Poverty Grew In One-Third Of U.S. Counties Despite Strong National Economy

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

Poverty Grew in One-Third of Counties Despite Strong National Economy

Most of the biggest increases were in areas both rural and Southern. Those areas generally had residents who lacked job training and skills and industries that suffered downturns.

For many counties, rising poverty rates underscore the importance of fully counting residents in next year’s census, since a count of low-income residents will help determine funding available to help them.

Alabama, where poverty grew in 27 of 67 counties, named a rural development manager in August to help create jobs in rural areas, a move that Bullock County welcomed, said David Padgett, the county’s economic developer.

Bullock County had the second-biggest increase in poverty in the country, up almost 10 points between 2016 and 2018 to 42.5%.

I have witnessed this first-hand. My uncle owns a construction company, every summer he funds a missionary to the Appalachia to rebuild / repair homes in dire condition, puts together a crew. I've been working on it since I was a kid. Some of the poverty is absolutely stunning, considering that this is right here in America. Humans needing to use buckets instead of toilets on account of the plumbing issues. Nearly everybody we've worked on behalf of has multiple jobs to try to survive. They are one emergency away from financial ruination.

Mountainmanbob · Dec 21, 2019

Seems to be time
to start helping our own?

Let's all do our part so as to
Make America Great Again.
M-Bob

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

Mountainmanbob said:
Seems to be time
to start helping our own?

Let's all do our part so as to
Make America Great Again.
M-Bob

Exactly right, Bob! We need to expand medicare for all so younger folks can enjoy the social medicine you enjoy. Many of the folks I've helped out are living in dire conditions, but still don't qualify for Medicaid. We need to have a living wage. More affordable college. Renewable energy. Hold Wall Street accountable. Close up the tax loopholes that Trump infamously bragged he was smart to use to avoid paying federal income taxes for years. Glad to see eye to eye with you on this one, Bob.

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
Poverty Grew in One-Third of Counties Despite Strong National Economy

I have witnessed this first-hand. My uncle owns a construction company, every summer he funds a missionary to the Appalachia to rebuild / repair homes in dire condition, puts together a crew. I've been working on it since I was a kid. Some of the poverty is absolutely stunning, considering that this is right here in America. Humans needing to use buckets instead of toilets on account of the plumbing issues. Nearly everybody we've worked on behalf of has multiple jobs to try to survive. They are one emergency away from financial ruination.

Reducing poverty begins with practical education. If your toilet doesn't work, dig an outhouse.

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

There definitely needs to be more of a focus on caring for children. Making sure not a single child in America goes without lunch at our schools, is not shamed on account of their parents not being able to pay for it. Make sure our teachers are getting paid decently. One lady at my church who is a teacher took on her 3rd job to be able to support her family. Her son has expensive medical needs. Her husband died in an accident, but had first been in the hospital for months, so his life insurance got drained by paying his medical bills. Teachers need to have teaching as their only job, it's hard enough. We need to make sure that the public schools have got solid fact-based education, books, and supplies for all students. Proper classrooms.

We fixed up trailers at a school in Kentucky. They used trailers for classrooms. The trailers were boiling hot in the warmer months, so cold in the winter that they had to wear mittens.

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
Close up the tax loopholes that Trump infamously bragged he was smart to use to avoid paying federal income taxes for years.

There's no such thing as 'loopholes' in the tax code. There is only the 'tax code'. All businesses take advantage of the tax code, especially the capital gains rules. When a business pays no Fed taxes it's usually because they have reinvested the profits in expansion of their company. This creates more productive jobs in the private sector than in the public sector. It also spreads the money around more widely (trickle down).

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
There's no such thing as 'loopholes' in the tax code. There is only the 'tax code'. All businesses take advantage of the tax code, especially the capital gains rules. When a business pays no Fed taxes it's usually because they have reinvested the profits in expansion of their company. This creates more productive jobs in the private sector than in the public sector. It also spreads the money around more widely (trickle down).

It's not "trickling down" in the rural areas of America.

They're colloquially called loopholes.

Trump made a loss of almost $1 billion in 1995 and used that loss to avoid paying income tax for almost two decades while still lapping it up.

