Child Poverty Grows in Louisiana

Interesting article in the Times Picayune today. It seems that child poverty is growing in this gret stet. One of nine children live below the poverty level.

Louisiana's child poverty rate, perennially among the worst in the nation, soared by a staggering 11 percent between 2000 and 2003, according to a major national study. As many as half the state's youngsters live in households with incomes below the poverty level and 30 percent of them are trapped in outright destitution, the study found.

Why is this? I'm glad you asked. The answer is further down the page.

In Louisiana, about one child in 10 lives in a home in which neither parent holds down a formal full-time job.

So the the question that logically follows is; Why aren't the parents working? Again, the author gives us this answer.

Four employment barriers that experts consider the most difficult to overcome conspire against these poor families, the Casey Foundation said: substance abuse, domestic violence, depression and a history of incarceration.

Okay, got it.

The article also cites other factors, such as extremely young parents, absent parents, and having marketable skills.

Funny, I seem to recall those same things influencing me when I was in school and preparing to enter the adult workforce. I knew that if I did drugs, battered women, stayed in jail, I wouldn't be able to get a good job. Therefore, I avoided those things. The study also cites a deep cultural bias, and I guess I am guilty of that too. I'm generally biased against people who don't work, batter women, do drugs, and are a drain on society. Go Figure.

We've long known that if you want the children to be happy, healthy and well adjusted, they have to be in a strong, loving home where the parents are happy, healthy and well-adjusted.

This ain't rocket science, folks. Hat tip to YRHT for the link.