agenda in the trash bin. Dogmatic regulations make competition difficult, and result in higher costs and lower employment.
5. Forget National Health Care. Merely subsidize a percentage of the premiums for low income families. Medicare for folks over 50 or with preexisting conditions. Hog tie the trial lawyers, and allow free competition in the marketplace. There's no need to dismantle the whole system and raise everyone's taxes to fix a few glitches. Means testing for SSI and Medicare is the ONLY WAY to save the system.
6. Start drilling everywhere - including off shore - especially in California, and Alaska (remember, offshore drilling actually reduces natural seepage from undersea fissures). Tweak shale oil, natural gas and clean coal technology. Stop tearing down damns because of fish and frog worries, and fast track nuclear plants. Low cost energy is a must for our economy. The Algore-rithms for Global Warming are faulty - Get a life and move on Al.
7. Stop the insane ethanol fiasco. Ethanol damages engines, uses more energy in its production than it produces and increases world hunger. Families need less expensive food - not more expensive, gas.
8. Cut government red tape to the bone from the city to the federal level. Building projects need to be fast-tracked - not tied in regulatory knots over a thousand issues with Environmentalist theology. Government needs to "relearn" common sense and judgment. Stop micromanaging and creating roadblocks over insignificant issues. We're in an economic war - Get a move on!
9. Close that southern border! Deport those who are here less than 5 years. Fine companies who hire illegals.
10. Schools need to stop downgrading blue collar jobs. We need industry, and God knows there is no shame in hard work. Everyone can't shuffle paper or be a computer wizard. A service economy is a dead end.
Are we going to find the common sense and political will to do these things? Not a chance.
So, like I said - We're toast.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 4:48PM November 07, 2011