Jane: Did you know that from 2000 to 2008 the number of poor people increased by 5.2 million? The total amount is now about 40 million; the new poor represents a 15% increase of poor folks.

Jackie: Where did you get that info from?

Jane: From a recent Brooking Institution study.

Jackie: You mentioned from the years 2000 to 2008. What about 2009?

Jane: Well, you're right about pointing out that year. Many workers lost there jobs and many families suffered a lot from the consequence.

Jackie: Those numbers are frightening! We probably have way over 40 million poor if we count 2009.

Jane: Not only that, but in 2008, $21,834 marked the federal poverty line for a family of four and about 30% of the entire US population was close to that category. If you take 2009 into consideration then the number could be even worse.

Jackie: I wonder how we are going to get out of this terrible crisis?