I will start by saying, I understand poverty in America , is not the same as in Africa, or North Korea, or some Middle Eastern countries. However, based on the standards of industrialized nations and education standards, and human rights standards, I will be discussing our poverty level based on the fact we are a world super power and not a third world nation. We are " The United States of America" and we should hold ourselves to the highest standard.
With that said lets use ( http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml ) as our starting point for what the "Government" sees poverty as, and then compare and contrast that to what " real poverty terms" are in America based on income levels, and how many Americans are really victims.
Let's start with a number. 2.87 That is the family size the 2010 Census survey said the households, in America of those with just a High School education. So since we cant have 3/4 of a person lets round up due to it being closer to 3 then it is 2. So we have a house hold with three (3) people here, two adults and one child. According to the Health and Human Services Department of the government, a household of 3 is a balmy... $19,090. really this is the line. We are going to use as well the line for a family of 5, their poverty line is $27,010. Now our contrast is what most people would consider to be, middle class earners for a family of (3), $48,500. To show the reality of " REAL TERM POVERTY" that American's face.
There are a few conditions to take into account. I am not going to calculate any government aid the low income families may be getting ( in real cases) nor will I show examples of cost of living prices in every single state. There will be a difference from the East Coast to West Coast to the Midwest. I will be using costs in the Midwest, because that's what I know. Now lets list the basics almost all house holds must have just for survival.
rent/ mortgage................................$900 mo. X 12 = $10,800
electric bill......................................$100 mo. X 12 = $1,200
natural gas......................................$120 mo. X 12 = $1,440
gas for the car................................$160 mo. X 12 = $1,920
groceries........................................$400 mo. X 12 = $4,800
cell phone/home phone......................$80 mo. X 12 = $960
internet/cable.....................................$90 mo. X 12 = $1,080 ...............grand total...= $22,200
car payment (only for middle class families) $295 mo. X 12 = $3,540.............= $25,740
So a family of 3 is in poverty if they earn $19,090 but it takes $22,200 - $25,740 to just cover the basics. This doesn't cover child care, savings, putting away money for Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries,
The money here is also what is needed brought home $22,200 to do that, you would need to gross about $26,900.. Anybody that has kids, knows it takes a lot more then a couple $1,000 a year to raise a child, especially when they are school age. According to these monthly bills I think it save to say that the poverty line for a family of 3 should be closer to $35,000 a year. American's are told one thing by government officials, most of whom earn well over the income levels of most middle class American's, that poverty is at one level, but so many 10 of millions more live at levels that only allow them to.. work eat sleep, repeat.
Lets talk about " real poverty" levels. Good Luck America.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
WEEKEND AT THE MOVIES
Well since the big chill has settled into the Midwest, I decided to spend a couple hours in the comfy confines of a warm theater for a couple hours. So while I drank a hot cup of tea this morning, and skimmed through the Sunday morning edition of the Wall Street Journal, I trolled the start times and found " Silver Linings Playbook" I have to say, as my wife and I entered the theater we just wanted to hang out and unwind for a bit, and go home. With no expectations of the movie going in, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the trials and tribulations of (Bradly Cooper) Pat. And Jennifer Lawrence was delightful and refreshing. The cast was a well rounded group, even having high profile actors like Robert De Niro, , Chris Tucker and Julia Stiles, it didn't seem to overwhelm the story line. Which took on a hot topic now in America, mental health issues and how families deal with them.
So here goes my rating "Silver Linings Playbook"
Depth of story, story line............................C+
Depth of characters .................................. B+
Overall quality of movie..............................B-
So here goes my rating "Silver Linings Playbook"
Depth of story, story line............................C+
Depth of characters .................................. B+
Overall quality of movie..............................B-
Sunday, January 13, 2013
WEEKEND AT THE MOVIES
Well I went to the matinee today and took in a Sunday morning movie. "Zero Dark Thirty" was on the menu for me. The price for a MJR early bird showing is only $5.00 and this is when I watch all the movies I go to see. I take in a bottle of water, and sometimes a little snack,usually a zip lock bag with some animal crackers, or grapes. On this day however, it was just my water. As I walked into the particular viewing room for my show, I could see I was running late. Already the main previews where wrapping up and the first scene was just beginning. I am a hard person to please with a movie. I expect to be drawn into a drama, and to be convinced by the director and moreover, the actors, to pull me into the story and make me feel as if I'm there at that moment.
