No, You're Not...Not By A Long Shot

If you are reading this, that means you have a computer, and the internet connection to sign on to the WWW. Maybe you're sitting at a Starbucks or Panera or any other social hangout that has free WiFi. Even if you're sitting at home in front of the terminal, it counts...or checking on your iPad, iPhone or Blackberry...well, you get the idea. You have access, and you probably can afford it. So don't tell me how tough you have it. Oh, we all have issues that we think could be solved with an influx of Benjamins, but you don't have it so bad, and neither do I because we don't live in Milwaukee or Detroit or Cleveland or St. Louis.
Why those five? They are the top five in a list just released detailing America's poorest cities among cities with a population of 250,000 or more: cities in which unemployment is far above the national average with the #5 position having the lowest poverty rate of the group at almost 27%. That's right: more than a quarter of the eligible work force in St. Louis lives in poverty...and the other cities are in worse shape.
Detroit, of course, has to lead the list due to the crash (so to speak) of the auto industry. Imagine a place in the percentage of people living in poverty was at 36.4%, and you've got Detroit. Yes, that's NIMB (not in my backyard), so let's talk Milwaukee which IS in my backyard.
In Milwaukee, the recession has hit the manufacturing industry hard, as well as a host of others. Companies are streaming out of Wisconsin and Milwaukee far too quickly. Last year, it is estimated that 158,245 people in Milwaukee lived in poverty which was defined as an income of $21,954.00 for a family of four. What's more, 40% of children in Milwaukee are estimated to live in poverty
which amounts to 62,432, a definite increase from the total in 2008 of 49,952.
So, don't whine about how tough your life is. While it may not be possible for you or me to alleviate the suffering of those in Milwaukee or any other city, American or foreign, the least we can do is to stop complaining about how the government is taking all of our money or taxing us to death or giving it to other less-deserving people than we are...the list goes on. If you feel that your economic situation is truly lamentable, fine. You still have the internet and a computer or 3G phone network. You may not have everything you thought was promised to you or that is "owed" you...none of us probably gets all that is desired.
Just don't complain to me.