A new term in the lexicon, the "near poor". It is term that describes a lot of us out here (do you hear me Mr. President?) and seems to have evolved out of a new definition of what is poverty. It takes into account the impact taxes, medical care and the cost of living in your particular area and measures that against a new poverty threshold. The NY Times estimated that 34% of the elderly fall into this newly defined standard. A staggering number I think.
Some folks do not like the term. It is too emotionally charged with the images it conjures up. I am sure others want to quibble with what is defined as poverty as well. Remember the rich want to get richer and for that to happen the poor seemingly must get poorer. That old income gap appearing again. Perhaps we should heed the warning that so many Brits do everyday - "Mind the Gap".
My opinion, a label is a label. The point of labels is to try and pigeonhole all of us into something. I think the term near poor works pretty well to describe those of us who should we hit some unexpected expense will really suffer. We are nearly poor then aren't we?
Facts are facts. Just like a Barbie doll you can dress them up in any clothes you like, but clothes do not make the man or the woman. Reality handles that.
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