America's Poverty Line

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.