HEY BUDDY, CANYOU SPARE ADOLLAR FORA CUP OF HOT COFFEE?

GET A JOB SOYOU CAN BUYYOUR OWNCOFFEE!

DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCESDIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCESDIFFERENT PERSPECTIVESDIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

DIFFERENT OPINIONSDIFFERENT OPINIONS

MEASURING SOCIAL CLASSMEASURING SOCIAL CLASS THE SUBJECTIVE APPROACHTHE SUBJECTIVE APPROACH

SELF-PLACEMENT SELF-PLACEMENT ASKING PEOPLE WHERE THEY THINK THEY FIT ASKING PEOPLE WHERE THEY THINK THEY FIT

INTO THE SOCIAL CLASS SYSTEMINTO THE SOCIAL CLASS SYSTEM MIDDLE-CLASS SEEMS TO BE A CATCH-ALL MIDDLE-CLASS SEEMS TO BE A CATCH-ALL

CATEGORY FOR MOST PEOPLECATEGORY FOR MOST PEOPLE

THE REPUTATIONAL MODELTHE REPUTATIONAL MODEL ASKING OTHERS WHO MAY BE WELL-ASKING OTHERS WHO MAY BE WELL-

INFORMED TO ACT AS JUDGEINFORMED TO ACT AS JUDGE BEST IN SMALL TOWN POPULATIONS WHERE BEST IN SMALL TOWN POPULATIONS WHERE

LIFE DOESN’T CHANGE MUCHLIFE DOESN’T CHANGE MUCH

THE OBJECTIVE APPROACHTHE OBJECTIVE APPROACH ASK RESPONDENTS SEVERAL QUESTIONS ASK RESPONDENTS SEVERAL QUESTIONS

ABOUT THEMELVES AND THEN USE THE ABOUT THEMELVES AND THEN USE THE DATA FOR PLACEMENT PURPOSESDATA FOR PLACEMENT PURPOSES INDICATORS MAY INCLUDE INCOME, INDICATORS MAY INCLUDE INCOME,

OCCUPATION, EDUCATION, WEALTH, OR OCCUPATION, EDUCATION, WEALTH, OR THOSE ITEMS THAT MIGHT MAKE UP A THOSE ITEMS THAT MIGHT MAKE UP A PERSON’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS (S.E.S.)PERSON’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS (S.E.S.)

I FEEL MIDDLEI FEEL MIDDLECLASS, BUT BY CLASS, BUT BY OTHERS’ STANDARDSOTHERS’ STANDARDSWE’RE PRETTYWE’RE PRETTYWELL OFF!WELL OFF!

PROPERTYPROPERTY INCOMEINCOME

THINK IN TERMS OF SPENDABLE CASH IN YOUR THINK IN TERMS OF SPENDABLE CASH IN YOUR POCKET BOOKPOCKET BOOK TOP 5 PERCENT OF AMERICANS EARN 20.3 PERCENT TOP 5 PERCENT OF AMERICANS EARN 20.3 PERCENT

OF ALL FAMILY INCOMEOF ALL FAMILY INCOME WEALTHWEALTH

THINK IN TERMS OF NET ASSETS THINK IN TERMS OF NET ASSETS TOP 1 PERCENT OF AMERICANS HOLD 5.7 TOP 1 PERCENT OF AMERICANS HOLD 5.7

TRILLION DOLLARS IN WEALTH, MORE THAN THE TRILLION DOLLARS IN WEALTH, MORE THAN THE TOTAL ASSETS OF THE BOTTOM 90 PERCENT TOTAL ASSETS OF THE BOTTOM 90 PERCENT COMBINED!COMBINED!

OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGEOCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE USED TO IDENTIFY MOST PERSONS’ SOCIAL USED TO IDENTIFY MOST PERSONS’ SOCIAL

STATUSSTATUS HIGH STATUS (“CLEAN”)JOBS TIED TOHIGH STATUS (“CLEAN”)JOBS TIED TO

HIGH INCOMEHIGH INCOME ADVANCED DEGREES IN EDUCATIONADVANCED DEGREES IN EDUCATION

GLOBALLYGLOBALLY THESE THINGS HOLD TRUE AROUND THE THESE THINGS HOLD TRUE AROUND THE

WORLDWORLD

WORKING A HOT DOGWORKING A HOT DOGSTAND DOESN’T GIVESTAND DOESN’T GIVE ME MUCH PRESTIGE,ME MUCH PRESTIGE,INCOME, OR WEATLH.INCOME, OR WEATLH.HOWEVER, THE SIDEHOWEVER, THE SIDEBENEFITS ARE GOOD…BENEFITS ARE GOOD…

OUR CLASS OUR CLASS SYSTEMSYSTEM

IN DISTRIBUTIONALIST TERMSIN DISTRIBUTIONALIST TERMS LEVELS OF INCOME, WEALTH, EDCUATION, LEVELS OF INCOME, WEALTH, EDCUATION,

OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE, AND POWEROCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE, AND POWER

IN RELATIONAL TERMSIN RELATIONAL TERMS DIFFERENT CLASSES ENJOY DIFFERENT DIFFERENT CLASSES ENJOY DIFFERENT

LEVELS OF REWARDS AND OCCUPY DISTINCT LEVELS OF REWARDS AND OCCUPY DISTINCT STRUCTURAL POSITIONS WITHIN A GIVEN STRUCTURAL POSITIONS WITHIN A GIVEN SOCIAL ECONOMYSOCIAL ECONOMY

KEY COMPONENTSKEY COMPONENTS TWO KEY FACTORSTWO KEY FACTORS

WHETHER OR NOT MEMBERS OF THE CLASS WHETHER OR NOT MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OWN THE MEANS OF CREATING SIGNIFICANT OWN THE MEANS OF CREATING SIGNIFICANT WEALTHWEALTH

WHETHER THEY EXERCISE SUBTANTIAL WHETHER THEY EXERCISE SUBTANTIAL AUTHORITY OVER OTHERSAUTHORITY OVER OTHERS

FOUR POSSIBLE COMBINATIONSFOUR POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS CAPTIALIST CLASS (YES TO BOTH)CAPTIALIST CLASS (YES TO BOTH) WORKERS (YES TO CREATING, NO TO WORKERS (YES TO CREATING, NO TO

AUTHORITY)AUTHORITY) MANAGERS (NO TO CREATING, YES TO MANAGERS (NO TO CREATING, YES TO

AUTHORITY)AUTHORITY) PETITE BOURGEOISIE (NO TO BOTH)PETITE BOURGEOISIE (NO TO BOTH)

NOW FOR MYNOW FOR MYCHANCE TO CHANCE TO BECOME ABECOME ACAPITALIST!CAPITALIST!

ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF AMERICANS FALL ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF AMERICANS FALL INTO THIS CLASSINTO THIS CLASS CHIEF ECONOMIC RESOURCECHIEF ECONOMIC RESOURCE

LOTS OF WEALTH, AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF LOTS OF WEALTH, AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF ANNUAL INCOMEANNUAL INCOME

TWO DISTINCT GROUPSTWO DISTINCT GROUPS OLD RICH OLD RICH

ROCKFELLERS, FORDS, AND DU PONTSROCKFELLERS, FORDS, AND DU PONTS NEW RICHNEW RICH

PERSONS OCCUPYING TOP EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN PERSONS OCCUPYING TOP EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN THE LARGEST CORPORATIONSTHE LARGEST CORPORATIONS

A STRONG AFFILIATIONA STRONG AFFILIATION TRADITIONALLY, MOST WERE “WASP”TRADITIONALLY, MOST WERE “WASP” LIVE TOGETHER IN SMALL ELITE COMMUNITIESLIVE TOGETHER IN SMALL ELITE COMMUNITIES PRIVATE PREP SCHOOLS AND IVY LEAGUE PRIVATE PREP SCHOOLS AND IVY LEAGUE

COLLEGESCOLLEGES CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CHARITY WORKCLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CHARITY WORK FORM VERY DISTINCT SOCIAL GROUPSFORM VERY DISTINCT SOCIAL GROUPS

