Cummins on poverty and infrastructure.

It's Terry Cummins, not Stawar, and while the the OSIN columnist's essay ostensibly addresses bridges and infrastructure, he provides this devastating reminder of current American reality:

CUMMINS: A troubled bridge over stagnant waters

... Four hundred lucky Americans have more wealth than about 157 million other Americans combined. The richest 5 percent purchase 37 percent of consumer goods, and the richest fifth own 84 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 40 percent own only 0.3 percent. More than 46 million Americans now live below the poverty line, determined by a family of four existing on less than $22,000 per year, and we wonder why SAT scores go down. In 2009, 8,274 Americans made more than $10 million each, and it’s a hardship to kick in a little more to reduce the deficit and build a bridge.