AUGUSTA, Maine — A new report on Maine’s child health says the percentage of young children living in poverty rose by 2 percentage points between 2009 and 2010.
The Kids Count Data Book released Tuesday says 15,752 Maine children under 5 years old, or 23.5 percent, were living in poverty. That’s an increase from 14,626, or 21.4 percent, in 2009.
The report also says the percentage of Maine children up to 5 years old served by MaineCare increased from 55.5 percent in fiscal 2010 to 57.4 percent in 2011.
A Kids Count report for each state is released annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization.
This year’s report looks closely at the effect of educational attainment on Maine students’ ability to get by in an increasingly technology-driven workplace.
I didn’t think ANYONE lived in poverty anymore now that Obama is President.
ONLY fools make such comments. The guy that caused the mess, Bush, the guy you voted for and help get elected, put more people into poverty than the past 5 Presidents combined.
What did Bush get elected on? His economic strategy? Nope. His plans to invade nations without cause? Nope. He got elected by the emotional appeal that gays must not marry and that the GOP is the party of God. Once in office, he never touched these things again. Instead he went to work to weaken the governments ability to control banks and oil companies from abusing the people.
Anyone who is swayed by this kind of rhetoric will never make their choice on rational grounds. Never. This is why we will live to see the death throes of America. It is not that our people are not good or caring or hard working. It is that we are given to emotional arguments and we finally have a political class that is willing to use this weakness to fatten the elites even if it destroys any hope of a better future for our children.
You can thank the GOP and their unregulated free market doctrine for the poverty of today.
Yeah, and how much wealth just disappeared in the last few months of the Bush Administration ?
This is the most demonstrably coherent comment on this thread. Still these tired and failed policies will continue to rule the day. It is a sad thing that the more feeble minded are easily drawn to the short sighted politics of “me first”. Only one with perspective and critical thinking skills can understand that the more we invest in our own people the greater the achievement.
This is what a death spiral looks like. The rats see a sinking ship and grab for whatever they can get. Wisdom would dictate spending more on education and infrastructure. Conservative politics relies on the strictly emotional appeal, which is why the facts never matter.
I thought that the poverty line had been reduced to zero under the LePage administration.
Pretty hard to tell. The numbers are from 2009-2010, before LePage took office. This report falls solely on the Baldacci/Obama economic teams. Nice try.
IF only the parents had better priorities. They need to stop smoking.
Poverty is the largest constituency of the liberals and democrats and the rising numbers are proof that the Dems and Libs after 35 years of control are indeed successful.
Stop the blame game. Reality is we need to do something about it
Yeah, we need to cut most entitlements immediately so that people stop lying and taking advantage of the system and working cash jobs under the table whilst claiming poverty to garner free benefits.
That will only deepen the divide between the increasing numbers of the poor and the untouchables who sponsor your brain.
“Stop the blame game. Reality is we need to do something about it.”
Well, yes, unless not solutions, but rather not compromising, are your political objectives.
There are those, aren’t there, Ms. Woman ?
I was going to jump in and start the countdown to when a bunch of crazies would start blaming LePage for this report – which studies the 2 years BEFORE he took office, but I guess there is no need for a countdown. The crazies have already arrived.
oops dems made a mistake, now the REAL crazies can complain.
Made “a” mistake? – I think you need to pluralize that, or just a catch all phrase like the “democrats are a mistake”. Sort of like New Coke, or the “New Deal” – for which the time has come and gone.
The New Koch!
Has just begun!
Keeping LePage out of this, conservative policies are still fair game. Just because Maine had a democratic governor for the prior eight years does not mean that conservative policies are not making an impact. National policy is a more powerful influence on economics than state policies, at least in the short run.
During the Bush “ownership society” administration, policies were put in place that weakened the economy and deteriorated the ability for the government to successfully intervene. The policies of delegating oversight of the SEC to bankers created the toxicity that deflated home owners savings. Without having the fall back option of tapping home equity, those who fall on hard times are left without any options.
