美媒关注“斩杀线”出圈：美国人的生存线还可能继续上移

Core Insights - The term "Death Line" has gained popularity in Chinese social media, reflecting the precarious financial situation many Americans face, despite the perception of the U.S. as a land of opportunity [1][2] - A significant portion of the American population is living paycheck to paycheck, with 67% of Americans only able to cover basic living expenses, and 59% unable to handle a $1,000 emergency expense [1][5] Economic Conditions - Many middle-class Americans, despite having decent incomes, struggle to save after covering essential expenses such as food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and childcare [2][3] - The cost of living in the U.S. is notably higher than in China, with American families facing greater economic insecurity due to high housing costs and inadequate safety nets [3][5] ALICE Threshold - The ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold indicates that 42% of American households live below this line, meaning they earn above the federal poverty level but cannot afford basic expenses [5][6] - The current poverty line calculation in the U.S. is outdated and does not accurately reflect the true cost of living, as it was based on a formula from 1963 [6][7] Policy Implications - The recent tax and spending bill signed by former President Trump will cut over $1 trillion in healthcare funding, potentially affecting up to 10 million Americans' access to health insurance [6][7] - Critics argue that the measures in the "big and beautiful" bill will exacerbate the financial strain on millions of Americans living on the edge of poverty [7]