This article is from the Daily Signal.
Excerpt:
Today, the Census Bureau will release its annual poverty report. It will almost certainly report that over 40 million Americans “live in poverty.”
But what does it mean to be poor in America? To the average American, the word “poverty” suggests significant material deprivation. But the actual living conditions of those the government defines as poor differ greatly from this perception.
According to the government’s own reports, the typical American defined as poor by the Census Bureau has a car, air conditioning, and cable or satellite TV. Half of the poor have computers, 43 percent have Internet, and 40 percent have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
Far from being overcrowded, poor Americans have more living space in their home than the average non-poor person in Western Europe. Some 42 percent of all poor households actually own their own homes; on average, this is a well-maintained three-bedroom house with one and a half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 4 percent of poor children were hungry for even a single day in the prior year because the family could not afford food. By its own report, the average poor person had sufficient funds to meet all essential needs and was able to obtain medical care for his family throughout the year whenever needed.
The left likes to claim that the U.S. has far more poverty than other advanced nations. But those claims are based on comparisons that set a higher standard for escaping poverty in the U.S. than elsewhere.
When a single uniform standard is used, the U.S. is shown to have poverty rates that are very similar to other advanced nations, slightly higher or lower depending on the exact measure used.
I think we definitely want to be careful about the outcry on the secular left about “poverty”. Their solution always seems to be that we need to move in the direction of socialism. And socialism means that the government gets bigger by taking money and liberty away from families, churches and businesses.
As a Christian, my goals are all gospel-centric. My interest in politics is because I want to live in a society that respects my right to work, earn and save, so that I can spend and give in a way that advances the gospel. My job is not to transfer my money to lazy people in their dependence on government. I go to work so that I can have the fuel I need to respect God in my decision-making. The secular government is interested in other goals – like getting elected. I don’t want them using my money for their goals. I have my own goals.
WINTERY KNIGHT 
Well said.
Mental illness is so often the main source of true material poverty that I have witnessed.
Another spiritual dimension to this is that the church so easily wants and allows the government to be the source of charity. Why not really get behind this and cut the church care programs and tell believers to pay higher taxes voluntarily and to write their representatives to increase spending?
The answer is because they want it both ways and to avoid conflicts and then to pray for revival and that they would be salt and light.
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You also have an isolation view on the left and for much of government.
Having not enough in expensive parts of a city is a different idea of being poor VS other areas where cost of living is far lower.
Many people have less money and opportunity because they refuse to move to where the work is.
An good unemployed tradesman can almost always find work somewhere if they move.
Just keep yourself from sinking more than a home is worth so it traps you from moving.
Basic economic ideas go beyond people.
If you choose to live in a poor neighbourhood as your family did for generations then it is also a life choice
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Agree. If you choose to continue your grandfather’s horse and buggy business, don’t be surprised if you’re poor. You don’t have a right to get rich doing what you feel like, living where you want, etc.
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Woah.
This post is real nice and informative.
So this is why most people from my country want to settle in the U.S.
I am from an South East Asian country and here it is a pinnacle of success if you get an American passport.But I agree,America has the greatest resources and technology in the world.
The Left,as they are famous for advocating their Socialist policies,is bad for a society.
I also came to know about the 60 million abortions since Roe v.Wade which really breaks my heart.
Since people started accepting pre-marital sex,the society changed for the worst.
Can you tell me that do you support the seperation of the Church and State??
Are there people who don’t??
I mean is it a taboo topic to talk about?
Sorry I don’t know..just curious.
I am Yash btw.😄
I would like to thank you for your blog for Conservatives like me who get to learn the real truth of what is really happening in America.
Have A Great Day ahead Wintery Knight!!
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The state should not be aligned with any particular denomination. There should be free expression of religious convictions for everyone at any time. The offended was of minority groups (atheists, etc.) At expressions of Christianity should not Trump religious liberty.
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I also believe in separation of state and church as a two way promise.
No specific church may write laws against the actual will of th majority. And no government is supposed to define church doctrine and practises.
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We are spiritually impoverished, not so much materially.
My only concern in terms of material poverty is being able to live in a community where my sons aren’t physically assaulted and my wife and daughters aren’t sexually assaulted.
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Yes this reminds me of what my father said to me, he is an immigrant who grew up in actual poverty, he said “even if I am considered to be poor by US standards, I am still rich compared to my home country.” Ha! So true.
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