Two additional claims may have bitten the dust!

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019

Liberal professors and politicians in retreat and decline:
How many of the pleasingly gloomy things you hear can you really believe?

As we noted last week, you're constantly told that women get paid 80 percent as much as men "for doing the same work." Everyone knows that claim isn't true, but everyone likes to repeat it.

As we've been noting this week, if you let the professors tell it, schools which seem demographically sublime are actually "segregated." This hypothetical school would be one example:
Student enrollment, Public School X
White kids: 45%
Black kids: 20%
Hispanic kids: 20%
Asian-American kids: 15%
That looks like a demographic dream—especially if you're familiar with the actual demographics of our actual country's actual student enrollment.

Sorry! That's just another "segregated school," our leading bean-counters have said.

Peculiar or bogus claims are all around, even Over Here within our self-impressed liberal tribe. And good God! Just in the past two mornings, two more familiar, pleasing feel-bad claims seem to have bitten the dust!

At Slate, Jordan Weissmann reports
that the pleasingly gloomy "America on $2 a day" narrative seems to be taking on serious water. According to Weissmann, "a wildly influential 2013 study" by sociologists Edin and Schaefer—they followed up with a best-selling book about "extreme poverty"—has now received its "most serious challenge yet:"
WEISSMANN (6/6/19): The pair’s findings on the growth of extreme poverty also became an important data point in the argument over the legacy of welfare reform. In the 1990s, President Bill Clinton teamed up with Republicans in Congress to end the federal government’s old, often vilified program that gave cash directly to poor families. They replaced it with a system designed to make unemployed parents go to work. Edin, today a professor at Princeton, and Shaefer, a professor at the University of Michigan, argued that this change destroyed a key part of the cash safety net, fueling the rise of $2-a-day destitution.

Were they right? Edin and Shaefer’s eye-popping results have always been somewhat controversial, with critics—typically on the political right—arguing that they’re mostly a statistical illusion created by bad data. The debate has gone on for years in the pages of academic journals and white papers, with Edin and Shaefer countering detractors and refining their findings along the way. This week, though, a group of rival researchers released the most serious challenge to their work yet. Their paper uses newly available data to essentially double check and correct the government survey results Edin and Shaefer relied on. And, after all of their adjustments, $2-a-day poverty nearly disappears.
We can't evaluate the research. But the claim about $2-a-day poverty always seemed a bit implausible, much like the absurd-sounding claim about women receiving 77 to 80 cents on the dollar on average as compared to men.

According to Weissmann, "America on $2 a day" has taken on serious water. Meanwhile, Bloomberg's Michael Strain recently attacked yet another pleasingly gloomy old saw, the one about the vast numbers of people who couldn't cover a $400 expense.

Strain's June 4 report for Bloomberg appears beneath these headlines:
Americans May Be Strapped, But the Go-To Statistic Is False
It is a myth that a large share of people can’t cover a $400 emergency expense. Why does the story persist?
"Why does the story persist?" Why do all these stories persist? What keeps all these overwrought tales flitting through the ether?

Last evening, a group of leading anthropologists answered your question for us.

"Simply put, our brains were wired to function this way," these future scholars despondently said. They referred us to Professor Harari's account of the rise of our floundering, war-inclined species.

"We were built for tribal narrative, full and complete freaking stop." So the gloomy experts said, reporting to us from the future and singling out our own tribe.

We've been at this site for twenty-one years. We can tell you this:

You can't automatically believe the things our "liberal" academics tell you. We've seen this over and over again. This isn't just true Over There.

There she went again: Who the heck has been pushing that claim about the $400? Below, you see the way Strain began his report.

When they saw that familiar name, all the analysts howled:
STRAIN (6/4/19): A large share of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense: You’ve probably heard politicians and journalists breathlessly report that shocking statistic more than once in the last year or so.

A few recent examples. Senator Kamala Harris, in April of this year: “In America right now today, almost half of Americans are a $400 unexpected expense away from complete upheaval.” Senator Elizabeth Warren last month: “The gap between incomes and costs is so gaping that 40% of Americans can't come up with $400 in an emergency.” And Senator Bernie Sanders, also in May: “Four in 10 [Americans are] unable to afford a $400 emergency expense.”