Poverty is on the rise because as a society we have allowed the “owners” of the companies that employ us to take too much of the gains we created for them and pass too little down to workers. Over the course of three decades this trend has continued unabated. We are now seeing the reality of hard working people unable to make ends meet. Still, a new bunch of politicians enact policies that accelerate rather than end these festering wounds. Poverty will continue to increase as long as we are pursuing policies that reinforce self interest above investment in the commons. There is no magical way we can legislate “me first” policies and produce societal gains.
Conservative policies are taking a toll on all of us. Thirty years of laissez-faire has brought a return to the gilded age where ever more are left destitute so that the few can accumulate more than they can possibly spend in a lifetime. In a few years you will see the consequences even more clearly, though I expect you will learn nothing from it. It will continue to be easier to blame liberals than to examine causes and effects.
too bad so sad…THE GOP doesn’t care.
You think that all the bemoaned bellyaching about the “poor needy children” that the democrats carry on about is genuine?! What fantasy world are you living in? The lying, thieving liberals are merely pandering to naive democrat constituents who are all too happy to believe what they hear and haplessly accept the notion that unfunded mandates will simply pay for themselves somehow, or else that the “evil rich” will cover it. Reality check time for entitlement addicts is finally here – swallow the pill chumps!
You guys continue to lie that the DEMs are pandering for votes from the poor and the elderly and that’s the reason the poor and the elderly support the Dems, like it’s some kind of sinister plot to get votes. The fact is that the poor and the elderly support Dems because THE GOP sure doesn’t.
Guess how many of those “children in poverty” are just technicalities because the parents claim poverty to qualify for benefits?! More than 50%! So the numbers are in-fact at an all-time low. Too many dirtbag lazy parents just want to drink beer, smoke weed, and work cash jobs under the table while also pleading poverty for whatever benefit they qualify for. How many parents are fully capable of working a decent job but are either too lazy to get off benefits, or else waste away their days living fraudulently off social security disability??? PLENTY OF THEM!
AS usual, you have exaggerated the number without any basis in fact.
I like your handle. Wish I’d thought of that.
What would you do to make sure that your child is taken care of? Mow lawns? Shovel snow? Would you work the day shift at McDonald’s and the evening shift a Taco Bell? Stock shelves at Hannaford?
It is nobody’s except the parent’s fault and responsibility. How many children did they have knowing full well that they couldn’t even afford (1)? How many had more children while they were already on welfare? If you chose to start a family before you educated yourself, who’s fault is that? Is it really that difficult to choose a responsible individual with character to breed with, so they don’t take off and leave you to support a child alone?
When does personal responsibility apply?
The sight of a bloated stomach from starvation is undsiputed proof, that poverty exists in Maine!
http://www.guzer.com/pictures/huge-beer-belly.jpg
“The Kids Count Data Book released Tuesday says 15,752 Maine children under 5 years old, or 23.5 percent, were living in poverty. That’s an increase from 14,626, or 21.4 percent, in 2009.”
This is the Heritage Foundation’s plan for America at work.
Funny that you think 2 things, A: That the numbers are relevant since most welfare cases are frauds perpetrated by lying thieves who work the system to their advantage while shunning work or working cash jobs and dodging taxes, and B: That you think the Heritage Foundation or anything Republican is to blame for this since whatever happened in the past 2 years in Maine is much more a result of 3 decades of liberal governance in this state.
Agent P It is funny that you think 2 things, too:
> “most welfare cases are frauds perpetrated by lying thieves who work the system to their advantage while shunning work or working cash jobs and dodging taxes” ,
> but the facts about how many of those evil cheaters are “under 5 years old” and still
” living in poverty” is NOT RELEVANT
It is certainly is inconvenient to your propaganda point to have everyone see
that if you are right, then you must believe that most of the ” 15,752 Maine children
under 5 years old” , (or 23.5 percent, Maine children under 5 years old ) …
are “living in poverty”
… AND YET STILL THEY must be “lying thieves who work the system to their advantage while shunning work or working cash jobs and dodging taxes”, too.
Those are the facts if your point is correct.
I support your right to lie freely, or to be ignorant as the best case would be,
and I do appreciate very much your giving me such a fine opportunity to express
how I feel about liars spewing such vile, vicious political misinformation
or plain old ignorance, so politely, here .