UPPER MIDDLE CLASSUPPER MIDDLE CLASSABOUT 14 PERCENT OF THE ABOUT 14 PERCENT OF THE

U.S. POPULATIONU.S. POPULATION HIGH LEVEL PROFESSIONALS HIGH LEVEL PROFESSIONALS

AND MANAGERS AND MANAGERS EARNING BETWEEN $100,000 AND EARNING BETWEEN $100,000 AND

$300,000$300,000

VIRTUALLY ALLVIRTUALLY ALL HAVE ADVANCED DEGREESHAVE ADVANCED DEGREES LIVE IN SUBURBSLIVE IN SUBURBS PLAY CENTRAL ROLES IN CIVIC PLAY CENTRAL ROLES IN CIVIC

ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS OFTEN PLAY ROLES IN CITY OFTEN PLAY ROLES IN CITY

GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT ARE MORE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE ARE MORE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE

THAN THE UPPER CLASSTHAN THE UPPER CLASS

A PRETTY COMFORTABLELIFE-STYLE FORTHESE FOLKS

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF AMERICANSABOUT ONE-THIRD OF AMERICANS INCOME RANGES FROM $30,000 TO $60,000INCOME RANGES FROM $30,000 TO $60,000 INDICATORSINDICATORS

BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE TO WORKBOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE TO WORK MOST CAN TAKE OCCASIONAL VACATIONSMOST CAN TAKE OCCASIONAL VACATIONS FOLKS EAT OUT OFTENFOLKS EAT OUT OFTEN DRIVE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE LATE-MODEL CARSDRIVE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE LATE-MODEL CARS KIDS ARE SENT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER KIDS ARE SENT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER

LEARNING AND COMMUNITY COLLEGESLEARNING AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES MOST HAVE OWNED THEIR OWN HOMES OR ARE IN MOST HAVE OWNED THEIR OWN HOMES OR ARE IN

THE PROCESS OF BUYING THEMTHE PROCESS OF BUYING THEM LOTS OF POWERLESSNESS AND ANOMIC LOTS OF POWERLESSNESS AND ANOMIC

FEELINGS IN THIS CLASSFEELINGS IN THIS CLASS UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS LAYS DOWN RULES THAT UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS LAYS DOWN RULES THAT

MUST BE FOLLOWEDMUST BE FOLLOWED

THE WORKING CLASSTHE WORKING CLASSABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF

AMERICANSAMERICANS THE LINE SEPARATING THE LOWER-THE LINE SEPARATING THE LOWER-

MIDDLE AND THE WORKING CLASS MIDDLE AND THE WORKING CLASS IS VERY GREY IS VERY GREY

INDICATORS OF WORKING CLASSINDICATORS OF WORKING CLASS EARN BETWEEN $20,000 AND $35,000 EARN BETWEEN $20,000 AND $35,000

PER YEARPER YEAR HOWEVER, SKILLED CRAFTSPERSONS HOWEVER, SKILLED CRAFTSPERSONS

EARN SUBSTANTIALLY MOREEARN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE LOW-LEVEL CLERICAL, SALES FORCELOW-LEVEL CLERICAL, SALES FORCE

LOTS OF PINK COLLAR JOB HOLDERSLOTS OF PINK COLLAR JOB HOLDERS DRIVE USED CARSDRIVE USED CARS LIVE IN MODEST NEIGHBORHOODSLIVE IN MODEST NEIGHBORHOODS MUST SACRIFICE TO EAT OUT OR GO ON MUST SACRIFICE TO EAT OUT OR GO ON

VACATIONVACATION

I MAKE MORETHAN THEAVERAGE WORKINGCLASS PERSON,BUT I HAVE MANY OF THEOTHER LIFE-STYLE TRAITS

ABOUT 22 PERCENT OF AMERICANSABOUT 22 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WORK IS FULL- AND PART-TIMEWORK IS FULL- AND PART-TIME WAGES ARE LOW AND MOST LIVE IN OR NEAR THE WAGES ARE LOW AND MOST LIVE IN OR NEAR THE

POVERTY LINEPOVERTY LINE EXISTENCE IS PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECKEXISTENCE IS PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK MOST HAVE DEAD-END SERVICE JOBSMOST HAVE DEAD-END SERVICE JOBS THEY RARELY RECEIVE BENEFITSTHEY RARELY RECEIVE BENEFITS BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE WORKBOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE WORK SOMETIMES HIGH SCHOOL IS COMPLETED OR A GED SOMETIMES HIGH SCHOOL IS COMPLETED OR A GED

