Hard Times on Main Street


Many people in this country have worked and saved a portion of their salaries for years, only to see their savings shrivel after a series of investment missteps and interest rate disappointments. Over the past three years alone, the number of US workers over 65 years old has jumped by 16%, while the total number of under 65 year old workers in the national labor force decreased.

The US Census Bureau recently published their newly compiled poverty data produced the analysis and found that he size of the near-poor population took even them by surprise. One of these findings is that only a quarter of the near poor have any health insurance, and 42 percent have private insurance. Their cost of paying a premium is part of the previously uncounted expenses these people bear.

They still drive, but not new vehicles, most earn a living, but are merely getting by. Many may be down but do not write US out.