Thank you, and have a great day.
Well stated – it is a sad (and sickening) fact that 1/4 of our children live in poverty while the governor talks about cutting taxes; I for one support increasing taxes for the wealthy and middle class so children don’t go to bed hungry, cold, or in danger in our state – we have the ability to stop this.
Wake up people – these are our children!
Have we grown so in-compassionate and so polarized politically that we will readily toss our future (our children) aside because of politics and because we simply don’t care?
Okay, the number of children living in poverty went up – that’s what this says. I know that liberals will try to make this out to mean that a huge number of people who have children have gone from being well-to-do to living in poverty. That explanation is highly unlikely. The most likely explanation is that many middle class people are worried that they will not be able to support their children if they lose their jobs or have their hours cut, so they are choosing not to have children right now. Many people who are on welfare and already in poverty do not have the same worries about paying for housing, health care, and food for a growing family. Like it or not, it should make us think…and hopefully we will do something about it before it’s too late.
23.5% of kids grow up in poverty seems very simular to the drop out rate of kids In high school. I would care to guess at least half of those kids do not even get a high school diploma. We are so worried about STEM education and not keeping these at risk kids in school. The educational system is biases against those kids . In my sons school middle some classes only 30% of grade comes from test 50% is homework . Now a disadvantged kids growing up in an environment that is not conducive to doing homework and does not do any could only get a 50 witch is failing even if he gets a 1oo on every test. Another kid could get a 69 test average failing and still pull off a 91 GPA in that class if he had an educated stay at home mom to help him with homework and get 100 on all home work.In theory. Witch hid learn more the one how got a 50 grade but a 100% on ever test or the kid who got a 91 grade and failed every test. And people wonder why these at risk kids drop out of school.
Are you suggesting that the teachers should take the kids home to make sure they do their homework? Kids by Middle school should be old enough to be responsible for their own homework. It is up to the parents to make sure they are doing their homework.
How about leveling the playing field . I happen to know for a fact at least some parents HELP kids get the right answers .I am not saying lower class kids always score as high on test . But sometimes they do do better . I think back to the 3rd grade Science fair the projects the parents did most if not all the work the kids got an A the kid who had parents that could not help cried that day. That kid will never forget that day. They destroyed his self esteem and efficacy toward school work latter on. When A kid is told how great they are they will do better latter on than the kid who is made to feel Dumb for the most part. How about not making projects and homework a big part of A kids grade. Giving the ones that cheat on homework a F for the quarter. Is it not the goal for the kids to learn something or is it for them to be obedient to authority? I love to learn things . That being said I am not fan of education.
Its up to parents. Right that sounds fair to the kids that is why low income kids fall so far behind because thier parents are not educated enough to help if they wanted to in some cases. Lower income people feel the school should educate the kids they do not realize it is thier job too. Some could not if they wanted too. So when the grade gets placed on homework sometimes a much higher percentage of the grade than the test scores it puts the kids from lower incomes at more of a disadvantage. A higher percentage of kids in middle class play sports than poor kids they can not say thier is no money to help level the playing field for the at risk kids . Like I said before Bangor high want a new 7 million dollar football field when they only play 7 games a year thier . I am saying no grading of homework unless you can prove no parent helps the kids do it.
Witch Witch is Whitch?
Sorry I am uneducated . I can not spell.
Where are the all the Republican politicians taking these kids under wing and getting them into colleges, that they don’t really qualify for, so they can grow up to be Governor and not like the rest of LePage’s brothers and sisters.
That alone does appear to be the only conservative politically correct solution.
So get busy, cons.
Ya think being close to someone in power dose not pave the way for you. lets just say lepage did construction work one call from Snow would have got him a good job. They whole Idea that people how have a college degree make so much more in thier life time is misleading maybe some of the outcome difference is because the ones that do get degrees are one with certain social skills or connections come from middle to upper class families to begin with .
No, my point is that there are
” 15,752 Maine children under 5 years old” , (or 23.5 percent, Maine children under 5 years old ) … who need just that of help from you conservatives.
