This is our concern, Dude

This item from CNN pretty much sums up the problem for millions of Americans:

Over 46 million people are living in poverty, 2.6 million more than in 2009 and the poverty rate has reached 15.1 percent.

The outlook is grim. The recession has compounded decades of growing economic inequality, structural poverty, and urban decay. With the projections that unemployment will remain high for several years, these numbers are not likely to improve.

Making matters worse, as Ron Haskings at the Brookings Institution noted, "Safety net programs run by the federal and state governments are helping millions of families avoid poverty, but thee programs could be subject to cuts at the federal and state level because of continuing deficit and debt problems."

The article goes on to note that most politicians from either major party don't even want to go there. Methinks a key task of the next stretch is to get their attention, which will no doubt require making some noise and kicking up some dust.

THIS WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT WAS A JOKE. Republicans are crying "class warfare" over Obama's proposal that millionaires should pay at least as much in taxes as middle class Americans.

BORED WITH BURIAL OR CREMATION? Get juiced.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED.