Hanging on the cliff

In a recent editorial in The Dallas Morning News an important question is asked and point made as to whether you are "asset-poor". This question doesn't target any certain age group or gender but more so what financial standing your in. According to the author 39 percent of Dallas residents live on a "financial cliff" meaning, that if these residents were to lose their job they would not be able to support themselves and or family for the next 3 months enough to stay above the federal poverty mark. With this being said residents lack the savings, insurance and proper investments to stay financially safe for even 3 months. One third of Dallas residents have an annual income 45,000- 70,000. Twenty percent of those earning 70,015-107,000 are on this Financial cliff, for such an exceptional income I believe that many of these residents lack the financial responsibility to save themselves from this problem. Seeing this problem before people actually don't sink their own ships does help us prepare for the worst, but I also think that warning residents of this issue and raising awareness of the problem could reduce the numbers of financial instability we see. The author says that big Nonprofit organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank have already seen problems like this arising and are preparing more for long term assistance. Whether it be certain lifestyles or just plain bad luck there are steps that can be taken by furthering education or changing spending/ saving habits that can really save someone from falling into financial poverty.

A sliver of hope

"Across the Country,  Looking for the Recovery" searches for improving situations in unemployment and hard economy through out the country, along with citizens opinions on the matter. While there are a few points to hit on that there is improvement in the country it hasn't reached everyone just yet. Unemployment decreasing in numbers but just not enough is coupled with companies hiring large amounts of employees to assist in the lack of jobs in certain areas. The author does a good job of pointing out where improvement is being made as well as giving opinions of people who have been effected and why they feel economy and employment is where it is. I see this article as interesting because there are improvements being made and shown. Not many articles have an optimistic view to where we are headed in these economic times but this author does a good job of making there point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/us/across-the-country-looking-for-the-economic-recovery.html?_r=1&ref=us