·
In 2010, 11 percent of children had at least one
unemployed parent and 4 percent have been affected by foreclosure since 2007.
·
The national average total death rate (deaths
per 100,000 teens ages 15-19) is 62. By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanic/Latinos the
rate is 58
o
Black/African Americans the rate is 83
o
Asian and Pacific Islander the rate is 33
o
American Indian Alaskan Natives the rate is 87
·
The national average for the percent of teens
not in school and not high school graduates (ages 16-19) is 6%. By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites: 4%
o
Black/African-American: 8%
o
Asian and Pacific Islander: 3%
o
American Indian and Alaskan Native: 13%
o
Hispanic/Latino: 10%
·
The national average for the percent of teens
not in school and not working (ages 16-19) is 9%. By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites: 7%
o
Black/African-American: 13%
o
Asian and Pacific Islander: 5%
o
American Indian and Alaskan Native: 17%
o
Hispanic/Latino: 12%
·
The national average for the percent of children
living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment is 31%.
By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites: 24%
o
Black/African-American: 47%
o
Asian and Pacific Islander: 22%
o
American Indian and Alaskan Native: 49%
o
Hispanic/Latino: 38%
·
The national average for the percent of children
in poverty (income below $21,756 for a family of two adults and two children in
2009) is 20%. By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites: 12%
o
Black/African-American: 36%
o
Asian and Pacific Islander: 13%
o
American Indian and Alaskan Native: 35%
o
Hispanic/Latino: 31%
·
The national average for the percent of children
in single-parent families is 34%. By race:
o
Non-Hispanic Whites: 7%
o
Black/African-American: 13%
o
Asian and Pacific Islander: 5%
o
American Indian and Alaskan Native: 17%
o
Hispanic/Latino: 12%
See a pattern? Minorities, especially
Black/African-Americans and American Indians and Alaskan Natives, have the
cards stacked against them: they are not graduating from high school and some are not working; they come from single parent families, thus sole-income earning families; and they live in poverty over twice that of other races. Examining the map of the United States (page 8 of
the Summary.pdf linked below), it is evident that the Southern United States is
at a disadvantage as well.
So to you, I pose the question about why and how these structural
or just unfortunate fates will change politics? Or for the future of America? Does it
matter that this disparities exists for the children of America?
Kids Count 2011 Summary data
Good, discomfiting questions that fit with the Murray discussion (his book based on Amazon reviews, the Edsall essay and its links). The changes MacKenzie notes have already affected our politics for the worse. Particularly kids born to unmarried parents, the odds of a decent future decline substantially. And in an environment where many pressures of sustaining let alone approving the social safety net, it's not a pretty picture. Next week will devote a discussion to the draconian policy proposals by Murray.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the 2008 presidential and 2010 gubernatorial elections based on the four tiers in the overall rankings.
ReplyDelete9 of the 12 states in each of the top two tiers of the overall rankings were Obama states in 2008. 7 of the 13 states in tier three were Obama states and 3 of the 13 states in tier four were Obama states.
The top two tiers elected an equal amount of democrat and republican governors in 2010 (Tier 1: 5, Tier 2: 4 with 1 independent). Tier three elected 3 democrat governors and 7 republican governor. Tier four elected 1 democrat governor and 7 republican governor.
It seems that states in the bottom tiers are less concerned about the social safety net and probably more concerned with social issues. The top tier states' balance in the gubernatorial races may suggest that a more balanced approach to politics can produce better results through open mindedness and compromise, something that is probably lacking in the bottom tier states that seem to be on the extreme conservative end of the political spectrum.
For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage
ReplyDeleteBy JASON DePARLE and SABRINA TAVERNISE
Motherhood without marriage among younger women across the country is both a symbol of the transforming family and a hint of coming generational change.
This fact has a good deal to do with the harsh realities MB notes. What are the odds of success facing kids, born in such massive numbers, to unwed moms. Where are the dads? What does this say about our society, about our politics? Who speaks or lobbies for the kids? They don't get to choose their parents, and their parents' position in socio-economic respects serves as the strongest correlate of their own success, educationally and economically. Neither party has much to say here.
I couldn't imagine how tough it would be to raise a family with a yearly wage below the poverty rate, so I think that has a lot to do with the fact that many children are growing up with single-parent moms. No matter how much I disagree with one parent leaving the other one to take responsibility for the child I definitely see why one would leave. Also, if one parent leaves then this is the result of a non-planned pregnancy, somy question here is how does the lack of adequate sexual education play into this picture? I made the point in our political behavior class that even schools in Waterloo teaches that the only way of birth control is abstinence. I was quickly shut up by another class member who claimed this was only the case of Catholic school, and not public schools. However, this is simply false. I consulted with a social work friend of mine and she told me that public schools are teaching this exclusivity of birth control, especially in poverty stricken communities. To me, this is very alarming.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree that Democrats are quiet regarding the socioeconomic issue at hand, however, many Republicans are pretty clear that one can "pull oneself up by their bootstraps."
These are very discomforting facts, but obviously there are far too many children put in this situation. However, unfortunately, those born into the poverty cycle sadly end up putting their own children into the poverty cycle. And I agree with Dan's statement, especially concerning is the bootstraps idea that all too many people have. I will say though, in some instances, it is person dependent, how they respond to their situation. I have a friend who had a child at 19, the father left for quite some time, came back a few years later. She had worked three jobs and they eventually became owners of their own business.
ReplyDeleteBut like I said, majority of the time, poverty continues and wins out. But there are rare instances where things like this work out.