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Some methodology problems one might imagine with the census numbers are the way they classify you as "poor."  If I remember, (and it varies based on how many people etc) but it is something like $11,000 a year in income for a single person.  (which I think is a tad more if you are over 65)


That said, if I was retired, and earning 11K a year off my investments etc.. had my house paid off, had no real bills.. I would be considered "poor" by the census.  If I had $1,000,000 (lets assume sitting in a mattress for simplicity) and earned $10,000 a year, I would still be considered "poor." 


I am certainly not going to argue that there are poor people in this country who are in dire need of help, however I would tend to think that 1 in 7 is a bit inflated based on how the census actually calculates "poor." 




There are also poor who "steal" billions (welfare etc) and don't pay any tax whatsoever.


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