Alabama is 6th poorest state in nation; poverty rate at 40 percent in some counties

[yallerdawg]

About 900,000 Alabamians live in poverty, according to a 2017 report from Alabama Possible.

Source: al.com. by Anne Claire Vollers

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About 18.5 percent of Alabamians live below the federal poverty line, but the percentage varies widely by county. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Black Belt counties have the highest rates of poverty while metro areas have the lowest.

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Fourteen of Alabama's 67 counties - all of them in the Black Belt - have a poverty rate higher than 25 percent.

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"Poverty is not a state of mind; it's a complex series of barriers that hardworking people have to overcome every day," said Kristina Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible, the statewide nonprofit that released the report.

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Read it all at: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/07/alabama_is_6th_poorest_state_i.html#incart_river_home_pop

[kimbutgar]

1. I would be interested in knowing the racial breakdown of these counties

[yallerdawg]

5. Although referenced as the agricultural "Black Belt" ...

the term also comes pretty close to the demographics.

From Selma to Tuskegee, Montgomery and Birmingham, highest percentages of black minorities by a long shot!

Around both Montgomery and Birmingham, you can also see the obvious "white flight," too!

[atreides1]

2. Then we can assume...

...from how the majority votes, that they don't have a problem with living in poverty! One could say that Alabamans love the adversity that poverty brings and even though they have the ability to change their lot in life, they don't want to!!!

[yallerdawg]

6. 2016 presidential election - it's not all Republican.

Interesting how the poverty rates correlate with the Democratic voters.

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https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/alabama

[mwooldri]

9. This map combined with poverty map shows one thing...

... based on county wide votes, people are not voting for their pocketbook. It's different values. The Democratic counties seem to be more heavy in AA representation.

If it we're pocketbook issues winning the day, Alabama would be solidly Democratic.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Yep, that's your "Black Belt" right there. You should see the 2012 results.

Obama actually got 70% of the vote in some AL counties. Unfortunately, they are not only the poorest counties, but also among the smallest in terms of population, so the overall outcome is hardly affected.

[pbmus]

3. Definitely Big Cons voters...

[delisen]

4. I see Mitch McConnell/Elaine Chao's Kentucky is also high poverty

Does Republicanism create poverty?

I picture these well-fed Republicans who manage to work or buy their way into position of national power, climbing over the poorly nourished bodies of their brother and sister citizens to reach power positions from which they can further destroy their brothers and sisters.

It is such strange behavior.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Sorry to say,you answered your own question.

Seen it first hand in Wisconsin,and the hardest effected are Older White Persons. Especially ones that have any Medical issues. The real nasty is,the lost of Food Stamps and Medical Facilities.

The Percentage Map that is associated with these topics is way off for Wisconsin. Unfortunately we have tons of Relatives trying to eek out some semblance of a living in that state,and by their responses,simply saying,they are not doing very well and they all voted Rethug,but it is Obama's fault.

They just do not get it.

[cilla4progress]

7. I guess Sessions

Was a great Senator and deserved the promotion to US AG.