[harryh]

1) Sure there have been some small short term fluctuations but the long term stability is pretty clear. And if you look back further than 50 years you'll actually see a steep decline in poverty. You can also see steep declines in poverty if you look internationally instead of just in the US.

2) You bring up a lot of other issues that are certainly real problems but they are mostly claims about what might happen in the future. That makes them speculation not fact. And sure, your speculation might end up being true and some of those speculations could lead to an increase in the poverty rate[A]. But you should be careful to frame what you are saying as a prediction about the future not a statement about something that has already happened in the past.

A. Personally I think you're wrong. But that's speculation too!