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Childhood Poverty Comes at Great Cost to U.S. Economy
International Herald Tribune ^ | January 25, 2007 | Erik Eckholm

Posted on 01/26/2007 10:12:43 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON: Children who grow up poor in the United States cost the economy $500 billion a year because they are less productive, earn less money, commit more crimes and have more health-related expenses, according to a new study.

"The high cost of childhood poverty to the U.S. suggests that investing significant resources in poverty reduction might be more cost effective than we thought," said Harry Holzer, an economist at Georgetown University and the Urban Institute and one of the four authors of the report.

Holzer was one of several poverty experts who testified Wednesday to the House Ways and Means Committee as the report was released. The new chairman of the panel, Representative Charles Rangel, Democrat of New York, said the experts were appearing "not as bleeding hearts, but to calculate the costs of poverty to our economy and society."

"We're talking about saving money and making productive people in the age of globalization," Rangel said in comments that seemed to reflect an awareness by Democratic lawmakers of the financial and political constraints they face.

(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: birthcontrol; endwelfare; nobc; nowelfare
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1 posted on 01/26/2007 10:12:43 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I thought that Johnson eliminated poverty with the War on Poverty.


2 posted on 01/26/2007 10:14:24 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
""The high cost of childhood poverty to the U.S. suggests that investing significant resources in poverty reduction might be more cost effective than we thought,""

So all the billions we have poured in already that haven't changed a single thing means what?

3 posted on 01/26/2007 10:14:46 AM PST by Abathar (Proudly catching hell for posting without reading the article since 2004)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

All us little cash-producing robots keep our masters happy.


4 posted on 01/26/2007 10:15:05 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Here we go again, War on Poverty, Part II


5 posted on 01/26/2007 10:16:44 AM PST by Mercat
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To: Brilliant

He did, but the republicans brought it back. For old time's sake, you know.


6 posted on 01/26/2007 10:17:28 AM PST by flashbunny (If the founding fathers were alive today, they'd be plucking feathers and boiling tar.)
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To: flashbunny; Diana in Wisconsin; Mercat; Abathar
But, but, but it's for the [insert whine] children!
7 posted on 01/26/2007 10:19:59 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: Brilliant

I thought that Johnson eliminated poverty with the War on Poverty.
----
The libs continue to work hard to come up with reasons why they should even exist....


8 posted on 01/26/2007 10:20:58 AM PST by EagleUSA
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Define "poverty". Still playing a PS1 on a 21" TV?


9 posted on 01/26/2007 10:21:07 AM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
No mention in the article of the leading cause of poverty in children: Illegitimacy.
10 posted on 01/26/2007 10:22:24 AM PST by RebelBanker (May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.)
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To: RebelBanker

there were no homeless or poor from 1993 to 2000


11 posted on 01/26/2007 10:24:24 AM PST by nascarnation
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You know, I was born into a poor family, and got nothing from the government. Never dawned on me I was burden on society!


12 posted on 01/26/2007 10:25:06 AM PST by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Throw more money at it.

No one wishes to see anyone in poverty,but making me poor to get them out of it isnt the solution.

We have public schools in this country where anyone can get a good education, after that jobs are needed. Where are these jobs for Americans when we have millions of Mexicans coming in to take them. Everyone except Chelsea is expected to start at th bottom., Most work their way up, others fall by the wayside . Who is to blame for that?

One of the things that needs to be taught in schools is that when you hav a job, you show up on time, dressed as necessary for the job, be polite to your employer and give him a full days work for a full days pay. Do that and I guarantee you will be recognised and promoted.

Teaching kids to be Homo's and Tramps in school isnt necessary, They can learn that on their own.


13 posted on 01/26/2007 10:26:02 AM PST by sgtbono2002 (Peace through strength.)
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To: Brilliant

#1 cause of childhood poverty:

Single motherhood.

Nobody wants to admit this though. It might offend.


14 posted on 01/26/2007 10:26:46 AM PST by Kieri (A Grafted Branch (Rom. 11))
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To: RebelBanker

Exactly. We all want to help the poor (well most of us). It just we disagree on how to get there. It's pretty simple, don't have a kid until you're married, don't get married until you have a job.

Poverty solved.

Thank you, thank you.


15 posted on 01/26/2007 10:27:37 AM PST by Tulane
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Childhood Poverty Comes at Great Cost to U.S. Economy

So does the hype about this. There are far fewer children living in poverty in the US than we are led to believe.

This is mostly about continuing Hillary's socialist manifesto, "It Takes A Village".

16 posted on 01/26/2007 10:27:41 AM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: RebelBanker

Breakdown of the nuclear family and public schools who graduate students from high school who can't read, let alone do anything else which might, just might, enable them to get a job and make a living.


17 posted on 01/26/2007 10:31:52 AM PST by khnyny
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To: NativeNewYorker; All

"You know, I was born into a poor family, and got nothing from the government. Never dawned on me I was burden on society!"

LOL! You, me and millions of other Americans didn't know either! Guess it's back to the Re-Education Camp for us. ;)

Actually, we DID get 'Free Government Cheese' from time to time. Can't beat baked Mac-n-Cheese with free Government Cheese! I'll share the recipe if anyone wants to make it for Old Times Sake, LOL!


18 posted on 01/26/2007 10:32:41 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Children who grow up poor in the United States cost the economy $500 billion a year because they are less productive, earn less money, commit more crimes and have more health-related expenses

Why wasn't this the case during the Depression?

19 posted on 01/26/2007 10:33:17 AM PST by Alouette (Learned Mother of Zion)
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To: DustyMoment

The children that grow up rich cost us even more. Right Sen. Kerry and Kennedy? Also the children of Illegal Aliens are included with the Native Born and are a reflection of their parents financial situation. Which leads me to ask, if the children of Illegal Aliens are going to get In-State Tuition in MA, how does an Illegal Alien parent fill out a financial statement?


20 posted on 01/26/2007 10:33:25 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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