This claim has never seemed plausible to me. After all, if so many Americans can’t cover a relatively minor unexpected expense, that would affect daily life in obvious ways...
That claim "ha[d] never seemed plausible to" Strain. Not even when Harris said it?

At any rate, you can't believe the things you're told, not even by your favorite reporters and friends. Our species is wired for gossip and fiction. Or don't you yet own a TV?

32 comments:

  1. "Everyone knows that claim isn't true, but everyone likes to repeat it." = there is no wage discrimination against women

    "schools which seem demographically sublime are actually "segregated." = there is no racism in school attendance

    These are complex issues. Somerby has fastened on a couple of statistics which he has decided contradict the larger problems facing women in the workface and racial disparities in our schools. He thinks that because of these statistics, which he considers untrue even when experts do not, these larger issues need not be discussed and liberals are making a big to-do over non-existant social problems.

    Conservatives like to claim that all of the feminist issues have been resolved and that women are just whining and trying to make political hay now. They also claim that racism is a thing of the past and that people of color are now looking for handouts and being lazy about pursuing opportunities open to them.

    Somerby seems to be closer to the latter position -- that sexism and racism are just liberal shibboleths without any substantial reality any more. Liberals don't believe that at all. Liberals support feminism and civil rights because they understand the complexities of the stats and more importantly, the realities of existence for women and people of color.

    Somerby says the $400 emergency situation doesn't seem plausible to him. It does to those of us who live in California, an expensive state. We see people who become homeless because they have to cover an emergency and then cannot afford their rent. People are defaulting on car loans at unprecedented rates. Last night's news featured a story about a woman who had taken in a friend and then couldn't get rid of her without going through an eviction process. So friends help friends who become squatters because they can't come up with the cash for two-months rent plus security deposit, and are stuck. Another evening there was a story about older parents who couldn't get their adult children to leave home.

    Somerby isn't reading the right things. He isn't familiar with what's going on in our culture. He is so clueless that his "intuition" is leading him to mistaken judgments about stats that make a great deal of sense to those a bit closer to tapped out.

    Somerby blames Harris. I blame Somerby. These stats aren't gossip or fiction. They describe real people's problems. Somerby's lack of compassion wouldn't be surprising in a conservative, but it sure as hell is in a liberal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing your exciting and interesting take on this post.

      Delete
    2. I wish deadrat would ever say something positive like that.

      Delete
    3. Your opinion is important. YOU are important. You matter. Never sell yourself short. Fight for what you believe in.

      Delete
    4. "Everyone knows that claim isn't true, but everyone likes to repeat it." = there is no wage discrimination against women

      That’s your straw man. TDH never says that. You should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      "schools which seem demographically sublime are actually "segregated." = there is no racism in school attendance

      That’s your straw man. TDH never says that. You should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      He thinks that because of these statistics, which he considers untrue even when experts do not, these larger issues need not be discussed and liberals are making a big to-do over non-existant [sic] social problems.

      Experts do not consider the 80-cents-on-the-dollar true for comparable work. You should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      I’ve never read a TDH blog post that advocates stopping the discussion of “larger issues.” You should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      Conservatives like to claim that all of the feminist issues have been resolved and … that racism is a thing of the past….

      Yes, they do. That’s why I say they walk amongst us as human. And that’s why it’s important to get the facts straight. Women face significant obstacles in the workplace, but unequal pay scales isn’t the major one. And every time a “conservative” exploits such misstatements is one more time the larger issue gets sidetracked and liberals look silly.

      Somerby seems to be closer to the latter position -- that sexism and racism are just liberal shibboleths without any substantial reality any more.

      First of all, a shibboleth isn’t a banner issue of principle. It’s a password. Secondly, I’ve never read a TDH claim that sexism and racism aren’t substantial or real, and neither have you. So you should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      We see people who become homeless because they have to cover an emergency and then cannot afford their rent.

