Changes in poverty in the U.S., 1966–2009

Apropos to our latest national discussion, the mashup of tax cuts for the rich and  benefit decreases for the elderly, I found this recent data on changes  in the poverty rate illuminating.
Rachel Maddow explains:

The coming lame duck session is turning into a festival of opportunity — for Obama if he holds the line on no tax cuts for the +$250,000 crowd, and no benefit cuts for the catfood-eligible elderly.

It's also a festival of opportunity for the Angry Rich. They could get their twin goals in the same month — goodies for the Deserving We, and screwage for the Undeserving Thee.