IS EARNEDIS EARNED JOB SKILLS ARE LOWJOB SKILLS ARE LOW MINORITIES ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THIS GROUPMINORITIES ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THIS GROUP MOST LIVE IN UNDESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD, DRIVE MOST LIVE IN UNDESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD, DRIVE

OLD, UNRELIABLE CARS, AND CANNOT AFFORD ANY OLD, UNRELIABLE CARS, AND CANNOT AFFORD ANY REAL LUXURIESREAL LUXURIES

THE UNDERCLASSTHE UNDERCLASS ABOUT 3 PERCENT OF AMERICANSABOUT 3 PERCENT OF AMERICANS

LACK EMPLOYABLE SKILLSLACK EMPLOYABLE SKILLS LITTLE OR NO JOB EXPERIENCELITTLE OR NO JOB EXPERIENCE INCOME IS BELOW $10,000 PER YEARINCOME IS BELOW $10,000 PER YEAR MOST OF THEIR INCOME COMES MOST OF THEIR INCOME COMES

THROUGH A FORM OF PUBLIC THROUGH A FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMASSISTANCE PROGRAM

PRIMARILY MADE UP OF MINORITY PRIMARILY MADE UP OF MINORITY GROUP MEMBERSGROUP MEMBERS SINGLE PARENT FAMILIESSINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

EXPERIENCE MANY SOCIAL PROBLEMSEXPERIENCE MANY SOCIAL PROBLEMS CRIME, DRUG ABUSE, MALNUTRITION, CRIME, DRUG ABUSE, MALNUTRITION,

VIOLENCE, GANGS, AND DISEASESVIOLENCE, GANGS, AND DISEASES ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THOSE BORN ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THOSE BORN

INTO THIS CLASS EVER CLIMB OUT INTO THIS CLASS EVER CLIMB OUT PROBLEM IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO PROBLEM IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO

OVERCOME THESE DAYSOVERCOME THESE DAYS

SOCIAL MOBILITYSOCIAL MOBILITY ……IS A CHANGE IN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP’S IS A CHANGE IN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP’S

POSITION WITHIN THE SOCIAL HIERARCHYPOSITION WITHIN THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY INTERGENERATIONALINTERGENERATIONAL

MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE ACROSS GENERATIONSMOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE ACROSS GENERATIONS INTRAGENERATIONALINTRAGENERATIONAL

MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN A PERSON’S MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN A PERSON’S LIFETIMELIFETIME

OTHER KINDS OF MOBILITYOTHER KINDS OF MOBILITY UPWARD (DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE)UPWARD (DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE) DOWNWARD (EASY, AND NOT DESIRED!)DOWNWARD (EASY, AND NOT DESIRED!) HORIZONTAL (WILL EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THIS)HORIZONTAL (WILL EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THIS)

OTHER WAYS OF LOOKING AT ITOTHER WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT POSITIONAL MOBILITYPOSITIONAL MOBILITY

PEOPLE GET AHEAD DUE TO HARD WORK AND EDUCATIONPEOPLE GET AHEAD DUE TO HARD WORK AND EDUCATION

STRUCTURAL MOBILITYSTRUCTURAL MOBILITY THE CONSEQUENCE OF CHANGE IN THE RANGE OF THE CONSEQUENCE OF CHANGE IN THE RANGE OF

OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN SOCIETYOCCUPATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN SOCIETY COMPUTERS AND THE NEW JOB MARKETSCOMPUTERS AND THE NEW JOB MARKETS

WHY HAS SOCIAL MOBILITY STALLED WHY HAS SOCIAL MOBILITY STALLED OUT OVER THE PAST THREE OUT OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES?DECADES? DEINDUSTRIALIZATIONDEINDUSTRIALIZATION

CAPITAL FLIGHT OVERSEAS (JOBS GONE)CAPITAL FLIGHT OVERSEAS (JOBS GONE) NEW JOBS ARE FEWNEW JOBS ARE FEW

HIGHLY TECHNICAL SERVICE JOBSHIGHLY TECHNICAL SERVICE JOBS LOW SKILLED SERVICE SECTOR “MC JOBS”LOW SKILLED SERVICE SECTOR “MC JOBS”