      No doubt. But that’s not the claim. Let me remind you of what that claim is (in Harris’ formulation): for almost half of Americans, a $400 unexpected expense is a calamity. A trip to the google finds that the average monthly rent for an apartment in California is about $2K. But let’s go with the bottom 1% of apartment rent, which is about half of that. The people who cannot afford their rent are not homeless because of a $400 emergency. So you should probably stop claiming otherwise.

      Somerby isn't reading the right things.

      No, you’re not reading Somerby right about things.

      Somerby blames Harris. I blame Somerby.

      Of course you do. It’s easier than understanding where Harris is wrong

      Delete
    5. Harris is not wrong, not are Warren or Sanders, about the $400. Strain is wrong. Somerby did absolutely nothing to see if Strain was correct. He waved this post into being without doing due diligence. Somerby shouldn’t accuse someone of erroneous claims without examining those claims and without fact-checking the critics. It’s easy to find conservatives who attack liberals, but a media critic should check the claims of the conservatives too.

      Delete
    6. Do you imagine that a landlord will continue to let you live in your apartment if you pay only part of your rent? $1000 - $400 is $600. If you cannot come up with $400, how do you make up the missing amount the next month? How long will a landlord carry you in arrears? Not long given how skittish landlords and banks became after the crash in 2009. There is a housing shortage in LA. Why should any landlord carry someone when there are other renters looking for a place? And then there may be late fees or interest accumulating. At some point, when it becomes overwhelming or the landlord is very insistent, people will self-evict by leaving after midnight with their stuff, in anticipation of being locked out or their stuff confiscated. Before you call that illegal, remember that people without money don't have attorneys and they are often subject to illegal practices. Watch Judge Judy for a taste of that. Half her cases are about dogs but the other half are about landlord-tenant disputes or roommate disputes, or someone who loaned someone else money and never got it back.

      Somerby is an ass and you are not the arbiter of what he thinks when he never says himself what he believes.

      Delete
    7. I said: "Somerby seems to be closer to the latter position -- that sexism and racism are just liberal shibboleths without any substantial reality any more.

      Deadrat said: "First of all, a shibboleth isn’t a banner issue of principle. It’s a password...

      Dictionary defined shibboleth as: "a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important.
      "the party began to break with the shibboleths of the left""

      I believe I used the term correctly and I don't know what you mean by "password." You may be thinking of something else.

      Delete
    8. Maybe we should get together offline, you know what I mean? Chew some gum.

      Delete
    9. Do you imagine that a landlord will continue to let you live in your apartment if you pay only part of your rent?

      I’m not a landlord or a lawyer, but I’d guess it’ll take 2–3 months to get rid of me. I”ll be given a notice to quit with an expiration date, and then after that date I’ll be served with an unlawful detainer suit in superior court, and when the landlord wins, he’ll have the court issue a writ of possession that the sheriff can execute to clear me and my stuff out of the apartment.

      If you cannot come up with $400, how do you make up the missing amount the next month?

      If you follow the link to the Strain piece, he quotes the “Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households” by the Federal Reserve. You’ll find some of the “how” discussed.

      in anticipation of being locked out or their stuff confiscated. Before you call that illegal,….

      Yeah, it’s illegal. And yes, poor people are often subjected to illegal actions, but remember that the claim is that half of the population is $400 from immediate destitution.

      Watch Judge Judy….

      That’s what you want to defend your position with, Judge Judy? When do you want your notice to quit before you make a fool of yourself. The sheriff is standing by.

      Somerby is an ass and you are not the arbiter of what he thinks when he never says himself what he believes.

      Yes, TDH can act like an ass, and no, I’m not the arbiter of what he thinks. I don’t speculate on what he thinks beyond what he writes. Odd that you haven’t picked up on that.

      The point here isn’t that things are rosy for just about everybody. There are serious societal problems. For instance, we have a cohort of people leaving college shackled with large debt. These are the folks who are starting work, and their productivity should build the future. But they’re carrying the debt that used to be the province of middle-class mortgage holders.

      Or pick your favorite issue. Every time a progressive gets caught telling porkies like the $400 tale, it just gives “conservatives” an opportunity to distract from that issue.

