census bureau

It has been a growing problem in this nation for decades and it continues to increase every year – income disparity:

The income gap between the richest and poorest Americans grew last year to its widest amount on record as young adults and children in particular struggled to stay afloat in the recession.

The top-earning 20 percent of Americans - those making more than $100,000 each year - received 49.4 percent of all income generated in the U.S., compared with the 3.4 percent earned by those below the poverty line, according to newly released census figures. That ratio of 14.5-to-1 was an increase from 13.6 in 2008 and nearly double a low of 7.69 in 1968.

A different measure, the international Gini index, found U.S. income inequality at its highest level since the Census Bureau began tracking household income in 1967. The U.S. also has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations.

The census also shows that those making over $180,000 a year (the top 5%) saw an increase in income last year, while those making less than $50,000 saw their income decline. Like wise lower-skilled adults from 18 to 34 saw the largest increase in poverty levels last year.

Bob has found a couple of interesting articles. It turns out back during the last census, the Bush administration made decisions involving the decision that made it so the Census Bureau no longer had the authority to adjust the count. This was after this:

[Bush Commerce Secretary Don Evans] Friday issued a rule that makes him the final arbiter over the hotly contested political issue of whether the initial population count is accurate or needs to be statistically adjusted. The move removes from the Census bureau the decision over whether to adjust the 2000 count to guard against an undercount of minorities and low income Americans.

So if the Republicans want to claim that Obama is trying to play politics with the census, then I say fine, but let's not act like he is doing some "big illegal move". Bush did far worse, including trying to disparage minority counts, and not one Republican bitched. Why? Because they got more seats.

In the very least, Obama is being open and transparent about his decision. We sure didn't see that under George "signing statement" Bush.

That is the nicest way I can describe John McCain and his campaign. This is a prime example of this:

But the numbers are misleading, said John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, a right-leaning Dallas-based think tank. Mr. Goodman, who helped craft Sen. John McCain's health care policy, said anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort. (Hospital emergency rooms by law cannot turn away a patient in need of immediate care.)

"So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime," Mr. Goodman said. "The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care.

"So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."

So the guy who helped McCain come up with his health care policy obviously has no idea about preventive care, prescriptions, testing, or just what the a trip to the emergency room costs. Costs can run into the $10,000 very easily. Just basic blood work generally runs about $500. That doesn't include the doctor!

Now listen up Obama campaign. This is a gift coming at you. You need a new ad out right now asking why John McCain wants to commit genocide against American citizens. That is exactly what his adviser is suggesting. Let them die through lack of health care.