Err … that link is not saying it varies greatly at all.
It does say that individual organizations use their own metrics. Indeed, NYC changed the definition and the poverty rate shotup from 18% to 23% (
source). Does a 5 point jump no qualify as varying “greatly”?
OK, let’s see …
census.gov/hhes/povmeas/methodology/ombdir14.html
1969 … ok, that was quite a while ago.
The it was revised in the 80s;
Note also that the poverty level does not include income and assistance for in-kind benefits. That is SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, etc are not included. All of these were created or expanded significantly since the introduction and revision of the poverty level. This level, supposedly meant to measure the minimum standard of living, becomes more and more inaccurate as programs are created and expanded.
Key phrase is “only slightly”. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been changed more.
What does “only slightly” mean? 1%? 5%? 15? They don’t define it. Also, like I mentioned above, the metric has in no way accounted for the creation of many programs meant to alleviate poverty. So what is it measuring then?
Can you show some proof that this person changes it to make the administration look good? The metrics are very public, and haven’t really changed much. I think it’d be your responsibility to show some proof in order to make your claim be believable.
I chose my words poorly. What I meant was that individual departments can change their measurements for political purposes. The link I gave earlier indicates only what the Census uses to measure poverty. It is not necessarily the same as HHS, HUD, FHA, or any other group. Indeed, as we saw above, NYC uses its own, and can claim that things are worse in NYC than ever before.
Case in point. In 2010, the Census bureau announced it will add a “Supplemental Poverty Measure” (
source). Note that this measure still does not account for in-kind benefits. And we see in September 2011 and huge rise in poverty to 15.8% (from 13.2% the month before) (
source). And why would the Obama administration want to tweak this measure? I think for political gain.
The ultimate point here is: What is the poverty level supposed to measure? Actual poverty? Or relative poverty? In our government, I think it is the latter. And that is a class warfare tool used primarily for political gain.
