POVERTY: USA, relative poverty

For most Americans, the word poverty suggests destitution: an inability to provide a family with nutritious food, clothing and shelter. But only a small number of more than 37 million persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau fit that description. While real material hardship certainly does occur, it is limited in scope and severity. Most of America's poor live in material conditions that would be judged as comfortable or well off just a few generations ago.
According to the government's data, nearly two-thirds of households defined by the census as "poor" have cable or satellite television; 85 percent have air conditioning. In 2007, 38 percent of American children were born out of wedlock, mainly to poorly educated young adult women. Children born and raised outside of marriage are about seven times more likely to live in poverty than children born to and raised by a married couple.
Child poverty is produced by low levels of parental work.
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3604033512937490051