      Delete
    10. The word comes from a lovely story from that uplifting book, the Bible (specifically, the Book of Judges) wherein is described the device by which the victorious Gileadites identified the remnants of their defeated foe the Ephraimites. The Gileadities were instructed to ask stragglers to pronounce the Hebrew word shibbolet, which means the head of a stalk of grain. The meaning is actually irrelevant; the point is that the Ephraimites couldn’t pronounce the sh phoneme, substituting the sibilant s. The Gileadites killed anyone who said sibbolet.

      So a shibboleth is an innate marker of distinction that identifies friend or foe.

      Delete
    11. I wish deadrat would ever say something positive like that.

      For that, you’ll have to read the deadrat who uses the Name/URL method of identification, which makes that nym a black non-hyperlink. I use the Google ID method, which makes my nym a green link.

      And I’m not a positive kind of guy. For me the glass is always half empty. And the glass is cracked.

      Delete
    12. 8:09 so you are saying you are not a chronic masterbater? Be honest.

      Delete
    13. Hello friends! My Name is Wendy from Canada i have had a lot about Dr AKHERE on his good work, for bringing back lost relationship but i never believe because so many spell caster scam me because of my husband who left me and three kids over a year and two months. so a good friend of mine introduce me to Dr AKHERE just because my condition was so bad and the responsibility in my matrimonia home was more than me. my husband left me to another woman just because i don't have male child for him. so i email Dr AKHERE and told him everything, he told me not to worry that my husband will come back and i will have a male child for him. he only told me to believe on him that after casting the spell my husband will come back immediately and beg for forgiveness. he real did it for me and my husband come back to me in the nest two days. i was very happy and thanks dr AKHERE. so, i was in this situation (April 18 2014) i told Dr AKHERE that i will start shearing his testimony to every one in the word if he make me to have a male child to my husband. and he also did it as am shearing this testimony to every one out dear, that am with my new bouncy baby boy. now i believe that i am the happiest woman on earth because Dr AKHERE restore my life in my matrimonial home you can thank him for me or email him for urgent help in any bad situation i promise you he will also help you; his email address is Email him: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346




      Hello friends! My Name is Wendy from Canada i have had a lot about Dr AKHERE on his good work, for bringing back lost relationship but i never believe because so many spell caster scam me because of my husband who left me and three kids over a year and two months. so a good friend of mine introduce me to Dr AKHERE just because my condition was so bad and the responsibility in my matrimonia home was more than me. my husband left me to another woman just because i don't have male child for him. so i email Dr AKHERE and told him everything, he told me not to worry that my husband will come back and i will have a male child for him. he only told me to believe on him that after casting the spell my husband will come back immediately and beg for forgiveness. he real did it for me and my husband come back to me in the nest two days. i was very happy and thanks dr AKHERE. so, i was in this situation (April 18 2014) i told Dr AKHERE that i will start shearing his testimony to every one in the word if he make me to have a male child to my husband. and he also did it as am shearing this testimony to every one out dear, that am with my new bouncy baby boy. now i believe that i am the happiest woman on earth because Dr AKHERE restore my life in my matrimonial home you can thank him for me or email him for urgent help in any bad situation i promise you he will also help you; his email address is Email him: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

      Delete
    14. 8:25P, At least I can spell it.

      Delete
    15. Outlawed poster Greg here... look, we should only call out Bob at his stupidest when we are dealing with Bob at his stupidest. The idea that liberalism's old or current saws might not jibe with the facts should not shock anyone, and Bob is not saying they are the war on Christmas. Here he should be suggesting that the Press does not give us much in the way of facts that will help us form sound opinions. And that would be fair enough.

      Delete
  2. Before you ask where Somerby said it doesn't seem plausible (since Strain says it directly), Somerby first quotes Strain, then says "Not even when Harris says it?" which is a facetious remark, then continues "...you can't believe the things you're told..."

    This juxtaposition means that Somerby is using the Strain excerpt as an example of things you cannot believe, ergo, he doesn't believe it himself.

