Poverty Rate Jumps to 14.3%, Highest Since 1994, According to Census Report

   Don't these headlines make you feel good to be an American? According to the Census Bureau, data from 2009 shows that more Americans joined the "Poor" class and the poverty rate leapt to 14.3% from 13.2%. That means about 45 million Americans were living at the poverty level while Uncle Sam bailed out the big banks and AIG made sure that their top executives got bonuses.

   Poverty is a growth industry and trends like this don't stop and reverse quickly. I'd expect the poverty rate to decelerate and reach a peak sometime in 2012 and then gradually decrease as the economy begins growing aggressively again. We've lived through one of the worst recessions in the past couple of years so it's little surprise that the poverty rate has grown. During times like this, it's sometimes tough to see a bright future for America but blue skies are straight ahead. Bluer than the bluest eyes. It's just going to take a little time.