Poverty now includes a color TV

From Christian Science Monitor

Wealth remains highly stratified. For example, the wealthiest 10% of Americans had 2.4 cars per "consumer unit" (essentially a household or an individual living on his or her own) in 2002, the most recent year in the Census study. That's down slightly from 1992, when they had 2.5 cars per household. The bottom 10% of the income ladder averaged just 0.6 cars per household in 2002, the same as 1992.
Still, by almost all measures, the data show rising well-being for all of society. And while the wealth gap may not be narrowing, the rich-poor gap in lifestyles has narrowed substantially since 1992 when measured in many of these tangible items.
"In terms of the items people have ... it amazes me the number of people who are at or near the poverty line that have color TVs, cable, washer, dryer, microwave," says Michael Cosgrove, an economist at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. That's not to ignore the hardships of poverty, he adds, "but the conveniences they have are in fact pretty good."

While consumer electronics have dropped drastically in price, housing has gone up in price. People can afford the luxuries but not the necessities.

It's the Economy, Stupid

• The spread of the subprime meltdown
• American consumerism in action
• Harvard Magazine is looking at the rising risk of financing the American dream.
• The Fed on how our consumer debt is increasing and increasing and increasing...
• What's next?

Maxed Out

Great video on consumer debt on Google Video

FaithWorld buys embattled pastor $500,000 house

O'Mara said the church's Dec. 16 purchase of the four-bedroom, three-bath house for Brown on Park Springs Circle "was obviously a vote of confidence. More significantly, it was the appropriate fiscal decision for the church to own a piece of property rather than pay rent on one."

He said the congregation also made "substantial improvements" on the property.

The church also is paying $7,000 monthly mortgage payments on a $1.4 million home in Alaqua Lakes, a gated Longwood community where Brown lived with his wife, Angela, until February 2003, when they separated.

O'Mara said the church is studying whether it is proper to make payments on two residences for their pastor. Also under examination are credit-card charges by Clint and Angela Brown that were paid by the church.

Neither the Browns nor their attorneys could be reached for comment Monday.

Angela Brown's divorce filing provides a listing of the couple's assets, including three Mercedes-Benzes, a Porsche Carrera, a Hummer, a Ford F-150 pickup, a Volkswagen Beetle and two Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Several of the couple's vehicles were paid for by the congregation.

The court documents also shed light on the couple's spending.

On a visit to Diamond Quasar Jewels of New York in August 2002, Clint Brown spent $8,800. Other purchases were recorded at tony shops and spas in Bal Harbour; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Las Vegas; and Beverly Hills, Calif. Angela Brown spent more than $1,000 at Victoria's Secret and nearly $10,000 for shoes at a Dallas store.

Using his wife's Platinum American Express card, Clint Brown spent $85 at a San Diego Hooters on Jan. 24, 2003, according to court documents. Tattoos and tanning-salon sessions also were charged, along with nearly $1,000 in wine from a Heathrow shop.

In the divorce suit, Angela Brown also said that in one year, her husband charged more than $70,000 in women's clothes on an American Express card and that neither she nor her daughter received any of the clothing.

I am just going to leave the comments open for your feedback. I know it isn't the norm but it does happen in a lot of different churches across North America. It just seems to me to so outside the norm for what a pastor is called to be. Maybe I am missing something but this does sadden me quite a bit.

Other links relating to his divorce:

• Pastor's lavish lifestyle supported by church
• Now single pastor took long road to prosperity

Link