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While its probably true that very few people in the developed world starve due to poverty, lack of access to food is a serious problem. I'm not American, but yo

While its probably true that very few people in the developed world starve due to poverty, lack of access to food is a serious problem. I'm not American, but you might want to check this [1] article in the Washington Post that links to a USDA report [2] on the links between unemployment and lack of access to food. Its from 2008 but still pertinent I think. "And now even a person at the brink of the level of poverty in America has access to clean water, toilet, TV, mobile phone and for most of them, internet as well" This is so far from reality that its hard to know where to start. [1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111601598.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11... [2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/usda_report_household_food_security_2008.pdf?sid=ST2009111601621 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/usda_r...

ekianjo 15y ago
I didn't invent anything. Those are national statistics: WHAT POOR OWN Although people often equate poverty with material hardship, studies have shown that people in poverty often have a variety of major appliances and entertainment and informational equipment. The chart shows the percentage of people in poverty who own major consumer goods and appliances. Goods; Percentage Homes, 46 Car or truck, 72.8 Two or more cars or trucks, 30.2 Refrigerator, 98.9 Clothes washer, 64.7 Clothes dryer, 55.6 Dishwasher, 33.9 Garbage disposal, 29.7 Microwave, 73.3 Color television, 97.3 Two or more color TVs, 55.3 Cable or satellite TV, 62.6 Large screen TV, 25.3 VCR or DVD, 78.0 Two or more VCRs or DVDs, 25.3 Stereo, 58.6 Telephone answering machine, 35.3 Cell phone, 26.8 Computer, 24.6 Internet access, 18 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, American Housing Survey --- this is from 2006 so you should expect the mobile phone and internet access ratio to be on the significant rise.

ekianjo 15y ago

I didn't invent anything. Those are national statistics: WHAT POOR OWN Although people often equate poverty with material hardship, studies have shown that people in poverty often have a variety of major appliances and entertainment and informational equipment. The chart shows the percentage of people in poverty who own major consumer goods and appliances. Goods; Percentage Homes, 46 Car or truck, 72.8 Two or more cars or trucks, 30.2 Refrigerator, 98.9 Clothes washer, 64.7 Clothes dryer, 55.6 Dishwasher, 33.9 Garbage disposal, 29.7 Microwave, 73.3 Color television, 97.3 Two or more color TVs, 55.3 Cable or satellite TV, 62.6 Large screen TV, 25.3 VCR or DVD, 78.0 Two or more VCRs or DVDs, 25.3 Stereo, 58.6 Telephone answering machine, 35.3 Cell phone, 26.8 Computer, 24.6 Internet access, 18 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, American Housing Survey --- this is from 2006 so you should expect the mobile phone and internet access ratio to be on the significant rise.