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The Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector on the latest report from the Census Bureau on the number of impoverished people in the U.S.
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According to the Census Bureau more than 146.
Million Americans are -- all living very close to the public in line so.
Do we have to redefine.
What being a poor American really means Robert wrapped up on The Heritage Foundation joins us.
They're rather that that just doesn't seem to me to be the America that I know and love how.
Half of those all -- or living close to the public in line I think we do need a new definition of what is -- in America.
Well that the -- Only as you do have a new definition in these numbers are the result of Barack Obama changing the definition of poverty.
And what you have now is a new standard.
In which for example in San Francisco.
A family within income of 90000 dollars a year is near poor.
A family in Washington DC -- income of 80000 dollars a year is near poor.
These numbers are very high because essentially the -- -- administration.
Has defined.
The median income in each metropolitan area as being the new -- poverty standard so by definition.
About half the population is in near poverty.
Would you use the expression manipulation for political ends I'm not trying to leave did you hear of but if you -- the definite out of poverty has shifted.
To -- those with the world view of President Obama that speaks to me of manipulation.
This is a propaganda tactic to spread the wealth which is Obama's.
Main goal.
It's not a manipulation is just outright nonsense.
I don't think anyone in the United States believes that a family making 90000 dollars a year is living in near poverty.
But that's what the census is doing now because that's what the Obama administration is insisting on.
They want to promote class warfare and they're using rather dramatic -- information in order to do that.
So do we now see a big push.
To spread the wealth some mall.
-- that these statistics will support a policy of redistribution.
Is -- -- gonna say.
Well they certainly provide propaganda for -- we need to understand that Obama is already well on the way of spreading the wealth.
This year alone we spent 900 billion dollars.
On means tested -- cash food housing and medical care for the poor.
And near poor and that does not include Social Security Medicare even under the old definition that's coming to about.
101000 dollars for each low income person United States were in a massive expansion of the welfare state.
And these changes in the definition of poverty are just intended to help promote that -- create -- again.
For that purpose from Iraq to Heritage Foundation thank you very much indeed for joining us -- we appreciate it thank you.
You know look a bit in America forty years I just to see America as a half the people on poor -- new you know -- -- problematic trying to define who's -- and you're rich in any society and particularly take a global approach -- -- -- cab driver from Bangladesh over the weekend telling me about.
People in this country don't know what poverty is and certainly if you go to some places around the world you would -- but I think we would all be appalled at the at the you know impoverished -- public as part of.
It's hard to live on 80000 dollars in this area but I don't think you're poor you're just you just being careful with your money that's what -- doing.
But what side you're not rich either at 250000.
In this area as well but I can't I can't.
I can't agree with calling it a family that makes 80000 dollars in this area -- you know Robert Rector and die.
-- both generated by Jon Stewart we was skewered by don't Jon -- appear quite regularly on his program because -- said.
99%.
Of pull people in America have a refrigerator.
X number have a cell phone or microwave -- once thought I think live in the homes which they own.
They just skewered us for this is if you are saying something that news O -- typical rich people looking down on the -- in fact it was -- true.
-- -- cutting its great that in this country we have a higher standard of living than anywhere else on earth so we can view of cellulose certain conference.
As almost -- the necessities but it that you didn't -- -- a global approach again they're not necessities they are luxuries that we in this country.
Are able to -- realize -- -- our incomes are lower level.
