Michael W. Green, a Wall Street investor, created a buzz in late 2025 by arguing that the U.S. poverty line should be jacked up to US$140,000 for a family of four. Currently, a family of that size has to be eking by on $33,000 a year to qualify as poor in the federal government’s eyes.
His critique builds on a broader debate about how to measure poverty in the United States. The U.S. government has made few changes to how it officially calculates the poverty rate since President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the “war on poverty” in the 1960s.
kAm~FE=6ED DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H2D9:?8E@?A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^a_ad^``^ah^A@G6CEJ\=:?6\8C66?^Qm%96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DEk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@CEF?6]4@>^a_ad^``^ah^A@G6CEJ\=:?6\`c____\A@=:E:42=\C286\277@C523:=:EJ\4C:D:D\:?7=2E:@?\4@DE\@7\=:G:?8^Qmu@CEF?6k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@I3FD:?6DD]4@>^G:56@^ebgddgahaf``aQmu@I }6HDk^2m 4@G6C65 vC66?’D 2DD6CE:@?D[ DA2C<:?8 2 7=FCCJ @7 AF3=:4 5632E6 @G6C 2 E@A:4 FDF2==J C6=682E65 E@ 64@?@>:DED =:<6 >6]k^Am
kAmw2G:?8 DA6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClJ;Eg|$pppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qm>@C6 E92? `d J62CD C6D62C49:?8 A@G6CEJk^2m 2D 2? 64@?@>:DE[ x 36=:6G6 E92E H96E96C E96 8@G6C?>6?E @F89E E@ 5C2H E9:D =:?6 2E Sbb[___[ S`__[___ @C S`c_[___ :D ?@E E96 C62= :DDF6] x?DE625[ x’G6 366? 2C8F:?8 E92E E96C6 :D ?@ >28:4 E9C6D9@=5 36=@H H9:49 J@F 2C6 A@@C 2?5 23@G6 H9:49 J@F’C6 5@:?8 7:?6] x?DE625[ A@G6CEJ D9@F=5 36 F?56CDE@@5 2D 2 DA64ECF> E92E 42? 36 >62DFC65 H:E9@FE C6=J:?8 @? 2C3:EC2CJ =:?6D]k^Am
k9amb 5:776C6?E A@G6CEJ =:?6Dk^9am
kAm%9:?< 23@FE :Ei {:G:?8 @? S`__ 2 52J :D 36EE6C E92? Sfd 2 52J[ H9:49 :D 36EE6C E92? Sd_[ H9:49 :D 36EE6C E92? Sad] }@E9:?8 >28:42= 92AA6?D H96? J@F 4C@DD D@>6 2C3:EC2CJ =:?6] !6@A=6 5@?’E DF556?=J 6D42A6 E96 4@?DEC2:?ED 2?5 GF=?6C23:=:E:6D @7 92G:?8 =@H :?4@>6D H96? E96J >2<6 @?6 5@==2C >@C6 E92? E96J FD65 E@]k^Am
kAmp?5 J6E 2=>@DE 2== AF3=:4 5632E6D[ C6D62C49 2?5 A@=:4J EC62E A@G6CEJ =:?6D 2D =68:E:>2E6 – k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4856G]@C8^3=@8^6IEC6>6\A@G6CEJ\E@@\6IEC6>6Qm2D :7 E9:D E9C6D9@=5 C62==J 6I:DEDk^2m]k^Am
kAmr@?D:56C E9C66 G6CJ 5:776C6?E A@G6CEJ =:?6Dik^Am