I hope you’re busy doing it your way, but somehow suspect otherwise.
I agree No other group of people as a percentage of their disposable income after house car food etc give more money than the working poor.
Huh ?
No other group, who ?
They best get busy, there are ” 15,752 Maine children under 5 years old” , (or 23.5 percent, Maine children under 5 years old ) … who need just that kind of help from you conservatives, and you both sound very heartless about them and CLEARLY have no other plan.
I am talking about the working poor give more as a percentage of thier income . I am not saying the rich do not give more money . But when Rockfella give a 100 million to Harvard I do not consider that charity When they are already worth 40 Billion. I do not consider it charity when you give for political reasons so advertizing. I consider it charity when you give for no personal gain. When hollwood slots opened in Bangor the gave $2,500 to the fire works they took in 5 million on opening day and got a half page add in the Bangor daily news because of it. Well If i could have got a half page for giving a dime for my business I would too.
First poverty is a changing definition. It used to mean very poor with nothing. Now it means you do not get all the channels on your sat dish.
Next if you can not afford to raise children then DO NOT HAVE ANY!!
I will never understand the stupidity of people who do not work hard and support there own life but feel the need to make babies they know they can not care for. It is not the kids fault it is there parents and the liberal mentality that tells kids that no matter what mistakes you make in life it is not your fault and the no matter what you do the government will take care of you when you screw up no matter how often or how bad.
If we look to the past before the new deal life was very different people where held responsible for there own actions. If a single female got pregnant and was unable to provide for the child she adopted the child out to a family who could. The only ones who suffer as a result are the kids. then the kids learn that this is the way of things. This is why so many children of single mothers or parents living on the dole grow to follow in there parents footsteps. Never gaining the self respect to strive to do better in life. Until we end welfare of all types and hold people responsible for there own actions the cycle will continue and grow.
I agree with you on most points but it is in know way the childs fault. Without an education or the right skills personality ect. it is very hard for some of these people to get jobs paying more than minimum wage. Lets see 6 members of the Walton family are worth over 100 billion dollar all they did was be lucky enough to be born into the family. Could Walmart not afford to pay thier help a bit more in at least the profitable stores? The greed and total lack of empathy and understanding helps to create the social class system we have today. Not all people in poverty as lazy bums cheating the system . Some with money as lazy bums cheating the system.
My parents were lower middle class. My father was in the service. I went to many different schools as we where always moving. I got the education that was offered I quit school to work and I retired at 38 after selling my trucking company. So don’t try to say you can not make it. It is heard word but it can be done. What does the fact that the Walton’s have or make X amount of money have to do with anything? I am sure YOU have much more then many others do you also think it is ok to TAKE more from you to provide for them? the truth is you can spend all your time worrying about what other have or you can do for yourself. If you do not like walmart then this is America you can shop elsewhere and you do not have to work there unless YOU want to. Last time I checked no employers FORCE workers to take jobs.
I wonder how many people with algebra 11 “STEM ” education can look at real numbers . DR. Webb thinks Bangor Highschool needs a new football field at a price of 7 million dollars . Lets see what is the cost per game when the play 7 football games a year thier. Then they seem to have no funds to help the at risk kids. The Bangor school system has one of the higher drop out rates in the state of Maine but not the highest poverty rate also has one of the higher test score and ratio of kids going to college. I have an Idea KICK OUT all kids that come from disadvantage homes let crime and welfare rates rise but you could have the best school in the state of Maine Dr. Webb. People do not seem to want to look at the whole picture what is the greater good of society just what is good for them. To people in the middle to upper middle class BANGOR HIGH school is great . Dr. Webbs father was a college professor mother a principal she has no idea or the mind set of the lower class form her social background. It is what is good for most Funny Bangor 9 out of ten in best schools in Maine . When you see the whole picture it is probably ranks 5 out of 10 stars .
Welfare state forever!!!!
Blame the parents, not the government. If you don’t have money to buy food for children, don’t HAVE children. Don’t expect the government (i.e. your tax-paying neighbors) to foot the bill for your lack of education, non-existent job skills, or just plain laziness.