CORPORATE DOWNSIZINGCORPORATE DOWNSIZING IN SEARCH OF PROFITS, CORPORATIONS IN SEARCH OF PROFITS, CORPORATIONS

ARE CUTTING PAYROLL AND EMPLOYEE ARE CUTTING PAYROLL AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITSBENEFITS

CHANGES IN THE TAX RATESCHANGES IN THE TAX RATES UNDER REAGAN’S REPUBLICAN REGIME, THE UNDER REAGAN’S REPUBLICAN REGIME, THE

TOP TAX RATE DROPPED FROM 70 PERCENT TOP TAX RATE DROPPED FROM 70 PERCENT TO 28 PERENTTO 28 PERENT

AT THE SAME TIME, TAX RATES ROSE FOR AT THE SAME TIME, TAX RATES ROSE FOR THE BOTTOM 90 PERCENT OF AMERICANS…THE BOTTOM 90 PERCENT OF AMERICANS…

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL CLASS TO YOUSOCIAL CLASS TO YOU

PEOPLE’S LIFE CHANCES ARE IMPACTED BY SOCIAL CLASSPEOPLE’S LIFE CHANCES ARE IMPACTED BY SOCIAL CLASS THE CHANCE A PERSON WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT IS REFERRED THE CHANCE A PERSON WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT IS REFERRED

TO AS “THE GOOD LIFE”TO AS “THE GOOD LIFE” THINK IN TERMS OF HOW CLASS IMPACTS THE FOLLOW…THINK IN TERMS OF HOW CLASS IMPACTS THE FOLLOW…

PHYSICAL HEALTHPHYSICAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTHMENTAL HEALTH SELF-ESTEEMSELF-ESTEEM EDUCATIONEDUCATION BECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIMEBECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIME CHANCE OF CATCHING AND FIGHTING DISEASESCHANCE OF CATCHING AND FIGHTING DISEASES GENERAL MEDICAL CAREGENERAL MEDICAL CARE ABILITY TO BUY INSURANCE COVERAGESABILITY TO BUY INSURANCE COVERAGES RELIABILITY OF TRANSPORTATIONRELIABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION TYPE OF HOUSING AND LOCATIONTYPE OF HOUSING AND LOCATION WHO YOU WILL ASSOCIATE WITH, DATE, AND EVEN MARRYWHO YOU WILL ASSOCIATE WITH, DATE, AND EVEN MARRY THE QUALITY OF NUTRITION YOU ENJOYTHE QUALITY OF NUTRITION YOU ENJOY GENERAL LIFE SATISFACTIONGENERAL LIFE SATISFACTION

WHAT ISN’T IMPACTED BY YOUR SOCIAL CLASS?WHAT ISN’T IMPACTED BY YOUR SOCIAL CLASS?

THE POORTHE POOR LOOKING AT POVERTYLOOKING AT POVERTY

ABSOLUTE TERMSABSOLUTE TERMS NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO BUY THE NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO BUY THE

BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFEBASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE TRIPLING WHATEVER CONSTITUTES AN TRIPLING WHATEVER CONSTITUTES AN

EMERGENCY DIETEMERGENCY DIET SOMEWHERE AROUND $15,500.00 SOMEWHERE AROUND $15,500.00

PER YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOURPER YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR RELATIVE POVERTYRELATIVE POVERTY

FEELING POOR WHEN COMPARING FEELING POOR WHEN COMPARING YOURSELF TO GROUP THAT HAS MOREYOURSELF TO GROUP THAT HAS MORE

HOW MANY POOR ARE THERE?HOW MANY POOR ARE THERE? ABOUT 40 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE ABOUT 40 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE

IN ABSOLUTE POVERTYIN ABSOLUTE POVERTY MOST CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY MOST CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY

ARE ON FIXED INCOMESARE ON FIXED INCOMES 26 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN 26 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN

CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY EACH CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY EACH NIGHT – A HORRIBLE NATIONAL NIGHT – A HORRIBLE NATIONAL DISGRACE! DISGRACE!

