"Importing poverty" (Robert Samuelson on Census report)

Posted Wed, Sep 5, 2007 at 7:47 am
Robert Samuelson of the Washington Post supports an amnesty, but at least he's right about this:
The government last week released its annual statistical report on poverty and household income [PDF]. As usual, we -- meaning the public, the media and politicians -- missed a big part of the story. It is this: The stubborn persistence of poverty, at least as measured by the government, is increasingly a problem associated with immigration. As more poor Hispanics enter the country, poverty goes up. This is not complicated, but it is widely ignored.

...In 2006, there were 36.5 million people in poverty. That's the figure that translates into the 12.3 percent poverty rate. In 1990, the population was smaller, and there were 33.6 million people in poverty, a rate of 13.5 percent. The increase from 1990 to 2006 was 2.9 million people (36.5 million minus 33.6 million). Hispanics accounted for all of the gain.

...Only an act of willful denial can separate immigration and poverty.

[The government, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities didn't say anything about immigration at the press conference for the report]

...Among many analysts, journalists and politicians, it's politically or psychologically discomforting to discuss these issues candidly. Robert Greenstein, head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, says his group focuses on short-term trends, where immigration's role isn't so apparent. Conveniently, that avoids antagonizing some of the center's supporters.

Journalists are also leery of making the connection. Fifty-four reporters signed up for the center's briefing last week. With one exception (me), none asked about immigration's effect on poverty or incomes...

Comments

Tanstaafl (not verified)

Wed, 09/05/2007 - 16:32

Discomforting! No doubt. I'm very "discomforted" too. Especially when the media paints anyone who isn't in denial about the invasion to be some sort of irrational hate-filled extremist. The media not only doesn't cover the impact of the invasion on poverty - they don't cover it's impact on health care, crime, education, energy, the environment, etc ad nauseum. They not only don't cover these things, they tell us constantly how cheap (which they can only do because they don't report the costs) and absolutely essential these uneducated unskilled invaders are to our economy. For the true koolaid drinkers _the invader's poverty is just another reason to keep them here_!

llamajockey (not verified)

Wed, 09/05/2007 - 17:39

Tanstaafl, First the Liberal Krugman a couple of months ago and now the mainstream Samuelson. Gee, unsustainable and of course illegal immigration has a downward pressure on labor markets. Unskilled Illegal Immigrants increase the percentage of working poor. Do tell!! Dam some of those Economist fellas sure are smart!!!. Oh well, every little bit helps tilt the scales toward the Immigration Restrictionist side of the debate. Also have you noticed that the comment section of the Washington post is no longer completely dominated by the very public relation flacks and Open Border propaganda spewing know-nothings who have gotten this country into this mess.

Tanstaafl (not verified)

Wed, 09/05/2007 - 18:51

The elites, even the "mainstream" or "moderate" ones, are way out of whack with We the People. You see it every time they allow us peons to comment on their propaganda. Yet another story the media won't tell. Are they aware they're letting it slip by allowing comments? Can we thank concerned citizens within the media for bypassing their politically correct commissars? Curious. My bet is the comment sections will disappear.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Thu, 09/06/2007 - 14:38

Did the census guy's do any calculate on how much drug money the families have put into some mexican bank? i see the little people in 80 k SUV'S All over the place down here in so.cal, many live IN so called poverty but go home to 1.5 million dollar homes, just look around and you will understand what is behind this BS.