Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Real Unemployment
A more accurate picture of the unemployment picture in this country comes from newly released reports on food banks. When you read the article, the true picture emerges of poverty in the United States. Those who have given up looking for a job or who have run out of unemployment benefits fall off of the official unemployment statistics. These stats don't give a true picture of the American experience. This report comes much closer.
The report found that about 66 percent of those needing food are living below the official poverty line—$15,670 per year for a family of three. The average annual household income of those individuals and families seeking food assistance is only $10,320. However, 10 percent of all adults had no income at all, which is a 37 percent increase in this category since 2001.