States saw little relief from poverty in the past year, especially among children, the unemployed and those in the lowest income brackets.
The latest Census figures show that 17 states had increases in the number of people living in poverty between 2010 and 2011. Only one state, Vermont, had a decrease; the other 32 showed no change.
Although the national poverty rate has been steady at 15.9%, the Census data show pockets of increases by geography and among demographic groups. The data reflect the economy’s slow recovery and anemic job growth, policy analysts say.
“The problem is high unemployment,” says Chuck Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy….
The long term unemployed are more than a legacy of the recession. They are the result of failed policies. With increased regulation, increased union demands, increased uncertainty because of an administration that is not coherant with its policies, business are going to sit on money and wait until they know what is really happening before they do any hiring. This creates a vicious cycle that takes someone in charge who can generate confidence and a clear atmosphere for business to operate in. A socialist is not going to give business any reason to be positive. If the current administration is reelected, look for more of the same, increased spending., excuse me “investment”, higher taxes, much higher energy costs for everyone, much higher food costs, increases in regulation and if the Fed keeps printing flat money, look for inflation to rear its head and take a bigger bite out of our wallets.
Hope and Change…