And that's just with the current formula for calculating the poverty rate, which was developed in the 1950's or 60's. A better measure would be a figure that accurately takes into account the cost of living and the value of a living wage.

Still, 37 million people living below the poverty line, working three jobs to barely survive, is unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination. The focus should be on giving them the tools and support they need to rise out of poverty, not punishing them for being poor while rewarding their corporate masters.

Our government's priorities are seriously screwed up when 12.7% of the population living in poverty is an acceptable figure.

There are children going to bed hungry - if they have beds - in this country tonight, but instead of doing something meaningful about that, Congress will instead return from its summer vacation on Monday and again take up the debate over whether or not to eliminate the estate tax. I don't know anyone who has an estate worth a million dollars, so I don't know anyone who has to pay that tax. It's only for the superwealthy who wouldn't miss the money anyway. That tax revenue could help many people. It shouldn't even be a debate; the estate tax is what obscenely rich people pay to remain respectable, concerned members of society.

The debate should be over how to fix welfare so it's not punitive or insulting. We have an moral duty to help our 37 million brothers and sisters who have been denied opportunity after opportunity, and the millions more who are on the verge. We are failing to fulfill our duty as their ranks continue to grow.

The debate is stuck in neutral with very little emphasis placed where it's needed.