> Census estimates suggest 1 in 6 Americans live in poverty

Which definition of poverty are we using?

I have two. According to one, 90% of Americans live in poverty. According to the other, less than 1% do. Which one is correct?

Note that the 1% is based on world-standards for poverty....

> 1 in 7 Americans rely on food stamps

And taxing rich people more is going to change that how?

Govt aid is basically a no-work/low-pay job. How is reducing the amount of money in the private sector going to put more people to work?

Note that reducing the amount of money in the private sector doesn't necessarily increase the amount of money in the public sector. The US govt has never managed to collect more than 20% of GDP in taxes, so if your plan assumes that we can, you get to explain why this time will be different.

But income inequality has fallen during the recession. We've all become poorer, the rich in particular. Tax revenues took a big hit because the rich lost a lot, and the rich pay the lions share of taxes.

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009/tables/09s0673.p...

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s0695.p...

(Preliminary figures have suggested inequality is on the rise, now that we are recovering.)

And income equality can mean that we're all poor. Is that really preferable?