    Somerby rarely says anything directly, but this is pretty clearly what he means. He hasn't done any work to discredit that $400 emergency statement, but by placing it together with two stats he thinks has debunked, the one about women's pay and the one about segregation, he is providing a third example of his so-called fictions.

    All in service of discrediting liberal talking points, as evidenced by the various candidate speeches he has excerpted. Why is Somerby talking against liberal candidates? It could be good-old self-criticism in the marxist sense, but it is more likely an attack on the people who will be running against Trump. Mocking the Democrats in advance of primaries to help shore up a failing president.

    Why would Somerby be doing this given his history as a liberal blogger? I wish I knew. My speculations have included Russian pay, misguided Bernie fervor, latent racism, sexism and conservative tendencies emerging due to elderly complaints, an attempt to generate controversy and keep his blog alive while doing minimal work, bitterness about lack of interest in his book about Gore's mistreatment, someone is betting him something, frontal lobe damage combined with lack of restraint of anger about past slights (Harvard courses failed, ungrateful black kids who didn't learn, women who get their books published when he cannot). Who knows?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Maybe he thinks gossip and fiction, in the long run, are bad for political parties and democracies. So maybe it's like tough love. It's not because of Russian pay. You can be certain of that. Saying so makes you look foolish.

      Delete
    2. Sure, gossip and fiction are bad. Perhaps. But the issue with the $400 is not an example where liberals are engaging in gossip and fiction.

      Delete
    3. Fiction isn't necessarily untrue. All Quiet on the Western Front, an anti-war novel, was fiction but it so vividly described war that it had a major impact on attitudes about the war. It is important that fiction be labeled as such. Somerby tends to call things he disagrees with "fiction." That isn't the actual meaning of the word.

      Gossip isn't necessarily untrue. Nor is it necessarily bad for a community. It keeps people up to date on what is happening to others they care about. It provides social glue by reinforcing norms. It helps people reinforce their identity as members of a group. It gives them a senses of inclusion. The gossiper tends to feel important, in the know. Ties between gossiper and listener are strengthened because they have something of mutual interest to discuss. Social psychologists generally consider gossip to be a human universal and a beneficial thing. It is the Catholic Church that condemns it as sinful, largely when it is false or done to deliberately harm others. Somerby doesn't differentiate. He is mostly ignorant about social psychology and seems to have some Catholic hangups perhaps related to his Boston upbringing.

      Delete
    4. TDH tends to call things he finds misleading "fiction." Sometimes he's right; sometimes he's not.

      Delete
    5. Somerby rarely says anything directly.

      This Somerby? TDH? For over 20 years, he's rarely said anything different. What blog are you reading?

      Delete
  3. "We can't evaluate the research. But the claim about $2-a-day poverty always seemed a bit implausible, much like the absurd-sounding claim about women receiving 77 to 80 cents on the dollar on average as compared to men."

    That claim about women receiving 77 to 80 cents on the dollar is not absurd, it is valid. Somerby has quibbled about whether the pay is for "the same work" but there is no dispute that women earn less than men. One cannot dispute the interpretation of a figure, what that statistic means, and thereby discredit the existence of that number. When you consider all the ways that women encounter obstacles and are disadvantaged in the workplace compared to men, it is surprising that the gap isn't greater.

    Then Somerby describes a challenge to the $2/day figure describing extreme poverty, citing a book that uses "newly available" data. The revision of a past figure (from Clinton's administration) using new data doesn't discredit the existence of extreme poverty. Adjustments are certainly needed to address today's conditions, if only for inflation. It doesn't mean the $2 was incorrect for its time, nor does it mean that there is no longer extreme poverty. Those of us who live in areas with visible homeless populations know better.

    Remember when Herrnstein and Murray blew the lid off Head Start Programs, proving that they did no good at alone and were a waste of money? That was the conservative conclusion drawn from their book. No liberal believed it. But it was the same kind of statistical attack on numbers used to describe social problems. Somerby is doing the same thing in his effort to attack social issues by attacking the stats used to describe them.

