Reader comments
National report spurs call to end poverty entirely

It's too easy to manipulate poverty figures to really believe a one time report and the likelihood of a decline in poverty. If the definition of poverty is based on a family income set years ago and hasn't been adjusted for inflation or isn't set at a living wage level, then it's really impossible to know what the size of poverty is actually is based on this one measure of poverty - income. A much better figure would include number of individuals who can access health care when needed, the number of individuals who can obtain decent housing when desired, the number of individuals who can obtain employment at a wage that allows for a manageable living experience, to name a few.

It is worth noting that virtually all college students living away from home are counted as part of the "poverty class". Beware of numbers.

There will, unfortunately, always be a segment of society with no ambition, drive, or desire to pay the price required to better their lives and rise from poverty. "The poor you will always have among you." We, as a society, should ensure that those who do have the drive, desire, and ambition to improve their lot in life have the opportunity to do so.