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
There definitely needs to be more of a focus on caring for children. Making sure not a single child in America goes without lunch at our schools, is not shamed on account of their parents not being able to pay for it. Make sure our teachers are getting paid decently. One lady at my church who is a teacher took on her 3rd job to be able to support her family. Her son has expensive medical needs. Her husband died in an accident, but had first been in the hospital for months, so his life insurance got drained by paying his medical bills. Teachers need to have teaching as their only job, it's hard enough. We need to make sure that the public schools have got solid fact-based education, books, and supplies for all students. Proper classrooms.

We fixed up trailers at a school in Kentucky. They used trailers for classrooms. The trailers were boiling hot in the warmer months, so cold in the winter that they had to wear mittens.

If teachers are struggling that much perhaps they should seek better paying jobs. We don't need martyrs in the classroom.

I lived in a 'classroom size' trailer (manufactured home). It was comfortable year around and at low cost.

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
If teachers are struggling that much perhaps they should seek better paying jobs. We don't need martyrs in the classroom.

I lived in a 'classroom size' trailer (manufactured home). It was comfortable year around and at low cost.

That's exactly why America has a national teacher shortage. Our teachers are struggling so much and decided to seek better paying jobs so they could take care of their family's needs. You're right that our teachers shouldn't be forced to be martyrs.

How many folks lived in that trailer with you?

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
It's not "trickling down" in the rural areas of America.

Education.

Go Braves said:
They're colloquially called loopholes.

The term suggests a way around the rules. Tax exemptions and deferrals are part of the rules.

Go Braves said:
Trump made a loss of almost $1 billion in 1995 and used that loss to avoid paying income tax for almost two decades while still lapping it up.

It's called a "loss carryover", part of the tax code.

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
Education.

Exactly why it's a disgrace that our Secretary of Education who was never a teacher or an administrator, never got a degree related to teaching, was given the job on account of her billionaire family having donated to Republicans. And her brother being Trump's close associate.

Exactly why funding needs to go into improving our schools. Having teachers paid a good salary so they're not forced to be, as you put it, "martyrs in the classroom."

Not a good, or honest, term.

It's one Donald Trump has used, so maybe you've got a point there.

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
That's exactly why America has a national teacher shortage. Our teachers are struggling so much and decided to seek better paying jobs so they could take care of their family's needs. You're right that our teachers shouldn't be forced to be martyrs.

Not quite. Many leave for other reasons; mainly frustration with the school boards and administrators. Plus uncontrolled behavior issues with the kids.

Go Braves said:
How many folks lived in that trailer with you?

Why does that matter? Lots of bodies generate heat in small spaces.

Mountainmanbob · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
There definitely needs to be more of a focus on caring for children. Making sure not a single child in America goes without lunch at our schools,

is not shamed on account of their parents not being able to pay for it. Make sure our teachers are getting paid decently. One lady at my church who is a teacher took on her 3rd job to be able to support her family. Her son has expensive medical needs. Her husband died in an accident, but had first been in the hospital for months, so his life insurance got drained by paying his medical bills. Teachers need to have teaching as their only job, it's hard enough. We need to make sure that the public schools have got solid fact-based education, books, and supplies for all students. Proper classrooms.

We fixed up trailers at a school in Kentucky. They used trailers for classrooms. The trailers were boiling hot in the warmer months, so cold in the winter that they had to wear mittens.

I thought we had that in the US?
My wife as most know is a teacher and they have had a school lunch program for 20 years or more?

If not available to all you are right --
let's get on it ASAP.

Although I prefer other lunches those senior lunch programs are also enjoyed by many.
M-BOB

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted mealprogram operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service | USDA-FNS › nslp
National School Lunch Program | USDA-FNS

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

Mountainmanbob said:
I thought we had that in the US?
My wife as most know is a teacher and they have had a school lunch program for 20 years or more?

If not available to all you are right --
let's get on it ASAP.