kAm|@G:?8 E96 A@G6CEJ =:?6 E@ Sg_ A6C A6CD@? A6C 52J[ H9:49 E@52J 2>@F?ED E@ C@F89=J S`c_[___ 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC A6C J62C[ 2D vC66? AC@A@D6D[ E96? deT @7 p>6C:42?D 2C6 A@@C 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E242E2=@8]H@C=532?<]@C8^D62C49^52E2D6E^__ecb_c^`___\3:??65\8=@32=\5:DEC:3FE:@?Qm(@C=5 q2?< 52E2k^2m] $@ 2C6 >@DE A6@A=6 :? @E96C 9:89\:?4@>6 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAmsC2H:?8 E96 A@G6CEJ =:?6 2E 23@FE Sa_ A6C A6CD@? A6C 52J – 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 6BF:G2=6?E E@ E96 @77:4:2= &]$] A@G6CEJ E9C6D9@=5 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC – E96 D92C6 @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ 2C6 36=@H E92E =:?6 A=F?86D E@ eT[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 (@C=5 q2?< 52E2 x 2?2=JK65]k^Am
kAm%96 (@C=5 q2?< 2=D@ 92D 2 567:?:E:@? @7 6IEC6>6 A@G6CEJi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=@8D]H@C=532?<]@C8^6?^@A6?52E2^E96\H@C=5\32?<\D\?6H\8=@32=\A@G6CEJ\=:?6D\:?\a_a`\AC:46DQmSb A6C A6CD@? A6C 52Jk^2m] x7 J@F AFE E96 =:?6 E96C6[ @?=J `T @7 p>6C:42?D H@F=5 36 @77:4:2==J 6IA6C:6?4:?8 A@G6CEJ]k^Am
kAmtG6? 2>@?8 6IA6CED[ E96C6 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4856G]@C8^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^6?5\6IEC6>6\A@G6CEJ\@C\=62DE\6IEC6>6\A@G6CEJ\=:?6]A57Qm=:EE=6 28C66>6?E @? H96C6 E96 A@G6CEJ =:?6 D9@F=5 72==k^2m] pD 2 C6DF=E[ 5632E6D 23@FE A@G6CEJ =:?6D @7E6? C6G62= >@C6 23@FE E96 49@:46 @7 E9C6D9@=5 E92? 23@FE A@G6CEJ :ED6=7]k^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^"?Kg;^7F==]A?8Q ^mk^Am
k9am|62DFC:?8 A@G6CEJ H:E9@FE =:?6Dk^9am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5I]5@:]@C8^`_]a`bh^DDC?]cfgdcdgQmq2D65 @? >J C6D62C49k^2m[ x 92G6 AC@A@D65 =6EE:?8 8@ @7 A@G6CEJ =:?6D E@ 86E 2 >@C6 >62?:?87F= G:6H @7 9@H A@G6CEJ 6G@=G65 @G6C E:>6 2?5 :? 5:776C6?E 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAmx?DE625[ x AC@A@D6 2 ?6H H2J E@ >62DFC6 A@G6CEJ[ E9C@F89 H92E x 42== “2G6C286 A@G6CEJ[” H9:49 C67=64ED E96 724E E92E 92G:?8 =6DD :?4@>6 :D 2=H2JD H@CD6 E92? 92G:?8 >@C6]k^Am
kAmpG6C286 A@G6CEJ 3F:=5D @? 2 D:>A=6 :?EF:E:@?] x7 D@>6@?6 x’== 42== p=6I 62C?D 92=7 2D >F49 2D D@>6@?6 6=D6 x’== 42== q2C32C2[ E96? q2C32C2 :D EH:46 2D C:49 2D p=6I 2?5 p=6I :D EH:46 2D A@@C 2D q2C32C2]k^Am
kAm$:>:=2C :?G6CD6 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2C6 H:56DAC625 :? @E96C 7:6=5Di !246 :D E96 C64:AC@42= @7 DA665 :? CF??:?8 2D C6D:DE2?46 2?5 4@?5F4E2?46 2C6 :? 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^Am
kAm%9:D >62?D E92E A@G6CEJ 42? 36 567:?65 2D E96 :?G6CD6 @7 :?4@>6[ 2?5 :ED F?:E :D D:>A=J :?G6CE65] x7 :?4@>6D 2C6 >62DFC65 :? 5@==2CD A6C 52J[ A@G6CEJ :D >62DFC65 :? 52JD A6C 5@==2C]k^Am
kAmpG6C286 A@G6CEJ E96C67@C6 42AEFC6D D@>6E9:?8 G6CJ 4@?4C6E6i E96 2G6C286 ?F>36C @7 >:?FE6D[ 9@FCD @C 52JD E92E :E E2<6D E@ 86E S` :? :?4@>6]k^Am