WHAT KIND OF PERSONWHAT KIND OF PERSONAM I GOING TO BE IFAM I GOING TO BE IFI GO TO BED HUNGRYI GO TO BED HUNGRYFOR MOST OF MYFOR MOST OF MYCHILDHOOD AND CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT LIFE?ADOLESCENT LIFE?ANGRY? FRUSTRATED?ANGRY? FRUSTRATED?DESPERATE? THINKDESPERATE? THINKABOUT IT…26 PERCENTABOUT IT…26 PERCENTOF KIDS IN AMERICA GO OF KIDS IN AMERICA GO TO BED HUNGRY EACH TO BED HUNGRY EACH NIGHT!NIGHT!

AGEAGE 26 PERCENT OF KIDS UNDER AGE OF 626 PERCENT OF KIDS UNDER AGE OF 6 21 PERCENT OF ALL KIDS21 PERCENT OF ALL KIDS 40 PERCENT OF ALL POOR ARE KIDS40 PERCENT OF ALL POOR ARE KIDS

ROUGHLY 16.3 PERCENT OF WHITE KIDSROUGHLY 16.3 PERCENT OF WHITE KIDS ROUGHLY 40.3 PERCENT OF HISPANIC KIDSROUGHLY 40.3 PERCENT OF HISPANIC KIDS ROUGHLY 40 PERCENT OF BLACK KIDSROUGHLY 40 PERCENT OF BLACK KIDS

RACERACE ROUGHLY 66 PERCENT OF ALL POOR ARE WHITEROUGHLY 66 PERCENT OF ALL POOR ARE WHITE

BUT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF MINORITY GROUPS ARE POORBUT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF MINORITY GROUPS ARE POOR 28.4 PERCENT OF ALL BLACKS28.4 PERCENT OF ALL BLACKS 29.4 PERCENT OF ALL HISPANICS29.4 PERCENT OF ALL HISPANICS

FAMILY STATUSFAMILY STATUS SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES AND POVERTYSINGLE PARENT FAMILIES AND POVERTY

THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY HAS BEEN THE TREND DURING THE PAST THREE THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY HAS BEEN THE TREND DURING THE PAST THREE DECADESDECADES 35.6 PERCENT OF FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS35.6 PERCENT OF FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS 50 PERCENT OF BLACK FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS50 PERCENT OF BLACK FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS 52 PERCENT OF HISPANIC FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS52 PERCENT OF HISPANIC FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS 29 PERCENT OF WHITE FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS29 PERCENT OF WHITE FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS

THE WORKING POORTHE WORKING POOR FIVE PERCENT OF FULL-TIME WORKERS LIVE IN POVERTYFIVE PERCENT OF FULL-TIME WORKERS LIVE IN POVERTY

ABOUT HALF OF ALL POOR ADULTS WORK, MANY OF THEM WORK FULLTIME!ABOUT HALF OF ALL POOR ADULTS WORK, MANY OF THEM WORK FULLTIME!

EXPLAINING POVERTYEXPLAINING POVERTY THERE ARE TWO GENERAL APPROACHES TO EXPLAIN WHY THERE ARE TWO GENERAL APPROACHES TO EXPLAIN WHY

POVERTY EXISTS IN AMERICAPOVERTY EXISTS IN AMERICA BLAME THE POOR PERSONBLAME THE POOR PERSON

THE PERSON HAS FAILED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNTIES THE PERSON HAS FAILED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNTIES THAT HAVE COME HIS OR HER WAY AND FOR THIS SUFFER FROM THAT HAVE COME HIS OR HER WAY AND FOR THIS SUFFER FROM POVERTYPOVERTY THEY THEN PASS THIS WAY OF LIFE ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION THEY THEN PASS THIS WAY OF LIFE ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION

(PASSING ON A CULTURE OF POVERTY)(PASSING ON A CULTURE OF POVERTY) PASSING ON WHAT LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT A PARENT TO A PASSING ON WHAT LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT A PARENT TO A

