Reuters reports: The number of children in the United States considered poor rose by 1 million in 2010, the U.S. Census said Thursday, with more than one in five of the youngest Americans now living in poverty.
“Children who live in poverty, especially young children, are more likely than their peers to have cognitive and behavioral difficulties, to complete fewer years of education, and, as they grow up, to experience more years of unemployment,” the Census said.
In 2010, when the Census survey was conducted, 21.6 percent of children across the country were poor, compared to 20 percent in 2009.
That was mainly due to a rise in the number of children living below the federal poverty threshold, defined as an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four, to 15.7 million from 14.7 million in 2009.
The figures reflect the overall state of the economy. The national poverty rate stands at 15.3 percent and the unemployment rate is at 9 percent some two years after the recession that began in 2007 officially ended.
Oh what a wonderful statistic for the political elites here. I’m sure that the Repuglicons and their so called Tea party henchmen are proud. Reminds me of the bird that sticks its head in the sand, recites the 3 monkeys mantra, then sprouts the “Alfred E. Newman” quote: “what me worry” after the damage is done! Ah, if only there were a way that each & everyone of the self righteous politicians and pundits could wake up one morning and find that they were penniless, with no recourse, it would be fitting. Oh, and lets not leave out the “O” in this one either, as well as the sycophants that surround him too.