Blog Feature: Yesenia Rojas
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty, it is important to see the effects, progress, and problems taking place at the national level and also among all 50 states.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty, it is important to see the effects, progress, and problems taking place at the national level and also among all 50 states.
The Half in Ten report "Resetting the Poverty Debate: State of the States 2013" provides fact sheets and tables highlighting data and other
information that evaluate a state’s poverty rate. They analyze
unemployment insurance coverage, affordable housing, gender wage gap,
etc, and show how inextricably linked the War on Poverty is to other
factors in our communities.
One of
the most important causes is unemployment insurance cuts; a strong trend in the
data shows southern states like Florida and Georgia lead the nation with
worsening coverage numbers.
What can
we do? A call to action is necessary.
The
Center of Budget Priorities explains that "approximately 5 million
Americans are expected to lose emergency unemployment benefits over the next 12
months," without a doubt the shocking state-by-state impact numbers should
urge citizens to contact Congress.
If our
government does not invest in social programs the future of this war seems
dismal.
Social
security, food stamps/SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program),
Medicare/Medicaid, and federal support for education should all be well funded
so that our wavering economy may be sustained.
The
safety net programs provide security and support both nationally and at the
state level.
I think its interesting to note that when wealthier elderly people are asked about benefits, many seem more willing to give on tax percentages for social security than the average aged person. This may very well be anecdotal, (warren buffet type stories) but there is an aspect of morality often ignored in these discussions. Many of us can't say what its like to be in our old age. To cut services, only to realize the need in old age would be very shortsighted, but both sides of congress seem to be leaning this way.
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