kAmu@C E96D6 AFCA@D6D[ :?4@>6 :?4=F56D 62C?:?8D 7C@> H@C<[ 8@G6C?>6?E 36?67:ED 2?5 @E96C D@FC46D @7 >@?6J[ 2?5 :E :D 2G6C2865 2>@?8 2== 72>:=J >6>36CD] xE :D 6IAC6DD65 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E296=A56D<]H@C=532?<]@C8^<?@H=658632D6^2CE:4=6D^``chcc\H92E\:D\2?\:?E6C?2E:@?2=\5@==2CQm:?E6C?2E:@?2= 5@==2CDk^2m[ H9:49 244@F?E 7@C :?7=2E:@? 2?5 8=@32= AC:46 5:776C6?46D] %96 E:>6 E@ 86E S` C676CD E@ 2 52J @7 =:76 7@C 2?J@?6 2E 2?J 286 2?5 :? 2?J 4:C4F>DE2?46[ ?@E ;FDE E96 9@FCD H@C<65 3J D@>6@?6 H:E9 2 ;@3]k^Am
kAm|J AC@A@D65 >62DFC6 42DED E96 &]$] :? 2 DEC:<:?8=J 5:776C6?E =:89E 7C@> EC25:E:@?2= A@G6CEJ DE2E:DE:4D] x? E96 &]$][ x’G6 42=4F=2E65 E92E :E E2<6D eb >:?FE6D @? 2G6C286 E@ 86E S` :? :?4@>6] %92E’D >F49 D=@H6C E92? :? >2?J @E96C 9:89\:?4@>6 4@F?EC:6Dik^Am
kF=mk=:mkAm&?:E65 z:?85@>i bc >:?FE6Dk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmuC2?46i =6DD E92? b` >:?FE6Dk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmv6C>2?Ji 23@FE ae >:?FE6Dk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
kAm%9:D :?5:42E6D E92E 2G6C286 A@G6CEJ :D DF3DE2?E:2==J 9:896C :? E96 &]$][ 6G6? E9@F89 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@C=5:?52E2]@C8^8C2A96C^52:=J\>62?\:?4@>6nE23l=:?6U2>Aj4@F?ECJl&$pTftu#pTftst&Tftvq#Qm&]$] 2G6C286 :?4@>6D 2C6 9:896Ck^2m E92? :? >@DE (6DE6C? tFC@A62? 4@F?EC:6D] (9:=6 2G6C286 A@G6CEJ 564=:?65 @G6C E:>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5I]5@:]@C8^`_]a`bh^DDC?]cfgdcdgQm:? >@DE @E96C 9:89\:?4@>6 4@F?EC:6Dk^2m[ :E 92D :?4C62D65 2=>@DE 4@?E:?F@FD=J :? E96 &]$] D:?46 `hh_ 56DA:E6 DH:7E 8C@HE9 :? 2G6C286 :?4@>6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 :D @?6 6I46AE:@? E@ E9:D EC6?5i 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ H96? E96 &]$] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^8@G6C?>6?E\2?5\492C:E23=6\24E:@?D\=:<6=J\<6AE\>:==:@?D\@7\2>6C:42?D\@FE\@7\7@@5\:?D64FC:EJ\5FC:?8\E96\A2?56>:4\`efd_dQm25@AE65 D6G6C2= D9@CE\E6C> 2?E:\A@G6CEJ >62DFC6Dk^2m]k^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^$qszx^7F==]A?8Q ^mk^Am
k9am%96 AC:46 @7 :?6BF2=:EJk^9am
kAmpE 7:CDE 8=2?46[ E9:D D66>D A2C25@I:42=] w@H 42? 2 C:49 4@F?ECJ’D 64@?@>J 8C@H 2?5 J6E 86E A@@C6Cnk^Am
kAm%96 2?DH6C :D D:>A=6i :?6BF2=:EJ]k^Am
kAm$66:?8 A@G6CEJ 2D 2 DA64ECF> C2E96C E92? 2 DH:E49 E92E’D @? @C @77 42DED =:89E @? H92E EC25:E:@?2= >62DFC6D 9:56i x?6BF2=:EJ >2EE6CD ?@ >2EE6C H96C6 J@F 2C6 @? E96 A@G6CEJ\AC@DA6C:EJ 4@?E:?FF>] &?56C E9:D 2AAC@249[ A@G6CEJ 42? 492?86 7@C EH@ C62D@?Di 6:E96C :?4@>6D C:D6 @C 72== @? 2G6C286[ @C E96 5:DEC:3FE:@? @7 :?4@>6 >2J 364@>6 >@C6 @C =6DD F?6BF2=]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96 &]$] 92D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE F?6BF2= 64@?@>:6D :? E96 H@C=5[ 2?5 3J 72C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@C=5:?52E2]@C8^8C2A96C^64@?@>:4\:?6BF2=:EJ\8:?:\:?56IQm>@DE F?6BF2= 2>@?8 C:49 4@F?EC:6Dk^2m] p4C@DD 2== d_ DE2E6D[ :?6BF2=:EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5I]5@:]@C8^`_]a`bh^DDC?]daa_de_Qm92D C:D6? D92CA=J D:?46 `hh_k^2m[ C682C5=6DD @7 A@=:E:42= @C:6?E2E:@?[ 56>@8C2A9:4 4@>A@D:E:@? @C 64@?@>:4 DECF4EFC6]k^Am
