western children in growing poverty

[demoleft]

i just read an article on the BBC website, about a german family with a single working mother and two children.
"Across Germany, one in six children live in "relative poverty", which means in families whose monthly income is 60% or less of the national average."

(source: BBC, "German children blighted by poverty", http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8152346.stm )

the situation is no better in UK, in the USA or in italy, as to that. in italy more than 7,5 millions people live in poverty, 12,8% population (2,5 million people living in absolute poverty, 4% of population - data 2007, but unchanged so far).
1,6 million are children. the worst european rate with romania (1 child on 4 is poor). while figures are better in denmark, sweden, finland, cyprus.

***

as well noticed by observers, there are at least two mistakes leading to a worsening of the situation.

first: politics undervalue the incidence of poverty on children - while quick actions and plans are required.

"If we have problems with our banks, or with our car producers, the politicians come together to find a solution very quickly. They give money and credits," says Michael Kruse of Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.
"But when I tell them we have three million children who have no future and no money, nobody comes together to help the children. I think it's the wrong priority of our society." (source: BBC, see above link)

the same analysis is made by experts in italy.

second: the illusion that the uncertain job/work policies, as they are today, can solve alone the child poverty problem - when it is social help to women/families that is needed, with assistance, nursing, services. at least.

infact, the incidence of poverty on children in europe has been growing also in families with at least one parent working.

'The sharp rise in the number of working families in poverty is a reminder that low-paid and casual labour does not usually help in pulling families out of deprivation, said Helen Barnard, policy and research manager at the foundation.

"The idea is that you get a job, and through this job, you will progress upwards and be lifted out of poverty in the long term," she said. "But for a lot of people, the jobs they have been going into have been low-paid, casual and short-term, and often they are back on to benefits very quickly."

(source: The Guardian, "Majority of children living in poverty have at least one parent in work, says study"', http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/feb/18/child-poverty-research )

we're clearly burning the life of many a child here and with them the future of our continent.
but it's years since these data circulate - and politics still insist on a tragic blindness.

the source for the italian figures:
http://www.repubblica.it/2008/10/sezioni/economia/ocse-poverta/istat-poveri/istat-poveri.html
http://www.qnm.it/articolo/allarme_poverta_in_italia_a_farne_le_spese_sono_i_bambini.html

ciao DUers.

[SoCalDem]

1. These are the "throw-aways"

Every country has them. In times past, they would be the guttersweeps, the factory workers, mine workers, household help to the gentry.

These are the poor and their offspring, who will remain rooted in their poverty.

Undereducated parents, raising children who will grow up and mimic their parent's life, with their own offspring.

There are no jobs for these people. And any jobs they do find, will not support them in any meanigful way. They will always be on assistance of some dort.

We can either face the fact that these people exist, and spend what it takes to make their lives better, or we can build prisons to house them and their offspring, on and off throughout their lives..

[demoleft]

2. we might spend and invest money before they grow up adults in need...

...for example helping the families in need, improving early education services, allowing parents to work with a rich offer of affordable nurseries, tutoring the children, giving them the chance to study for free or low costs...
and so on.

see, in italy studying is a right. but when you go to buy the required books/uniforms etc - it stops being a right. it becomes a luxury.

in countries where women/families are helped with family policies children grow up happier and more self-reliant.
that's a matter of fact.

simply, i do not believe in social destiny.

[FirstLight]

3. EXCUUUUUUSE ME?

I can't even believe I am hearing this from a DUer...

I understand that there are those in poverty who are 'challenged' in their intelligence and life choices...

BUT let me tell you a little something about the working poor dilemma that may not be obvious to a judgemental ass like yourself.

FIRST - the level of education and the cost of that education to make a LIVING wage has become impossible for those with limited resources. Add children and single parenting to the mix and you have the recipe for several generations to have their lives and potential wasted because of programs that don't really help or are out of reach or any number of other factors....

Life in poverty is like a constant navigation through a mine field of people who are LOOKING for you to fail.
The govt assistance programs are such that it is 'your fault' for even ASKING for help and you are a criminal that will take advantage of the system and assumed to be a fraud and given excess amounts of paperwork and watched to PROVE you did the 30 hours a week of jobserach or other activities that are required to receive benefits that barely keep you in your house and your electricity on...
This mentality of punishing the needy is part and parcel of our consumeristic culture ... and your attitude is part of the problem.


I could go on, but I don't need to be any more angry whilst having my first cup o coffee...

[Heidi]

4. Self-delete. (Dupe.)

[Heidi]

5. Well, then that settles it, doesn't it?

Are you _really_ saying you believe there is no hope for the poor to become self-sufficient? Are you really suggesting that an absence of assets makes a person somehow hopeless, inferior and therefore subject to warehousing?

obviously, I reject the notion that prisons are the way to deal with the poor. It's not a crime to be poor.