With that being said, I also hold actors and actresses to a high standard in their performance. Embodying, the character, and bringing the live of the story to show threw for a specific character the depth of the story is what makes or breaks a film for me, so getting the right cast is the hardest thing for a director I suppose.
So my opinion of "Zero Dark Thirty" is this. It was a little long for the dialogue riddled, action packless, marathon. The fact that there is a lot of time dedicated to this woman's insubordination through out the movie left me unamused. The movie was not quite a spy thriller, and not quite an action movie, it had a bit of an identity crisis. Patriotic ... yes it was a spike the football, wave the flag, feel good about what we are doing movie. For that I was happy.
My final grade for depth of story.......... B-
My final grade for depth of characters....C-
My final grade for over all value.............. C+
With that being said, I also hold actors and actresses to a high standard in their performance. Embodying, the character, and bringing the live of the story to show threw for a specific character the depth of the story is what makes or breaks a film for me, so getting the right cast is the hardest thing for a director I suppose.
So my opinion of "Zero Dark Thirty" is this. It was a little long for the dialogue riddled, action packless, marathon. The fact that there is a lot of time dedicated to this woman's insubordination through out the movie left me unamused. The movie was not quite a spy thriller, and not quite an action movie, it had a bit of an identity crisis. Patriotic ... yes it was a spike the football, wave the flag, feel good about what we are doing movie. For that I was happy.
My final grade for depth of story.......... B-
My final grade for depth of characters....C-
My final grade for over all value.............. C+
Saturday, January 12, 2013
GUN VIOLENCE, A NON -ISSUE IN AMERICA
The 2010 census report in America revealed there to be 308.7 million people living in the United States. Of these 308.7 million people there are 217,149,127 people age 16 and over. Of these the make up of males between the age of 16 and 50, is 74,609,713. That is 74 million, 609 thousand and 713 males in America, between the age of 16 - 59. As a nation, we are a fairly large, and a diverse population, among the rest of the world, America ranks 3rd of 200 countries. However, the debate we are having here in the United States, over the 2nd amendment, is dividing this nation and stressing relations of brothers against brothers, fathers against sons.
In Newtown Connecticut, on December, 14th 2012, Adam Lanza shot his own mother to death in her home, then went to the local elementary school with a hand gun and assault rifle, and shot and killed 6 school employees and 20 children. These are the facts and the totality of the destruction.
According to the 2010 statistics posted by the F.B.I., 8,775 people were killed in the United States by firearms. Of those people killed, 6009 people were killed by handguns (pistols), 358 were killed by rifles. As Washington descends down upon the 2nd amendment, like a bird to its prey, the lines are being drawn in the sand. Debates are hostile and normal everyday Americans are exhibiting hostility not seen in over 50 years towards one another. Anti-gun, special interest groups have decided to use this incident to position themselves right between Americans and their guns.
The narrative that is being used by most of these groups, and force fed by the media, is one that so many Americans every year are being killed by guns. The fact that 20 children were killed, in school nonetheless, and two weeks before Christmas, has presented a golden egg for these groups, as well as for a very liberal anti-gun president. Unfortunately, the narrative that is being presented is completely exaggerated and, a knee jerk reaction, as a consequence to a terrible incident that killed 20 kids. As tragic as it all was in Newtown, anti-gun people are attacking assault riffles, particularly, when fact is the rifle jammed on the shooter and was found in the hallway, most of the victims were shot with the .40 cal. hand guns he took into the school with him. This is evidence that the real issue is not going to be addressed, nor do the anti-gun groups or the President have any interest, other than infringing American rights.
