The media's portrayal of the economic downturn as the "great leveler" between rich and poor misses the mark, Barbara Ehrenreich writes in a commentary for The Nation. True, everyone seems to be suffering some effects of the current recession. But just because the rich are getting poorer doesn't mean the middle class and the poor aren't shouldering their share of losses — we just don't hear about it in the press, Ehrenreich says.

Countless news stories call out the plight of the "nouveau poor" as the wealthy lose vacation homes and are forced to scale back on designer commodities. Meanwhile, more and more Americans are applying for food stamps and cash assistance. And many of the people who are seeking aid have never asked for help before.

Income polarization always gets worse during recessions, Canadian economist Armine Yalnizyan told Ehrenreich. "If the stock market has shrunk your assets of $500 million to a mere $250 million, you may have to pass on a third or fourth vacation home. But if you've just lost an $8-an-hour job, you're looking at no home at all."

The BBC reports that the Brazilian government has unveiled a new anti-poverty plan that, if approved, will provide millions of dollars towards the creation of jobs for 24 million people and improve basic infrastructure - like electricity - to some of the poorest areas of Brazil.

Some feel the plan is related to upcoming municipal elections this year and has been heavily attacked by critics. Regardless, creation of 24 million jobs is much needed in a country where 30 percent of the population lives under the poverty line.

Photo:whiffer (flickr)

In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, the former chief economist of the Venezuelan National Assembly argues that Chavez has failed to live up to his pro-poor rhetoric, and that the policies of his administration have hurt both the national economy and the Venezuelan poor. While many observers outside Venezuela believe that Chavez has made the welfare of the poor his highest priority, the author notes that neither official statistics nor independent assessments show any evidence that Chavez's policies have helped combat poverty in Venezuela.

Fidel has resigned, but a Castro still rules over Cuba. What are the differences between Fidel Castro and his brother Raul, and what will these differences mean for a post-Fidel Cuba? While there is a general consensus that Fidel's official resignation is unlikely to bring substantial political and economic change in Cuba in the near future, there have been indications that Raul may follow the "Chinese model" and gradually open up the Cuban economy while maintaining strict political control.

Many Cubans say Raúl will have no option but to give Cubans more leeway, economically if not politically. “People here say they are fidelistas, but not necessarily socialistas,” said an analyst in Havana, who asked to remain anonymous. Without Fidel, “Raúl will have to renegotiate an agreement with the Cuban people”.

Raúl is hardly likely to jettison half-a-century of socialist reforms and throw the country open to foreign capital, as Russia did in the 1990s. But he has hinted that he wishes to gradually open up the system, acknowledging the “excessive number of prohibitions” in Cuba and starting a national debate about the shortcomings of the regime.