kAm(96? :?6BF2=:EJ C:D6D 72DE6C E92? :?4@>6D 8C@H[ 2G6C286 A@G6CEJ :?4C62D6D 6G6? :? 2 8C@H:?8 64@?@>J] %9:D :D H9J E96 &]$] 2AA62CD A@@C6C F?56C 2 4@?E:?F@FD >62DFC6 E92? H96? E96C6’D 2 D:>A=6 =:?6 5C2H? 2E E96 Sa_\A6C\52J >2C<i xED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@C=5:?52E2]@C8^8C2A96C^64@?@>:4\:?6BF2=:EJ\8:?:\:?56InE23l=:?6U2>Aj4@F?ECJl&$pTftu#pTftvq#Tftst&Qm:?4@>6 5:DEC:3FE:@? 92D 366? 86EE:?8 >@C6 F?6BF2=k^2m 6G6? 2D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@C=5:?52E2]@C8^8C2A96C^52:=J\>62?\:?4@>6nE23l=:?6U2>Aj4@F?ECJl&$pTftu#pTftst&Tftvq#Qm2G6C286 :?4@>6 92D C:D6?k^2m]k^Am
kAm$66:?8 A@G6CEJ 2D 2 DA64ECF> 492?86D E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?] xE C6G62=D H92E A@G6CEJ =:?6D >:DD 2?5 H9J :?6BF2=:EJ >2EE6CD D@ >F49]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^@=:G:6C\DE6C4<\``dcbccnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQm~=:G:6C $E6C4<k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\@I7@C5\`ae_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 ~I7@C5k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H96?\F?A2:5\4@@<:?8\4=62?:?8\2?5\49:=5\42C6\86E\2\5@==2C\G2=F6\:?4@>6\:?6BF2=:EJ\:?\E96\FD\D9C:?<D\3FE\E96\82A\92D\8C@H?\D:?46\`hed\afdchhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQm(96? F?A2:5 4@@<:?8[ 4=62?:?8 2?5 49:=5 42C6 86E 2 5@==2C G2=F6[ :?4@>6 :?6BF2=:EJ :? E96 &$ D9C:?<D – 3FE E96 82A 92D 8C@H? D:?46 `hedk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^56?>2C<D\86?6C@FD\49:=5\42C6\2?5\A2C6?E2=\=62G6\A@=:4:6D\6C2D6\g_\@7\E96\>@E96C9@@5\A6?2=EJ\7@C\H@C<:?8\>@>D\afb`genFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQms6?>2C<’D 86?6C@FD 49:=5 42C6 2?5 A2C6?E2= =62G6 A@=:4:6D 6C2D6 g_T @7 E96 ‘>@E96C9@@5 A6?2=EJ’ 7@C H@C<:?8 >@>Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9@\86ED\D?2A\36?67:ED\E@\3FJ\8C@46C:6D\2?5\H92E\E96\8@G6C?>6?E\A2JD\7@C\E96\AC@8C2>\:?\d\492CED\aeh_banFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\af`h`aQm(9@ 86ED $}p! 36?67:ED E@ 3FJ 8C@46C:6D 2?5 H92E E96 8@G6C?>6?E A2JD 7@C E96 AC@8C2> – :? d 492CEDk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m~=:G:6C $E6C4< C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 #6D62C49 u@F?52E:@? u=2?56CD Wu(~X] w6 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^af`h`a^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.