***  I was asking for where Pat got the info where poverty levels have decreased. ***

My mistake. I went back and re-read Pat's post which was incorrect. O'Reilly pointed out to Rangel that the poverty level in 2004 was a full percent lower than in 1996. The link I posted supported that fact. It also supports your fact that the poverty level HAS increased every year for the past four years. But let me ask you this; what exactly are these poverty stricken individuals doing with all that money? Doesn't THAT bother you? $350+ BILLION a year is a lot of money. They sure as hell aren't using it to extricate themselves from the condition they're in. Just how much SHOULD we spend? How much is enough? Maybe if we spent LESS they would be forced to put down their Playstations, drag their fat asses of the couch and go out and get an education or a job.  Force them to take some responsibility for their lives rather than depend on handouts and freebees.

Nah. That wouldn't work.