Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, January 21, 2016

These Maps Show Where Rents Are Going Up and Incomes Are Going Down

Today, the Census Bureau released its latest update to the American Community Survey, publishing a trove of recent data on everything from education levels to economic indicators for the United States' 3,142 counties. The new numbers offer evidence of the lasting effects of the Great Recession and the ongoing financial stagnation faced by most Americans: In counties across the country, poverty rates are up and incomes are down, while rents are rising and home ownership is dropping.

Poverty: When compared with the five years between 2005 to 2009, 1,052 counties saw an increase in poverty rates between 2010 and 2014. Just 136 counties experienced drops in poverty rates. What's more, 113 counties, mostly in the South, had poverty rates of 30 percent or higher.
American Community Survey
Income: Counties around New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, have some of the highest real median household incomes. Still, 961 counties saw drops in real median household income during the past five years.
American Community Survey
Rent: Since 2005, real median rents have increased in nearly 23 percent of counties. Six percent of all counties, mostly in the South, West, and Northeast, saw median rents of more than $1,000 per month.
American Community Survey
Home Ownership: Following the housing crisis, 931 counties saw drops in the rate of owner-occupied homes.
American Community Survey
Education: One bright spot—roughly 32 percent of counties now have more adults with bachelor's degrees.

Original Article
Source: motherjones.com/
Author: Edwin Rios

No comments:

Post a Comment