We are in a place where the truth needs to be talked about. Moreover we need to be honest with ourselves and expose the media, and special-interest anti-gun lobbyists, for their intentional, and malicious, deceit towards the American people.
Here are a few looks at statistics, some numbers, that bring all this into perspective:
2010 deaths caused by shotguns .....................................................................373
2010 deaths caused by knives and other cutting instruments.............................1,704
2010 deaths caused by blunt objects (tire irons, hammers, bats)..........................540
2010 deaths caused by personal weapons (hands, feet and ect.).........................742
2010 deaths caused by riffles (including assault weapons)..................................358 *
These stats are provided by the F.B.I. 2010 crime report. I ask you, why are we allowing the special-interest groups and the anti-gun President to attack the rights of law abiding gun owners? When clearly this is not even the issue? It is however, simply being motivated and moved on a wave of emotion, over 20 children. The government is not wasting a perfectly good tragedy, to maneuver their political agenda squarely in a place to capitalize on the misfortune of little kids and grieving parents.
Wake up America, my fellow Americans, and see the Trojan horse for what it is: A crafty play by a crafty Chicago politician that only looks to divide and destroy the rights of law abiding Americans.
God bless and this is "THE BOTTOM LINE".
In Newtown Connecticut, on December, 14th 2012, Adam Lanza shot his own mother to death in her home, then went to the local elementary school with a hand gun and assault rifle, and shot and killed 6 school employees and 20 children. These are the facts and the totality of the destruction.
According to the 2010 statistics posted by the F.B.I., 8,775 people were killed in the United States by firearms. Of those people killed, 6009 people were killed by handguns (pistols), 358 were killed by rifles. As Washington descends down upon the 2nd amendment, like a bird to its prey, the lines are being drawn in the sand. Debates are hostile and normal everyday Americans are exhibiting hostility not seen in over 50 years towards one another. Anti-gun, special interest groups have decided to use this incident to position themselves right between Americans and their guns.
The narrative that is being used by most of these groups, and force fed by the media, is one that so many Americans every year are being killed by guns. The fact that 20 children were killed, in school nonetheless, and two weeks before Christmas, has presented a golden egg for these groups, as well as for a very liberal anti-gun president. Unfortunately, the narrative that is being presented is completely exaggerated and, a knee jerk reaction, as a consequence to a terrible incident that killed 20 kids. As tragic as it all was in Newtown, anti-gun people are attacking assault riffles, particularly, when fact is the rifle jammed on the shooter and was found in the hallway, most of the victims were shot with the .40 cal. hand guns he took into the school with him. This is evidence that the real issue is not going to be addressed, nor do the anti-gun groups or the President have any interest, other than infringing American rights.
We are in a place where the truth needs to be talked about. Moreover we need to be honest with ourselves and expose the media, and special-interest anti-gun lobbyists, for their intentional, and malicious, deceit towards the American people.
Here are a few looks at statistics, some numbers, that bring all this into perspective:
2010 deaths caused by shotguns .....................................................................373
2010 deaths caused by knives and other cutting instruments.............................1,704
2010 deaths caused by blunt objects (tire irons, hammers, bats)..........................540
2010 deaths caused by personal weapons (hands, feet and ect.).........................742
2010 deaths caused by riffles (including assault weapons)..................................358 *
These stats are provided by the F.B.I. 2010 crime report. I ask you, why are we allowing the special-interest groups and the anti-gun President to attack the rights of law abiding gun owners? When clearly this is not even the issue? It is however, simply being motivated and moved on a wave of emotion, over 20 children. The government is not wasting a perfectly good tragedy, to maneuver their political agenda squarely in a place to capitalize on the misfortune of little kids and grieving parents.
Wake up America, my fellow Americans, and see the Trojan horse for what it is: A crafty play by a crafty Chicago politician that only looks to divide and destroy the rights of law abiding Americans.
God bless and this is "THE BOTTOM LINE".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)