Although I prefer other lunches those senior lunch programs are also enjoyed by many.
M-BOB

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted mealprogram operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.
View attachment 268864
USDA Food and Nutrition Service | USDA-FNS › nslp
National School Lunch Program | USDA-FNS

Opinion | School lunch shaming is a national embarrassment. Here's how to fix it.

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
Exactly why it's a disgrace that our Secretary of Education who was never a teacher or an administrator, never got a degree related to teaching,

A past recently hired auto industry CEO when asked what his experience building cars was replied, "I don't have to know how to build cars. I hire people that know how to build cars."

Go Braves said:
Exactly why funding needs to go into improving our schools. Having teachers paid a good salary so they're not forced to be, as you put it, "martyrs in the classroom."

I suggest fixing those other problems first. Raising their pay hasn't stopped the hemorrhage of teachers.

Go Braves said:
It's one Donald Trump has used, so maybe you've got a point there.

Donald used the term purposely to get a reaction. Like tossing mash to a flock of hungry chickens (he does that a lot).

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
Not quite. Many leave for other reasons; mainly frustration with the school boards and administrators. Plus uncontrolled behavior issues with the kids.

Like you said, teachers shouldn't be expected to be martyrs. Putting up with frustrations - much of which has to do with financial issues - in addition to the stresses of teaching - when they don't even earn a salary that enables them to take care of their own family's needs.

Why does that matter? Lots of bodies generate heat in small spaces.

Exactly right, which is why it's miserable in August through October, then again from March-May. It was so hot in August it was a danger to the kids, they were getting cooked in those trailers.

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
A past recently hired auto industry CEO when asked what his experience building cars was replied, "I don't have to know how to build cars. I hire people that know how to build cars."

I suggest fixing those other problems first. Raising their pay hasn't stopped the hemorrhage of teachers.

Donald used the term purposely to get a reaction. Like tossing mash to a flock of hungry chickens (he does that a lot).

Teacher salaries in America have fallen in many areas, come up only incrementally in others.

Donald used the term purposely to get a reaction. Like tossing mash to a flock of hungry chickens (he does that a lot).

That's why you gave that reaction to the word then. Got it!

JackRT · Dec 21, 2019

Maybe if CEOs and senior level executives curtailed their greed somewhat? A lovely example of that is when Nortelcom collapsed and went into bankruptcy some 10 years ago. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that the workers received their back pay and a pension settlement. Now, here's the kicker --- the senior level executives received their full pay including annual bonuses for that entire time. What is wrong here?

OldWiseGuy · Dec 21, 2019

Go Braves said:
Like you said, teachers shouldn't be expected to be martyrs. Putting up with frustrations - much of which has to do with financial issues - in addition to the stresses of teaching - when they don't even earn a salary that enables them to take care of their own family's needs.

School districts only have so much money. Eliminate anything that doesn't belong in the school budget and they'll have plenty of money for teacher pay.

Go Braves said:
Exactly right, which is why it's miserable in August through October, then again from March-May. It was so hot in August it was a danger to the kids, they were getting cooked in those trailers.

No air conditioning?

Go Braves · Dec 21, 2019

OldWiseGuy said:
School districts only have so much money. Eliminate anything that doesn't belong in the school budget and they'll have plenty of money for teacher pay.

Exactly why school districts need to be better funded.

No air conditioning?

Not any that had worked in the lifetime of the kids taught in that trailer, probably not even in the lifetime of many of the teachers. They were so outdated that when we replaced them it took a heck of a lot longer on account of how the standard size had changed since they were installed.

So did you live alone in that trailer of yours? That would help explain why you weren't nearly as miserable as you'd have been if 30 people had been crammed in there with you.

Poverty Grew In One-Third Of U.S. Counties Despite Strong National Economy

I miss Senator McCain

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I miss Senator McCain

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I miss Senator McCain

Wake me when it's soup.

I miss Senator McCain

Wake me when it's soup.

I miss Senator McCain

Wake me when it's soup.

I miss Senator McCain

Wake me when it's soup.

Goat Whisperer

I miss Senator McCain

Wake me when it's soup.

I miss Senator McCain

I miss Senator McCain

Well-Known Member

Wake me when it's soup.

I miss Senator McCain

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