Tuesday, September 21, 2004

My day is getting worse- Now I find out I am poor

I am just a poor bastard. I learned that one today, in a harsh way.
The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

— Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio. Mine is only 2 bedroom, one bath. I guess I am twice as poor as the upper unit is the same.

— Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning. I don't have air conditioning

— Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person. I have plenty of room. In fact, two rooms per person.

— The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.) Great, now I am being compared to the French. Hey, leave us poor bastards alone!

— Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars. Maybe I need to buy another?

— Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions. Yep, I have two color TVs. I am hating being poor.

— Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception. I have both a VCR & DVD. Cable too.

— Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher. Even the poorest people have a dishwasher! I know, having the cat lick the bowl cannot mean he is a dishwasher. This poor thing sucks!



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