Poverty in the United StatesPoverty is defined by Webster as the state of someone who does not have a usual or socially available amount of money or material goods acceptable. The most common measure of poverty in the United States is called the poverty line. This measure determines the lack of food and needs commonly taken for granted. The federal poverty level for a family of four is approximately $23,550 per year in 2013. Many people will at some point have lived below the poverty line for at least a year according to the government. Poverty rates are consistently high in rural and inner-city areas of the United States. According to the Census Bureau in November 2012, more than 16% of the U.S. population lived in poverty. This includes 20% of American children. In 2011, child poverty reached an all-time high with more than 16.7 million children living without enough food to last the day. (US Census Bureau, 2013). Effects of poverty The effects of poverty will be more serious than ever. Poverty mainly affects the United States: higher crime rates, alcohol...