by Autumn-Rose Panon

Created on: July 29, 2008   Last Updated: August 05, 2008

Almost every news broadcast that I hear, the Middle Class and the impact of the nation's economy upon them is explored. I have yet to hear how the poor within the US are faring. Are they the invisible populace? How is it that the news stations-NBC, CBS and ABC are not taking some time to report on the poor in this country? They seem to eat up opportunities to report on the poor in Africa!

Now then, I'm certainly not down on the poor in any country, nor am I down on America' Middle Class, but America has poor people, too. How are they faring with the high prices in gas? Oil? Food? Certainly food stamps and the other areas of Federal/state help can't be meeting all their needs. They are the ones who are the first to feel the pinches, if not out right slaps of this nation's downward economic rippling.

It would logically follow that even the Lower Middle Class may be entering the realms of the nation's poor, especially, if they have been out of work beyond the scope of their unemployment benefits. Given the recent extension of unemployment benefits, what if someone is not eligible for an extension? If not already poor, in danger of losing everything-sliding quickly into the poverty status? I was SHOCKED to discover that there are 30,000 people on unemployment in the state of Maine. Are there even that many jobs within the state? How many thousands are on unemployment and desperately seeking work in the other 49 states?

How are families with children faring? We have so many laws. Do they have to choose between food and auto insurance? Do they have to choose between mortgage/rent and food? Mortgage/rent/food and auto insurance? What about medical needs? Certainly those who are on fixed incomes may be sliding into poverty status as well. How are they faring?

Are the television stations afraid to investigate the impact of the economy upon the nation's poor? Are they afraid of the stories they will hear? How might these stories impact Congress? Impact legislatures at the state levels? Maybe even impact the forthcoming election?

How many people have lost their electricity, because they can't afford to pay the bills? How many are stuck in unemployment, just because they can't afford the gasoline to go looking for work? Perhaps they have had their telephones disconnected, because they haven't been able to pay their bills. A telephone is a major necessity searching for work. Or, they can't afford their car insurance and have to choose between car insurance and gasoline to look for work?

I would like to see some news on how the nation's poor are faring. Because, if there needs to be laws made or changed, helping the most vulnerable and needy first, will help us all.

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