We have two basic poverty problems in the United States. One is the prevalence of low-wage work. The other concerns those who have almost no work. The numbers in both of these categories are astounding. Most people who are considered poor work as much as they can and still remain in poverty, while others have little or no work on a continuing basis. More than one out of every six people in the United States lives in poverty or near-poverty. For children, the rate is even higher. Just in 2016 the poverty rate according to the census was at 12.7%. Although poverty has declined 2.1 percentage points since 2014, it is still an extensive issue here in the United States. Poverty exists because the economic system is organized in ways that encourage
