Poverty under Bush, poverty under Clinton

Thinking…I caught an article on ABC News that pointed out that this year was the first significant drop in the poverty rate since 2000. Take a look at this little nugget.

The last significant decline in the poverty rate came in 2000, during the Clinton administration. In 2005, the poverty rate dipped from 12.7 percent to 12.6 percent, but Census officials said that change was statistically insignificant.

See, that got me thinking. If 2000 was the last time the poverty rate declined, how did it do under the entirety of Clinton’s presidency? It’s time for… a chart. Let’s start with 1989, the year George Bush Sr took office when poverty rates were at a record low, and move right on to this one.

Poverty rates in the United States, 1989-2006
Source: US Census Bureau

It’s interesting to note that 1989 was the previous record low according to the USCB (way to go, Gipper, I suppose), and that despite Bush Sr bringing it up to 15.1%, Clinton still managed to shatter the old record.

But remember, “tax and spend” Democrats are bad for the economy, isn’t that right?

9 responses to “Poverty under Bush, poverty under Clinton

  1. I love the way the media puts a positive spin on things for Bush’s benefit.

    I still question these numbers. Who are they counting as impoverished and how many are not being counted?

    I’m convinced the poverty numbers are actually much higher than anyone would willingly admit.

  2. I love the way the media puts a positive spin on things for Bush’s benefit.

    I still question these numbers. Who are they counting as impoverished and how many are not being counted?

    I’m convinced the poverty numbers are actually much higher than anyone would willingly admit.

  3. You know that is a good question. If you looked into unreported poverty, people living below a certain income level (I believe the poverty line is unbelievably low in the US), then we may be in worse shape.

  4. You know that is a good question. If you looked into unreported poverty, people living below a certain income level (I believe the poverty line is unbelievably low in the US), then we may be in worse shape.

  5. I thought also to be counted in a census you have to have an address. Doesn’t that preclude homeless people? I’m not sure…I know some try to keep track, mostly organizations that assist the homeless, but my guess is the government tries to massage the numbers to make them look favorable as much as possible.

    Sort of like the unemployment numbers. If you’ve been unemployed for more than 6 months, they stop counting you.

  6. I thought also to be counted in a census you have to have an address. Doesn’t that preclude homeless people? I’m not sure…I know some try to keep track, mostly organizations that assist the homeless, but my guess is the government tries to massage the numbers to make them look favorable as much as possible.

    Sort of like the unemployment numbers. If you’ve been unemployed for more than 6 months, they stop counting you.

  7. I trust these numbers every bit as much as I trust the “unemployment” numbers.

    I also wait patiently for the tooth fairy to come collect my wisdom teeth. I could really use the money.

  8. I trust these numbers every bit as much as I trust the “unemployment” numbers.

    I also wait patiently for the tooth fairy to come collect my wisdom teeth. I could really use the money.

  9. They may undershoot, but the trend is hard to ignore. Much like with every other trend such as crime rates and the surplus/deficit, things got better under Clinton and worse under both Bushes.

  10. They may undershoot, but the trend is hard to ignore. Much like with every other trend such as crime rates and the surplus/deficit, things got better under Clinton and worse under both Bushes.

  11. Isn’t it a little simplistic to reduce to one factor (presidency) when we should also look at other factors like the economy (Clinton also got us into the Dot com bust, which Bush inherited)?

  12. Isn’t it a little simplistic to reduce to one factor (presidency) when we should also look at other factors like the economy (Clinton also got us into the Dot com bust, which Bush inherited)?

  13. I’m not making this stuff up.

  14. then how is it that your numbers dont match those found in any other sources ive seen NBC CBS CNN dont match with your info….easy to make people look bad with fake info you moron…oh yeah Clinton has e-commerce to thank for his success, and that crashed right as bush took office too….I love how idiots spin things without having all the facts.

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