<div class='node-body'><p>Poverty in the U.S. is on track to be at its <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-us-poverty-heads-toward-highest-level-in-50-years-20120723,0,5437495.story">highest level in 50 years</a>, according to analysis collected by the Associated Press.&nbsp; Meanwhile, social safety nets are being pulled out from under those in need, leaving them in a spiral downward with little hope of escape.</p></div><p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/07/23-2" target="_blank">read more</a></p>