Who are America's Poor Children?

The National Center for Children In Poverty at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, has posted an interesting article on its web site entitled, "Who Are America's Poor Children?"

The U.S. Census Bureau released numbers in 2004 that show that the poverty rate rose for the fourth year in a row. Now 37 million Americans live below the poverty line. The Bush Administration has pushed its tax cuts for the rich, run up record breaking national deficit levels, while working class Americans slip further and further into poverty. When will Americans wake up to the fact that gay marriage is not the issue they should be electing politicians on?

"The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina exposed glaring truths about poverty in America. Child poverty and material hardship are not just problems experienced by the states in Katrina's path—they are problems that plague Americans around the country. Just as residents began the clean-up process, the U.S. Census Bureau released numbers showing that in 2004, the poverty rate rose for the fourth straight year in a row—37 million Americans live below the poverty line. In the wake of this national tragedy, poverty should once again become a topic of national concern. Now is the time to focus on how to make sure no more children are left behind. This series, Child Poverty in 21st Century America, addresses the challenge."

Ten States with the highest rates of extreme child poverty in 2004

STATE % OF CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY

District of Columbia 19.2%

Louisiana 13.3%

Mississippi 11.6%

Arkansas 10.5%

New Mexico 9.7%

North Carolina 9.7%

West Virginia 9.6%

New York 9.6%

Alabama 8.4%

Tennessee 8.4%

It is ironic that the area with the highest child poverty rate is the District of Columbia, our nation's capital. I was also surprised to see that New York state, my state, is number 8 in child poverty. In general the worst states are in the south.

Link: NCCP | Who are America's Poor Children?.