Many See Those in 'Poverty' As Not So Poor
Friday, August 19, 2011
A recent survey based on several government studies finds that many of those the federal government says are living in poverty have a decent place to live, adequate food on the table and two color TVs, among other amenities, and most Americans don't regard that as being poor.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of American Adults think a family that is adequately fed and living in a house or apartment that is in good repair is not in poverty. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only nine percent (9%) disagree, with 27% more who are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Similarly, 51% believe a family that has two color TVs, a VCR and a DVD player is not living in poverty. Sixteen percent (16%) say a family like that is poor. Thirty-three percent (33%) are undecided.
Still, 73% of Americans believe poverty in the United States today is at least somewhat severe. Twenty-three percent (23%) don’t think poverty in America is severe. These figures include 31% who say it’s Very Severe and three percent (3%) who believe it’s Not At All Severe.
These findings show little change from surveys dating back to July 2007.
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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 16-17, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.
For a family of four, the poverty line in the United States is just over $22,000, and 30% of Americans correctly identify that standard. Seventeen percent (17%) believe $31,000 is the poverty line for a family of four, while 19% think $14,000 is the right amount. Eleven percent (11%) identify $9,000 as the poverty line, and another eight percent (8%) feel $35,000 is the cut-off. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure.
When asked what the poverty line should be for a family of four, 25% of Americans think the current poverty line is appropriate. Slightly fewer (21%) believe the line should be $31,000, while 19% think $35,000 is a better poverty line. Sixteen percent (16%) opt for $14,000, while 11% feel $9,000 or less should be the bare minimum.
Most adults across all demographic categories regard poverty as a severe problem in the United States. But Republicans and adults not affiliated with either of the major parties are much more likely than Democrats to consider those with adequate food and a decent place to live as not actually poor.Democrats are also less likely to question whether those with two color TV sets, a VCR and a DVD player are really poor.
Americans earning $60,000 to $100,000 annually see poverty as a less severe problem in the country than those in other income brackets.
Younger adults are slightly more concerned with the severity of poverty in America than their elders. More women feel poverty is a major problem than men.
Americans are now less convinced than they have been at any time during the Obama presidency that it's still possible for anyone in this country to work their way out of being poor.
At a time when most Americans believe there is more poverty in the United States, many question the effectiveness of government anti-poverty programs and believe they cause more of the problem they're supposed to lessen.
Americans feel more strongly than ever that the lack of immigration law enforcement directly effects poverty in the country.
Florida and Missouri have already passed measures that require some form of drug testing during the welfare application process, with Florida now requiring all applicants to be tested. A majority of voters nationwide agree with automatically testing all welfare applicants for illegal drug use. |
