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(Archived document, may contain errors) 10/18/89 253 POVERTY AND PLENTY IN AMERICA: UNDERSTANDING CENSUS BUREAU DATA

If America fails to deal with its long-term fiscal problem in sensible ways that spur economic growth and strengthen the economy, the poor will ultimately take the biggest hit. Thus, any conversation about spending, program reform, and tax policy has to be seen in this context: not as an accounting measure, but as a dynamic economic issue that will have consequences for the jobs and income of the poor as well as for the effectiveness of programs. Our focus should therefore be on reforming or ending programs that have failed, both for the poor and for other Americans.

Next week the United States Census Bureau will release its annualreport on "poverty" stating, as it has for many years, that thereare some 31 million to 32 million poor Americans, a number greaterthan in 1965 when the War on Poverty began.

"Poor" is a Relative Term

By now, you’ve likely heard the story of Michael Rotondo, a 30-year-old college dropout from Camillus, New York, who refused to move out of his parents’ house. For months, they have encouraged him to find a job and have offered to help him find a place to live on his own. “There are jobs available even for those with a poor work history like you. Get one—you have to work!” one of their notes to him said. But he has refused to budge.