"The Census Bureau reported that there are now 46.2 million Americans living below the official poverty line—the highest number in the 52 years since that statistic was first measured—and median household income has fallen back to the 1996 level." [NY Times]
Yeah, I know most of us mainstreamers are fortunate to have jobs or pensions, some even get help from WWII or baby boomer parents, yet the glaring fact remains that there are far too many people hurting—and to be pragmatic hurting the economy. There’s so much yet to be done, and government and business must focus on the challenge just as genius and labor are finally getting things done at Ground Zero.