Statistics (from The American Dream): “A new Sesame Street character that is poverty-stricken and hungry is not the only unusual sign that things have changed in America.

“-Things are so bad in America that now Hallmark is actually offering a 6 card line of ‘job loss’ greeting cards.

“-Things are so bad in America that now gangster rappers are actually making rap videos about using food stamps.

“-Things are so bad in America that the number of Americans that are submitting applications for temporary work visas in Canada has approximately doubled since 2008.

“-Things are so bad in America that thieves are now stealing air conditioners, drain covers, hair extensions and even embalming fluid.’

“But things are especially bad for children.

“The following are some jaw-dropping statistics about how children are faring in our declining economy….

“The poverty rate for children living in the United States increased to 22% in 2010.  That means that tonight more than one out of every five U.S. children is living in poverty.

“Right now, one out of every four American children is on food stamps.

“There are 314 counties in the United States where at least 30% of the children are facing food insecurity.

“In Washington D.C., the ‘child food insecurity rate’ is 32.3%.

“More than 20 million U.S. children rely on school meal programs to keep from going hungry.

“Approximately one-third of the entire population of Alabama is now on food stamps.

“The number of Americans that are going to food pantries and soup kitchens has increased by 46% since 2006.

“It is being projected that approximately 50 percent of all U.S. children will be on food stamps at some point in their lives before they reach the age of 18.

“Last year, the number of Americans living in poverty increased by an all-time record 2.6 million.

“It is estimated that up to half a million children may currently be homeless in the United States.

“More than 45 million Americans are now on food stamps.  The number of Americans on food stamps has increased 74% since 2007.

“Sometimes it is hard to believe that this is still the United States of America.

“Aren’t we supposed to be the most prosperous nation on the planet? Sadly, it looks like things are starting to take a turn for the worse once again. U.S. employers announced 212 percent more job cuts this September than they did last September.

“America is changing, and not for the better.

“Unless fundamental changes are made, our economy is going to continue to deteriorate and a lot more people are going to suffer.”
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