Scraping By: Ehrenreich interview

[alex lantsberg]

<..snip>
A family of four with an income above the current poverty line, $17,229,
is
still poor, according to Ehrenreich's assessment. "Today's definition of
poverty doesn't take into account rent inflation and things like health
care," she said. The other major problem in assessing poverty, argued
Ehenreich, is the long-held idea that full employment is the chief
solution
to poverty. It is an idea she calls a "liberal myth."
<...snip>

what would the poverty level be if housing, health care, energy,
transportation, and other modern necessities were evaluated in the
determination?  would there be a practical way to adjust for high cost
areas  like SF, NY, Boston, etc. within the benefit awards?

and the obvious question is why don't the more progressive dems push
forward with a bill that would redefine poverty to include these obvious
and necessary costs?  seems like a sure fire political winner.  can you
imagine a repug arguing why the costs of housing or health care should
not be a consideration when figuring out if someone is officially poor
or not.

alex