CHILDCHILD

ANSWERANSWER CHANGE THE WAY A PERSON THINKS AND ACTSCHANGE THE WAY A PERSON THINKS AND ACTS

BLAME THE SYSTEM’S STRUCTURE (SOCIETY )BLAME THE SYSTEM’S STRUCTURE (SOCIETY ) THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY IS TO BLAME FOR POVERTYTHE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY IS TO BLAME FOR POVERTY

THE LOSS OF GOOD PAYING JOBSTHE LOSS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS CORPORATE DOWNSIZINGCORPORATE DOWNSIZING EXTENDED PERIODS OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNSEXTENDED PERIODS OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS FORMS OF PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATIONFORMS OF PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

ANSWERSANSWERS INDIVIDUAL HOPE ALONG WITH GOOD ATTITUDESINDIVIDUAL HOPE ALONG WITH GOOD ATTITUDES CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETYCHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY STOP CAPITAL FLIGHTSTOP CAPITAL FLIGHT

MOST POOR PEOPLE GET WELFAREMOST POOR PEOPLE GET WELFARE NOWHERE NEAR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS POOR RECEIVED WELFARE ASSISTANCENOWHERE NEAR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS POOR RECEIVED WELFARE ASSISTANCE

MOST WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE BLACKMOST WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE BLACK FEWER THAN HALF OF THOSE RECEIVING AFDC PAYMENTS ARE BLACKFEWER THAN HALF OF THOSE RECEIVING AFDC PAYMENTS ARE BLACK

WELFARE IS AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAMWELFARE IS AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM 28 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IN 199028 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IN 1990

LIFE ON WELFARE IS EASYLIFE ON WELFARE IS EASY TRY TO LIVE ON IT FOR A YEAR IF ONE THINKS IT IS EASY – IT IS MERELY A SUBSISTENCE WAY OF LIFE, NOT TRY TO LIVE ON IT FOR A YEAR IF ONE THINKS IT IS EASY – IT IS MERELY A SUBSISTENCE WAY OF LIFE, NOT

A GLORIFIED EXISTENCEA GLORIFIED EXISTENCE

WELFARE PROMOTES DEPENDENCYWELFARE PROMOTES DEPENDENCY A SIZEABLE MAJORITY OF RECIPIENTS DO NOT STAY ON WELFARE TOO LONGA SIZEABLE MAJORITY OF RECIPIENTS DO NOT STAY ON WELFARE TOO LONG

70 PERCENT LEAVE THE PROGRAM AFTER TWO YEARS AND 85 PERCENT AFTER FOUR YEARS70 PERCENT LEAVE THE PROGRAM AFTER TWO YEARS AND 85 PERCENT AFTER FOUR YEARS ONE PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION (2.6 MILLION PERSONS) ARE LOCKED INTO LONGTERM WELFAREONE PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION (2.6 MILLION PERSONS) ARE LOCKED INTO LONGTERM WELFARE

WELFARE ENCOURAGES SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIESWELFARE ENCOURAGES SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES THIS MODERN TENDENCY IS NOT RESTRICTED TO THE POOR, ONE FINDS IT THROUGHOUT THE CLASS THIS MODERN TENDENCY IS NOT RESTRICTED TO THE POOR, ONE FINDS IT THROUGHOUT THE CLASS

SYSTEMSYSTEM

WELFARE PROMOTES AND ENCOURAGES OUT OF WEDLOCK BIRTHSWELFARE PROMOTES AND ENCOURAGES OUT OF WEDLOCK BIRTHS NO CONNECTION EVER FOUND IN RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECTNO CONNECTION EVER FOUND IN RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT

WELFARE PAYMENTS PER CHILD ARE FAR FROM LAVISH AND COSTS OF RAISING A CHILD EXCEED WHAT INCREASES ARE WELFARE PAYMENTS PER CHILD ARE FAR FROM LAVISH AND COSTS OF RAISING A CHILD EXCEED WHAT INCREASES ARE RECEIVEDRECEIVED

WHAT ABOUT WEALTHFARE?WHAT ABOUT WEALTHFARE? THE WEALTHIEST 25 PERCENT OF AMERICANS GET 75 PERCENT OF GOV’T FREE MONEY!THE WEALTHIEST 25 PERCENT OF AMERICANS GET 75 PERCENT OF GOV’T FREE MONEY!