    In research, there is a distinction between quantitative and qualitative approaches. One uses numbers to paint a broad picture of what is happening to a lot of people. The other goes into depth into individual lives, talking about the details and subjectivities of people's experiences, showing what it is really like to have that problem or be in that circumstance. Researchers use both together. Of course there are problems with relying on numbers and there are different problems with replying on interviews and case studies, but you always put the two together, not take any in isolation.

    Somerby thinks that if he can isolate a particular statistic that he thinks is being wrongly represented, it makes the larger issue moot. It doesn't. He never addresses the cumulative body of information that exists on topics such as difficulties women face in the workplace, disparities related to race in education, or what it means to be poor in America today.

    Maybe Somerby is trying to show us, by writing like a moron, what the typical Trump voter thinks about these things? This is a waste of his time, since there is an endless supply of such people all over the internet, and often in blog comments. If he is writing a satire on conservative thinking, he needs to identify it as such. That is the first rule of satire/parody.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Somerby thinks that if he can isolate a particular statistic that he thinks is being wrongly represented, it makes the larger issue moot. It doesn't. He never addresses the cumulative body of information that exists on topics such as difficulties women face in the workplace, disparities related to race in education, or what it means to be poor in America today.

      That’s what TDH thinks? Could we have some evidence of that, preferably from one of his blog entries?

      It’s true that TDH doesn’t discuss the difficulties that women face on the job, general racial issues in education, or the true meaning of poverty in the US today. Perhaps he should, but that’s not what he chooses to write about. The mystery is why you’re still here.

      You’re like someone who goes to a concert by a country band and keeps asking when the opera is going to start.

      Delete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "You can't automatically believe the things our "liberal" academics tell you."

      Um, Bob, did you just figure that out?

      Well, what can I say - thanks for the laugh. Your earnest style rarely disappoints.

      Delete
  5. This is one of the poorest posts in recent Somerby history.

    First of all, Strain’s piece isn’t a report, though Somerby calls it “Strain's June 4 report.” It is an opinion piece, and clearly labeled as such.

    Second, if Strain is correct, that “The question comes from the annual “Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households” by the Federal Reserve.”, then let us examine the actual Fed report. Here is the relevant passage:

    “If faced with an unexpected expense of $400,
    61 percent of adults say they would cover it with cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement—a modest improvement from the prior year. Similar to the prior year, 27 percent would borrow or sell something to pay for the expense, and 12 percent would not be able to cover the expense at all.”

    Warren and Sanders, both quoted (and mocked) in the report along with Harris, say that “40% of Americans can't come up with $400 in an emergency” (Warren) and “Four in 10 [Americans are] unable to afford a $400 emergency expense” (Sanders)

    Strain simply chooses to overlook the plain statement from the Fed:

    “27 percent would borrow or sell something to pay for the expense, and 12 percent would not be able to cover the expense at all.”

    That’s 27+12 which equals 39, rather close to 40% or 4 in 10. Does Strain really wish to characterize 27 percent of the population having to borrow or sell something to cover a $400 expense as people who have sufficient *funds* to pay for such a modest expense? These 39% do not have cash, savings, or credit to cover a $400 expense, exactly what the liberals are saying.

    And Strain flat out misrepresents the report when he says “Instead, as the Fed report makes clear, though “the remaining 4 in 10 adults would have more difficulty covering such an expense,” many of them would be able to make it work by carrying a credit card balance”. The Fed clearly includes those who can pay by credit card in the 61%. Strain is “straining” to redefine terms to suit some conservative agenda.

    Here is the link to the Fed report:
    https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2018-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201905.pdf

    Why Somerby accepts the poorly reasoned op-Ed by a conservative writer without checking the accuracy of the op-Ed is beyond me, but if I were to guess, it is that Somerby simply accepts at face value any writer nowadays who criticizes liberals. And it remains a mystery why Somerby singles out Kamala Harris, when Strain clearly denounces Harris, Warren AND Sanders.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To be clear, Strain is saying that someone who uses a credit card to pay an unexpected $400 expense and then fails to pay it off at the next statement should NOT be included in the group who “can’t come up with $400.” Perhaps they had the $400, but just chose to incur interest charges and therefore end up paying more than $400, but the likelihood is that they carry the debt precisely because they *cannot afford to pay it off*.

