Cause for Serious Concern

That new information – as described and reported by Kate Randall – notes that, "The poverty rate [in the United States] rose across virtually all demographic groups. Poverty among Hispanics climbed from 21.5 percent in 2007 to 23.2 percent in 2008. Non-Hispanic whites saw poverty rise from 8.2 percent in 2007 to 8.6 percent in 2008, while poverty among Asians was up from 10.2 percent in 2007 to 11.8 percent in 2008. African-Americans were the only group where poverty remained statistically unchanged at a staggering 24.7 percent or about one in four people."

Randall notes that, "The rate of poverty among America’s children is alarming, with 19 percent—14.1 million children—affected in 2008, up a full percentage point from a year earlier. This rate increased in 26 states and in Washington, DC. Children in families headed by a single female suffered the highest rates of poverty: 43.5 percent of those fewer than 18 years of age live in poverty, while 53.3 percent of children under 6 years are poor.

"Increasing numbers of families, both the jobless and workers facing shrinking hours and paychecks, are turning to food pantries and the Food Stamp program…"

This phenomenon is rabidly pervasive. As Randall reports, "Food Stamp use in 2008 jumped 13 percent to nearly 9.8 million US households, led by Louisiana, Maine and Kentucky. Two cities—Pharr, Texas, and the former General Motors production center, Flint, Michigan—each had more than a third of their residents on food stamps. Families with two or more workers accounted for 28.4 percent of food stamp recipients in 2008, up 1.5 percent from 2007…"

The clear implication for us here in the Bahamas is to the effect that, those eternally optimistic among us who believe that things are set to turn around and that once they do happy days would be back might well be in for a shock of a life-time.

That shock – as we have previously suggested – turns on our considered conclusion that things as they once were are over.

Of necessity, this implies that the search must be on for a new paradigm, a new way of coping in a time when austerity is set to become the new ‘normal’.

While some might wish to dismiss this argument and then and thereafter consign us to oblivion, might be well-advised to take note how the current economic crisis has devastated America’s working people.

Here take note [with Randall] that, "The overall poverty rate in the US rose to 13.2 percent in 2008, as workers across all sectors of the economy became jobless and increasing numbers of families were forced into destitution, according to a new government report. Real median household income also declined by 3.6 percent.

"The report released Tuesday, part of the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, is the most recent to measure the recession’s impact on working class families and the poor.

"Based on the changes between 2007 and 2008, the first full year of the recession, its findings do not reflect increases in poverty and joblessness this year as the consequences of the crisis have become even more acute…"

And as the same Kate Randall notes, "The gap between the richest and poorest Americans is also widening as the economic crisis ravages household budgets…"

In addition take note that, "An Associated Press analysis of the Census Bureau statistics shows that the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans, those making $138,000 or more a year, earned 11.4 times the $12,000 made by individuals living below the poverty line in 2008. In 2007, the richest 10 percent made 11.2 times more.

"The jump in poverty and income inequality comes as the job market continues to shrink, even as government and economic analysts speak of a turnaround. According to US Labor Department figures from July, job seekers now outnumber openings six to one, with only 2.4 million full-time, permanent jobs open while 14.5 million people are officially unemployed and looking for work…"

In other words, the times are tough for tens of millions of Americans. Evidently, as they reel and sway under the weight of their own distresses, fewer and fewer of them will have access to cash or credit for that dream-trip to paradise, wherever it happens to be in this world.

Indeed, these people have some very real problems of their own.

Much of this is underscored by Randall when she notes that, "The official poverty rate of 13.2 percent in 2008 was up from 12.5 percent in 2007.

And so the conclusion beckons that, we must – as a people – gird ourselves for all that these numbers imply for our immediate prospects in a world over which we have so little control.