Two headlines, one theme.

This Administration could care less about the interests of the average citizens of this country.

Oh wait... they do care ... if those interests conflict with those of private health insurers or those of corporate campaign contributors this Administration will act.... AGAINST the interests of the citizens.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/business/21tax.html

Average Incomes Fell for Most in 2000-5

By DAVID CAY JOHNSTON

"Americans earned a smaller average income in 2005 than in 2000, the fifth consecutive year that they had to make ends meet with less money than at the peak of the last economic expansion, new government data shows.

While incomes have been on the rise since 2002, the average income in 2005 was $55,238, still nearly 1 percent less than the $55,714 in 2000, after adjusting for inflation, analysis of new tax statistics show.

The combined income of all Americans in 2005 was slightly larger than it was in 2000, but because more people were dividing up the national income pie, the average remained smaller. Total adjusted gross income in 2005 was $7.43 trillion, up 3.1 percent from 2000 and 5.8 percent from 2004.
Total income listed on tax returns grew every year after World War II, with a single one-year exception, until 2001, making the five-year period of lower average incomes and four years of lower total incomes a new experience for the majority of Americans born since 1945."
MORE


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/washington/21cnd-health.html

White House Acts to Limit Health Plan for Children

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: August 20, 2007

"The Bush administration, continuing its fight to stop states from expanding the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, has adopted new standards that would make it much more difficult for New York, California and others to extend coverage to children in middle-income families.

Administration officials outlined the new standards in a letter sent to state health officials on Friday evening, in the middle of a month-long Congressional recess. In interviews, they said the changes were aimed at returning the Children’s Health Insurance Program to its original focus on low-income children and to make sure the program did not become a substitute for private health coverage.

After learning of the new policy, some state officials said today that it could cripple their efforts to cover more children by imposing standards that could not be met.

Ann Clemency Kohler, deputy commissioner of human services in New Jersey, said: “We are horrified at the new federal policy. It will cause havoc with our program and could jeopardize coverage for thousands of children.”
MORE

"Nearly half of Americans reported incomes of less than $30,000, and two-thirds make less than $50,000."

how in the hell can our society survive when two thirds of americans make less than 50,000 dollars?

less than $50,000/yr.

200,000,000 PEOPLE...IN AMERICA!

They go on the airwaves, and print media everyday telling us how great everything is when they know the numbers say otherwise. They should be arrested for propping up this admin. that's destroying the country.

I'm thinking more along the lines of an arena filled with lions!

My wife does say that I'm a little extreme at times.;)

Oh, the stomach aches....

If they could care less about the interests of the average citizens of this country, I'm sure they would.

we will give at least 50 billion dollars to the countries of the middle east and no one in either party says stop the madness. when obama said he backed this decision i realized nothing is going to change because it`s still the vision of death not a vision of life.
.

with the bosses? That should be made mandatory in this country for * and the cabal, not switching places with servants, but with average middle class Americans that pay his salary. These people should be ones that are working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet, with no or little health care, having to choose between food or medicine, and adding $5 of gas at a time because they can't afford to fill up. Or he can spend a day with a family grieving over the murder of their loved one due to an illegal war.

Maybe if he actually spends a day with children crying because they're hungry, or a parent desperate because there's not enough money to go around, then MAYBE, just MAYBE a teeny tiny glimmer of understanding might surface.

Am I in dream land???

... other candidates receive a pass.

Awakening the 'sleeping giant' is dangerous to those in power.

If those 2/3 earning less than $50,000/yr were to actually go to the polls and vote their interests, and have their votes counted, those in power would be in a world of trouble.

Edwards represents this threat every time he raises the issue of poverty and help for the middle and working class.

Even if you do not not like Edwards for some reason, just read what he has been advocating and you will see a blueprint for change that has the Repub elites shaking in their boots.

All the Democratic Candidates need to be addressing these issues, and if they are not, why not?