      Delete
    2. “27 percent would borrow or sell something to pay for the expense, and 12 percent would not be able to cover the expense at all.”

      That’s 27+12 which equals 39, rather close to 40% or 4 in 10. Does Strain really wish to characterize 27 percent of the population having to borrow or sell something to cover a $400 expense as people who have sufficient *funds* to pay for such a modest expense? These 39% do not have cash, savings, or credit to cover a $400 expense, exactly what the liberals are saying.


      Warren says that 40% can’t come up with the $400. If you can borrow $400 or sell something for $400, you can come up with the money.

      The 39% may or may not have cash or savings to cover the emergency, but if they can borrow, they have the credit by definition.

      The percentage of people who will be tipped into disaster by an unexpected $400 emergency is 12.

      This is not a claim that the other 88% are in sound financial shape.

      Delete
  6. Hello friends! My Name is Wendy from Canada i have had a lot about Dr AKHERE on his good work, for bringing back lost relationship but i never believe because so many spell caster scam me because of my husband who left me and three kids over a year and two months. so a good friend of mine introduce me to Dr AKHERE just because my condition was so bad and the responsibility in my matrimonia home was more than me. my husband left me to another woman just because i don't have male child for him. so i email Dr AKHERE and told him everything, he told me not to worry that my husband will come back and i will have a male child for him. he only told me to believe on him that after casting the spell my husband will come back immediately and beg for forgiveness. he real did it for me and my husband come back to me in the nest two days. i was very happy and thanks dr AKHERE. so, i was in this situation (April 18 2014) i told Dr AKHERE that i will start shearing his testimony to every one in the word if he make me to have a male child to my husband. and he also did it as am shearing this testimony to every one out dear, that am with my new bouncy baby boy. now i believe that i am the happiest woman on earth because Dr AKHERE restore my life in my matrimonial home you can thank him for me or email him for urgent help in any bad situation i promise you he will also help you; his email address is Email him: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346




    Hello friends! My Name is Wendy from Canada i have had a lot about Dr AKHERE on his good work, for bringing back lost relationship but i never believe because so many spell caster scam me because of my husband who left me and three kids over a year and two months. so a good friend of mine introduce me to Dr AKHERE just because my condition was so bad and the responsibility in my matrimonia home was more than me. my husband left me to another woman just because i don't have male child for him. so i email Dr AKHERE and told him everything, he told me not to worry that my husband will come back and i will have a male child for him. he only told me to believe on him that after casting the spell my husband will come back immediately and beg for forgiveness. he real did it for me and my husband come back to me in the nest two days. i was very happy and thanks dr AKHERE. so, i was in this situation (April 18 2014) i told Dr AKHERE that i will start shearing his testimony to every one in the word if he make me to have a male child to my husband. and he also did it as am shearing this testimony to every one out dear, that am with my new bouncy baby boy. now i believe that i am the happiest woman on earth because Dr AKHERE restore my life in my matrimonial home you can thank him for me or email him for urgent help in any bad situation i promise you he will also help you; his email address is Email him: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

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  7. I am so happy, i never believe i will be this happy again in life, I was working as an air-hoster ( cabby crew ) for 3years but early this year, i loose my job because of this deadly disease called Herpes virus (HSV), I never felt sick or have any symptom, till all workers were ask to bring their doctors report, that was how i got tested and i found out that am HSV positive that make me loose my job, because it was consider as an STD and is incurable disease, i was so depress was thinking of committing suicide, till i explain to a friend of mine, who always said to me a problem share is a problem solved, that was how she directed me to Dr Isibor, that was how i contacted him and get the medication from this doctor and i got cured for real, I just went back to my work and they also carry out the test to be real sure and i was negative. Please contact this doctor if you are herpes positive diseases his email is: drisiborspellhome@gmail.com. or you can call or whatsApp his mobile number +2348107855231.

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  8. LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
    Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever

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