1. What was the best present you received or coolest vacation you went on within the past year? Start writing your answers on the white board

2. App developers reap benefits of tablet, smartphone mania About 6.8 million tablets and smartphones using the two most-popular operating systems — Apple's iOS or Google's Android — were activated on Christmas Day, according Flurry Analytics, a firm that analyzes smartphone and app activity. Source: USA Today Online, 12/29/11

3. Poverty in America

4. Pretest

5. Poverty in the USA Video contrasting the despair of poverty in US with ignorant nature of the average American Video As you watch, look for themes or re-occuring images that clue us into the details on American poverty

6. Poverty Poverty: standard of living seen as below minimum level considered adequate by society *standard of living is particularly high in U.S. Poverty: standard of living seen as below minimum level considered adequate by society *standard of living is particularly high in U.S.

7. Poverty Level Poverty Level: minimum annual income needed by family to survive *if your income is below this amount, you are considered ‘poor’ or ‘in poverty’ by government Poverty Level: minimum annual income needed by family to survive *if your income is below this amount, you are considered ‘poor’ or ‘in poverty’ by government

8. Poverty Level calculated by… [research indicates the poor spend 1/3 of income on food] – level adjusted each year for inflation Currently 26,170 for family of 5 Cost of providing an adequate diet (based on Department of Agriculture’s nutritional standards) 3

9. Age and Poverty Children have largest percentage of any group in poverty Make up 24% of population but 36% of population in poverty -level of poverty among African-American and Hispanic children 3x higher than white children Children have largest percentage of any group in poverty Make up 24% of population but 36% of population in poverty -level of poverty among African-American and Hispanic children 3x higher than white children

10. Gender and Poverty 57% of poor are women Women head ½ of all poor families – 34% of households headed by African American/Hispanic women are poor – 20% of households headed by white women are poor 57% of poor are women Women head ½ of all poor families – 34% of households headed by African American/Hispanic women are poor – 20% of households headed by white women are poor

11. Race and Poverty African Americans and Hispanics more likely than whites to be in poverty – Poverty rates for whites are 2% less than national average – Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanics are nearly double the national average African Americans and Hispanics more likely than whites to be in poverty – Poverty rates for whites are 2% less than national average – Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanics are nearly double the national average

12. Effects of Poverty Looking at 2 different categories… Life Chances Patterns of Behavior

13. Life Chances Life Chances: likelihood of sharing in the opportunities/benefits of society – include health, length of life, housing, education – lower class has less opportunities

14. Heart disease, cancer, pneumonia, diabetes, arthritis, tuberculosis higher among poor Poor people have shorter life expectancies Poor children 60% more likely to die in first year of life than non-poor children Living and working environments of poor Americans have negative effects on health Educational opportunities are limited and less satisfactory for people in poverty Effects of Poverty on Life Chances

15. Higher divorce rates More likely to be arrested, convicted, and sent to jail More likely to be the victim of a crime Effects of Poverty on Behavior Patterns

16. Government Assistance Programs Two types…. Transfer Payments Money collected from taxes redistributed to groups that need public assistance Subsidies Pays for goods and services for groups that need assistance, rather than giving cash

17. Friday Warm-up How did the reading from yesterday, ‘Surprising Facts’, affect your understanding of poverty in America?

18. Understanding Bias: The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank— whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. We believe the principles and ideas of the American Founding are worth conserving and renewing. As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and principles. Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish.