1 in 5 US kids in poverty

[Monello]

There are no easy solutions for this problem. Drug use and squandered educational opportunities are part of the cause. Interesting how many of the people that are least qualified to be parents seem to have the most kids. A welfare program that rewards larger families will only acerbate the problem.

Poor financial choices, as exampled by the 3 TVs, is a mindset that puts a distorted value on things. Maslow would be shocked by this choice. Is it society's obligation to save people from themselves? We can put a man on the moon but we seem to be challenged to make sure all kids grow up with enough food to eat.

Child poverty is an open sore on the American body politic. It is a moral failing for our nation that one-fifth of our children live in poverty, by one common measure.

Liberals too often are reluctant to acknowledge that struggling, despairing people sometimes compound their misfortune by self-medicating or engaging in irresponsible, self-destructive behavior. And conservatives too often want to stop the conversation there, without acknowledging our society’s irresponsible, self-destructive refusal to help children who are otherwise programmed for failure. Child poverty is an open sore on the American body politic.

Emanuel has three televisions in his room, two of them gargantuan large-screen models. But there is no food in the house. As for the TVs, at least one doesn’t work, and the electricity was supposed to be cut off for nonpayment on the day I visited his house here in Pine Bluff. The home, filthy and chaotic with a broken front door, reeks of marijuana. The televisions and Emanuel’s bed add an aspirational middle-class touch, but they were bought on credit and are at risk of being repossessed. The kitchen is stacked with dirty dishes, and not much else.

Nataly Ledesma, who became pregnant the summer after sixth grade at age 13 by a 28-year-old man.

Bethany Underwood, 20, lost the lottery of birth. Her father was arrested for drug offenses before she was born. Her mother used methamphetamine when pregnant and then disappeared into prison when Bethany was 3. A friend of the family abused her sexually when she was small, and she responded to the pain by self-medicating. “I began using marijuana at 9,” Bethany remembered. By 14 she had graduated to injecting meth and became an addict. “Getting drugs wasn’t a problem because all my friends’ parents did drugs,” she said. “We would steal it.” Bethany was skipping school, completely dropping out in the eighth grade. “I’m at third grade in reading,” she said, “and probably second grade in math. Because third graders are really good at math.”

What many Americans don’t understand about poverty is that it’s perhaps less about a lack of money than about not seeing any path out. More than 80 percent of American households living below the poverty line have air-conditioning, so in material terms they’re incomparably better off than poor families in India or Congo.

3 TVs and no food

 

[tommyjo]

I don't find it surprising that you have received no replies to your post. Why would you on this site? For the prevailing opinion about the poor on here is: "F*** them!"

Why would you post about poor kids? No one on here gives a damn....they use poor kids as a political joke. How many times have you read or even posted a sarcastic response about a legislative action or tax being "all about children"?

Hell, the same people on here who gladly and greedily cash their govt welfare checks every month are the loudest screamers when it comes to others receiving ANY sort of govt assistance. The screamers think that because their welfare check is called Social Security that they are somehow above everyone else who needs a helping hand (even those displaced from work due to no fault of their own---like a recession or plant closing).

You are right there are no easy answers: Poor, drug addicted people shouldn't have kids. Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes. Govt should be more efficient at helping the poor. Inner city schools should receive the majority of educational funding dollars.

The right (particularly the far right) needs to understand that people DO need a helping hand (which means govt programs funded by tax revenue). The folks on the far left (particularly the far left) need to understand that strings should be attached to that help (community work should be required)

 

[vraiblonde]

Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes.

Why?

Inner city schools should receive the majority of educational funding dollars.

Why?

How many times have you read or even posted a sarcastic response about a legislative action or tax being "all about children"?

Because in most cases, these laws/taxes/etc are used as a manipulation tool - "it's for the children" - with no intention of having one single bit of that money go toward any child's actual welfare.

And ONCE MORE, Social Security benefits are NOT the same thing as "welfare". For you to keep equating them means that you don't really understand what SS is, or what welfare is, or a damn thing about anything.

 

[luvmygdaughters]

I don't find it surprising that you have received no replies to your post. Why would you on this site? For the prevailing opinion about the poor on here is: "F*** them!"

Why would you post about poor kids? No one on here gives a damn....they use poor kids as a political joke. How many times have you read or even posted a sarcastic response about a legislative action or tax being "all about children"?

Hell, the same people on here who gladly and greedily cash their govt welfare checks every month are the loudest screamers when it comes to others receiving ANY sort of govt assistance. The screamers think that because their welfare check is called Social Security that they are somehow above everyone else who needs a helping hand (even those displaced from work due to no fault of their own---like a recession or plant closing).

You are right there are no easy answers: Poor, drug addicted people shouldn't have kids. Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes. Govt should be more efficient at helping the poor. Inner city schools should receive the majority of educational funding dollars.

The right (particularly the far right) needs to understand that people DO need a helping hand (which means govt programs funded by tax revenue). The folks on the far left (particularly the far left) need to understand that strings should be attached to that help (community work should be required)

Social Security: This is a deduction taken from your paycheck, every payday. Its not welfare. I can solve the problem of the unwanted children pretty damn fast. Instead of issuing checks for every unwanted, neglected child in this country, issue birth control! If you are receiving govt. assistance and have more children while doing so, than you can choose to go on birth control or you don't receive any more money!! The amount of fraud in the welfare system is staggering. I have seen it with my own eyes, people selling there food stamps for drugs and money. I have overheard women talking about how much they "get" for having children. You are the one who is living with blinders on.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Poor, drug addicted people shouldn't have kids. Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes. Govt should be more efficient at helping the poor. Inner city schools should receive the majority of educational funding dollars.

The answer to every one of these is they already do.

 

[Restitution]

The screamers think that because their welfare check is called Social Security...

The right (particularly the far right) needs to understand that people DO need a helping hand (which means govt programs funded by tax revenue).

Ummm... there are ALREADY programs in place. If there weren't... no one would be bytching about it... right?

The folks on the far left (particularly the far left) need to understand that strings should be attached to that help (community work should be required)

And HERE is where you have the most valid point... there are NO "string attached" as you say.

 

[itsbob]

I don't find it surprising that you have received no replies to your post. Why would you on this site? For the prevailing opinion about the poor on here is: "F*** them!"

Why would you post about poor kids? No one on here gives a damn....they use poor kids as a political joke. How many times have you read or even posted a sarcastic response about a legislative action or tax being "all about children"?

Hell, the same people on here who gladly and greedily cash their govt welfare checks every month are the loudest screamers when it comes to others receiving ANY sort of govt assistance. The screamers think that because their welfare check is called Social Security that they are somehow above everyone else who needs a helping hand (even those displaced from work due to no fault of their own---like a recession or plant closing).

You are right there are no easy answers: Poor, drug addicted people shouldn't have kids. Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes. Govt should be more efficient at helping the poor. Inner city schools should receive the majority of educational funding dollars.

The right (particularly the far right) needs to understand that people DO need a helping hand (which means govt programs funded by tax revenue). The folks on the far left (particularly the far left) need to understand that strings should be attached to that help (community work should be required)

Well, because maybe, just maybe.. Your kids (for example) shouldn't be my problem or concern.

If you can't support your children that's YOUR problem, not mine. Be a better parent, or stop having kids.. It's simple really.

 

[BadGirl]

Maybe if these poverty-living kids would get a damn job, then they would have some money.

 

[GURPS]

Excessively wealthy people should pay more in taxes.

:shrug:

Why ? who determines what is 'excessive' are you going to do away with Tax Free Trusts, so the Paris Hiltons of the World are forced to flip burgers to survive?
are you going to do away with the Clinton Foundation, Open Society, Tax Soros and Buffet Appropriately ? Hollywood Celebs ? 100 Million Dollar Sports Stars ?

or are you just going to piss and moan about the Koch Brothers

Govt should be more efficient at helping the poor.

this used to be the JOB of Churches ... Helping the Poor - the LOCAL church where the pastor knew the poor ..... now this is handled by bureaucrats in Washington DC.