Enough to pay all their debts have their kids in private schools, a car for each member, and being able to go away on weekends and holidays to any place they would like to go! i know some people like that and i admire them, but I am grateful for what God has given me, if I had more I might not had God as an important figure in my life!!!!

The US Federal poverty level guidelines are such: Size of Family Unit (48 Contiguous States) 1 $ 9,310 2 12,490 3 15,670 4 18,850 5 22,030 6 25,210 7 28,390 8 31,570 I don't personally know someone living at these levels. I'm fortunate enough to live above this line; in fact, it's hard to imagine anyone could function at a level so low.

To me, if a person cannot pay their bills for BASIC living expenses (rent, food, household, utilities, transportation, medical), and have a bit left over for emergencies or a treat now and again, then they are below the poverty line. I do NOT feel that those that low should be buying cigarettes or booze of any kind, until they pay the other things off first.

The poverty line has been stated already, so I'll just answer the other questions, No I don't know anyone living at these lines, as doing such would be impossible, the average single person household is expected to run at 9k for poverty, meaning thats all you need to support yourself, however when I broke it down through all the costs that most people face, the AVERAGE (without any extras) was well over 16k per person. In any case, the poverty line should be regarded as a old outdated system that needs to be updated before anyone can benefit from it.

Currently roughly 13% of the US population fall below the federal poverty threshold. There is however some controversy regarding the federal poverty line, arguing that it either understates or overstates the problem of poverty. The poverty rate in the United States is one of the highest among the post-industrialized developed world. It should be noted that poverty rates only provide a snap-shot of the percentage of persons who are currently poor. Poverty in the U.S. is cyclical in nature, with individuals rising above and falling below the poverty threshold from time to time; as a result, far more than 13% of the population fall below the poverty line at some point over a given period of years. Those under the age of 18 were the most likely to be impoverished. In 2001 the poverty rate for minors in the United States was the highest in the industrialized world, with 14.8% of all minors and 30% of African American minors living below the poverty threshold. Additionally, the standard of living for those in the bottom 10% was lower in the U.S. than in any other developed nation except the United Kingdom, which had the lowest standard of living for impoverished children. In 2006, poverty rate for minors in the United States was 21.9% - highest child poverty rate in the developed world. Another way of looking at poverty is in relative terms. "Relative poverty" can be defined as having significantly less access to income and wealth than other members of society. Therefore, the relative poverty rate can directly be linked to income inequality. When the standard of living among those in more financially advantageous positions rises while that of those considered poor stagnates, the relative poverty rate will reflect such growing income inequality and increase. Conversely, the poverty rate can decrease, with low income people coming to have less wealth and income if wealthier people's wealth is reduced by a larger percentage than theirs. In 1959, a family at the poverty line had an income that was 42.64% of the median income. Thus, a poor family in 1999 had relatively less income and therefore relatively less purchasing power than wealthier members of society in 1959, and, therefore, "poverty" had increased. But, because this is a relative measure, this is not saying that a family in 1999 with the same amount of wealth and income as a family from 1959 had less purchasing power than the 1959 family. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1291859,00.html In India, there are poor people in every region. The Hinduism says that suffering is due to Karma of past life. Some say that you should not lock yourself into the idea that you don't deserve what you have; or that your privileged lifestyle has somehow caused others to suffer. They have done better Karma in their past life. So they have the privilege to enjoy it. Those who are suffering have done bad Karma in their past life. In a way, suffering is not an entirely bad thing. The blind appear to be handicapped. But Almighty gives them some extra sensitivity in some other perception organ like ear or touch. Have you not observed this? Property separates people and poverty joins people. People of poverty enjoy more close personal relationships which are highly heartening. Their mutual understanding as a group is incomparable. It is we who are poor in such relationships. The dialectical materialism says that there is something bad in what we call it good, and there is some thing good in what we call it bad. Good and bad are inseparable like light and darkness.

In my country 5.1% of the population live below the poverty line in 2008. See the graph below. No, I do not know people in this category.

While I'm sure there are so-called "official" arbitrary figures agreed upon by government agencies and imposed upon us I would point out that being poor or impoverished is to a large extent a state of mind, and while certainly it is currently fashionable for some to consider themselves so there are many families living good lives just getting by who would refuse or wave away such a designation. Yes I know poor people - my husband and I help some families - and they are no different than us except they simply have fewer financial resources. And I would mention that how a family uses whatever resources they have is up to them and their business whether others agree with how they do or not.

Poverty is when you honestly cannot afford the absolute essentials in life. Those are shelter, food, warmth and clothing. Without those 3, life will be truly miserable but we have many, in the U.K., who are without some of those essentials but we also have many others who plead poverty yet can afford to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco and their kids eat unnecessary sweets and other treats DAILY. They claim free school dinners, are given clothing vouchers etc. Real poverty is so much worse than that and those in genuine poverty are, often, the ones who slip under the radar, some of them being too proud to ask for the help that is available.

"The HHS issues poverty guidelines for each household size. For example, the poverty level for a household of four in 2021 is an annual income of $26,500. To get the poverty level for larger families, add $4,540 for each additional person in the household. For smaller families, subtract $4,540 per person. Federal Poverty Level: Definition, Guidelines, Chart" So that would be 12,880 for one person. I get 9,396 from social security disability and have no problem making ends meet. In fact I have over a year's rent in savings!