One of Seven Americans Lives in Poverty

Staff / Truthdig Sep 17, 2010 One out of every seven Americans lived through 2009 in poverty, according to the Census Bureau. Working Americans haven't been this poor in 50 years. The poverty line -- $21,954 or less annual income for a family of four -- is quite low and the number of Americans struggling to get by is much higher still. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

For Job Hunters, a Cold July

Staff / Truthdig Aug 6, 2010 The weather may have sizzled in July, but it wasn't such a hot month for the U.S. economy. Private employers added 71,000 jobs during the month, about half what had been expected, keeping the unemployment rate at a nagging 9.5 percent. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

June Gloom in the Job Picture

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2010 June's private-sector employment growth was less than stellar, with a "dishearteningly low number" of jobs being added to domestic payrolls in a signal that the economic recovery is encountering some serious headwinds. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Against the Wishes of Arizona Lawmakers, America Is Getting More Diverse

Staff / Truthdig Jun 11, 2010 Preliminary census data show that America's melting pot is meltier than ever, with racial minorities now making up more than one-third of the nation's population. Pretty soon the "minorities" will be in the majority, as they are in four states (California, New Mexico, Hawaii and Texas, where everything is bigger, anyway). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Census Hiring Boosts Jobs in May

Michael Powell Jun 4, 2010 The U.S. economy tacked on 431,000 new jobs in May, the biggest monthly jump in a decade, but most of those were people hired for the 2010 census count, and those jobs will vanish after the summer. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Racial Politics, Tea Party Style

Marcia Alesan Dawkins / Truthdig Apr 29, 2010 We can infer that Lloyd Marcus may be winking at us—saying that African-American may still equal un-American. After all, if African-American actually meant American and if race didn’t matter, then Marcus wouldn’t have to make the gesture. Let’s think about it. Lloyd Marcus’ self-concept notwithstanding, he is making a powerful double-edged statement about race in a post-racial America. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

One-Third Didn’t Return Census Forms

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2010 Maybe it's laziness or maybe it's privacy concerns, but the US Census Bureau reports that 32 percent of all U households receiving census questionnaires did not return them ahead of Friday's official deadline Come May 1, census workers will begin pounding on the doors of the laggards. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Karl Rove Stumps for the Census

Staff / Truthdig Apr 6, 2010 A rash of big-government paranoia has Republicans worried that some constituents won’t participate in the census, thereby depressing conservative representation in the House. Enter Karl Rove, James Madison fan and pitchman for the 2010 census. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Don’t Count on Me

Staff / Truthdig Jan 29, 2010 Some conservative opponents of President Barack Obama are trying to stir up a movement against the 2010 census, arguing that the census form asks too many personal questions and is one more example of the erosion of privacy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gaza’s Baby Boom

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2009 According to a Palestinian census, the population of Gaza jumped by 40 percent between 1997 and 2007. West Bank officials expect the Gaza population, which they estimate at 1.4 million, to double over the next 21 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Another Nominee Bites the Dust

Staff / Truthdig Feb 13, 2009 Apparently nobody wants to be President Obama's commerce secretary. The second candidate for the post, Sen. Judd Gregg, has dropped out. The Republican senator cited "irresolvable conflicts," including the stimulus package and the census. That's what you get for trying to make nice with those fussy Republicans. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

When Minorities Are in the Majority

Staff / Truthdig Aug 14, 2008 Census data project that in just 34 years, today's minority groups together will make up the majority of the U population, outnumbering "non-Hispanic whites" Contrary to what Lou Dobbs and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps would have you believe, the change in demographics has more to do with procreation than immigration . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )