State Taxes Stacked Against the Poor

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2012 Though many conservatives would rather not discuss it, not all taxes are created equal. Sure, the federal income tax is progressive (though less so than in the past), but payroll and state taxes -- which include levies on income, property, sales and various fees -- are not, and the differences between the top 1 percent and the bottom 20 percent can be large. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Two-Party System

Pat Bagley, Cagle Cartoons, Salt Lake Tribune Jan 26, 2012 Dig deeper

Childhood Poverty Soars in Oakland

Staff / Truthdig Nov 30, 2011 Childhood suffering is on the rise in Oakland, where the U.S. Census Bureau found nearly three in 10 children living in poverty, more than double the number recorded three years ago. The city has the highest rate of child destitution in the Bay Area. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

To Protest Foreclosures, San Jose Priest Divests $3 Million From Bank of America

Staff / Truthdig Nov 18, 2011 Father Eduardo Samaniego, the Jesuit pastor of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Jose, Calif., protested foreclosures by Bank of America against those in his flock and beyond by moving $3 million of his parish’s funds to a local credit union. (more) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Global Food Scheme Starves Guatemalan Poor

Staff / Truthdig Jun 2, 2011 Due to predatory trade policies endorsed by the IMF and the Guatemalan government, tax-evading transnational corporations partnered with local elites make a killing off the country's agricultural exports while more than half of its 14 million people suffer extreme poverty and threats of violence. (more) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Boehner’s Catholic Lessons

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig May 23, 2011 When the headline is "Catholic Progressives Challenge Conservative Politician on Social Justice," this is something new and complicated. It's far easier to write the 10th story of the week about Newt Gingrich. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Haiti’s Cholera Death Toll Rising

Staff / Truthdig Jan 1, 2011 The death toll in Haiti's cholera epidemic is rising. The toll now exceeds 3,300, official sources say, and the number of people infected has soared to 150,000 in just two months since the outbreak began. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Alzheimer’s Strikes Latino-Americans at a Younger Age

Staff / Truthdig Nov 22, 2010 Here's a startling statistic for you: Latino-Americans tend to get Alzheimer's disease seven years earlier than white Americans. Researchers blame the phenomenon on limited access to medical care and lower levels of education and income. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Schwarzenegger Slashes Social Programs

Staff / Truthdig Oct 9, 2010 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken the ax yet again to California's social programs, vetoing almost $1 billion in spending on welfare, special education, child care and other programs before signing a budget bill into law. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

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 )

Schwarzenegger Plans to Slash Spending

Staff / Truthdig May 15, 2010 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is again attempting to eliminate the state's welfare-to-work program as his Republican administration tries to cut spending while not raising taxes, a move intended to save $1.6 billion at the expense of 1.3 million poor people. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Borrowing While Poor

Moshe Adler / Truthdig Apr 21, 2010 Why should a poor borrower be held more responsible than a rich borrower for the default of another poor borrower? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )