Lies, Damn Lies and Poverty Statistics

How an archaic measurement keeps millions of poor Americans from being counted

By Christopher Moraff

Standing before the House rostrum on the night of January 31, President George W. Bush beamed as he recounted the state of the country’s economic health.

“Our economy is healthy,” the president declared during his State of the Union address. “Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it.”