Or they did not have money in their pockets, struggling to find 50 cents for tolls. You wouldn't find them odd. Evidence that runs counter to the prevailing air of congratulation regarding welfare reform is out there, Ehrenreich added, provided you're willing to look for it. For example, a Nexis search turned up a number of articles about maxed-out food shelters, in which local people blamed welfare reform. It shouldn't be a surprise that such hardships exist, Ehrenreich said.
Wages are too low.
While there has been a modest increase since 1996, hourly wages are still not up to the levels of 1973. Do the math. It doesn't work out. When they say poverty is over, that's how they get it.