THE THIRD WORLD -- WELL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE

The Third World exists in America too

A new Census Bureau report confirms what many people already knew: The Third World exists in the U.S. as well.

The basic findings (for the year 2010):

* Nearly 1 in 6 Americans lives in poverty
* The poverty rate went from 14.3% in 2009 to 15.1% (46.2 million people) in 2010
* That number represents the biggest total since tracking poverty began in 1959, and ties the 1993 percentage and is the highest since 1983
* More than half the poor are black and Latino
* The gap between the rich and poor continues to widen.

A couple of thoughts on this. Firstly, a lousy $22,314 annual income for a family of four is the official poverty level. That's insane. You're talking about a poor quality of life and no health coverage, probably malnutrition, and no security. This number should be higher to even be logical. And if you did raise the poverty line, imagine how many people would really be under it!

Secondly, I have a healthy and well-founded distrust of official figures on unemployment, poverty, etc. There are a variety of factors -- and interpretive devices -- that come into play that make the numbers look better than they are. Certain government "safety net programs" that the report mentions seem to have had such an effect on these poverty numbers.

The bottom line is we have serious poverty in this country. There is devastating poverty around the world and we must not be so parochial as to ignore that. But the severity of the problem right here, in the wealthiest nation in history, is both devastating and pathetic.

Health Coverage

The same Census report stated that, in 2010, the percentage of Americans without health care rose from 16.1 to 16.3 (49.9 million people).

But one must remember that MANY other people are under-covered, and that coverage in general in this country, well, sucks! Try dealing with insurance companies and all their BS and you get the picture fast. We have an overpriced, inefficient health system that is screaming to be taken out of the private sector. Universal health care is the only way. And guess what: Not only will it be much more efficient, it will also save the government a ton of money! True.

General Augusto Pinochet: One of many tyrant leaders that the U.S. has backed

Did You Know?

In addition to what happened here in the U.S. in 2001, September 11 is the anniversary of several other very significant events that we should all be aware of. Here are two major ones:

1/ Sept. 11, 1973. The U.S.-backs a coup by the Chilean military which overthrows the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende (who is murdered in the process). The coup brings the notorious General Augusto Pinochet to power, and decades of murder, torture, repression and terrible suffering for the people of Chile ensue. This was the dawn of a very dark time in Chilean history and another blot on U.S. "foreign policy." Anybody who tries to argue that America is not a terrorist state simply hasn't read enough. All of this is in official documents. It's another part of U.S. history that is swept under the carpet.

2/ Sept. 9-13, 1971. Inmates at Attica Correctional Facility in New York State take matters into their own hands after repeated appeals to have serious grievances remedied are ignored. The climactic day sees a massive teargas assault followed by a hailstorm of bullets -- into the cloud of gas -- by the authorities. Twenty-nine prisoners and 10 guards are killed. The full story is one of torture and abuse of prisoners and all adult Americans should have some knowledge of the events. No, the prisoners weren't totally free of blame, but our prison system is a disgrace and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller should have been locked up to rot for the way he "handled" the Attica bloodbath.

YOU can help save Troy Davis

Please Help Troy Davis

The state of Georgia will put Troy Davis to death next Wednesday unless enough people contact the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to ask for clemency. They hold a final hearing with Troy on Monday (19th). Please email them at Clemency_Information@pap.state.ga.us You can also go here to sign an NAACP petition to the District Attorney in the case who has the power to petition the judge to withdraw the death warrant. Anything you can do is significant and an act of humanity.

Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a police officer in 1991 but nearly all of the original witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony and there is no physical evidence tying Troy to the crime. In addition, another man has been identified as the killer by several people. There is no way this execution should go ahead!

Never stop fighting!
Adrian

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT TROY DAVIS, AND TAKE ACTION, HERE.