The Working Poor?

This phrase was associated with poverty in faraway countries until recently. Now phrases like "sustainable employment" "the deserving poor" and other Victorian sounding soundbites have caused me to persistently change tv channel, looking for cheerful people rather than the bores who are in danger of wearing ordinary people down. Like the hurricane that was supposed to leave the country under water last night, the horrors promised by the serious analyst in the media may not happen. I'm beginning to wonder if there may not be money in producing bad news. Otherwise, why are so many of the experts smiling as they speak?