1 in 5 U.S. children living below poverty line
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A sobering picture of what's ahead for this nation's children... more than 20 percent of them - one in five - are living below the poverty line.
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A new study shows the economic well-being of families has plummeted to levels not seen since the 1970s... thanks to the recession, job losses and declines in income.
Here are some of the very disturbing findings in the report funded by a private philanthropy group:
- 15.6 million children are estimated to be living in poverty
- As many as 500-thousand children may be homeless
- 20 million children live in families where neither parent has secure employment
- And in the last 3 years... an additional 750,000 children live in households that don't have access to enough safe and nutritious food
- And eating more processed and fast foods means a potential increase in obesity and all the problems that go with that
As for education - which may be one of the few tickets out of poverty - there's no good news on that front either.
This report suggests the amount of time spent in school may even go down... with some states moving to shorter school weeks to save money.
Experts say that chaotic childhoods have a significant effect on health later in life - people who grow up under lots of stress have higher rates of cancer, liver disease, respiratory disease and other ailments.
How are kids expected to get a fair start with all this weighing against them?
There's one small reason to be hopeful, though. The study's authors say children's quality of life overall should start edging up... but that depends on the economy.
Here’s my question to you: What does the future hold if more than 1 in 5 American children are living below the poverty line?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Will you vote to re-elect your member of Congress in Nov.?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With only five months before the midterm elections - fewer than one in three Americans say they plan to vote for their member of Congress in November.
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A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows an increasing dislike of elected officials and the anti-incumbent mood at an all-time high. It's about time…
Only 29 percent of those surveyed say they plan to vote for their House representative. That's even lower than in 1994 - when the Democrats were swept out of power. 69 percent say they they're dissatisfied or angry with the government.
Of course Republicans are hoping for big gains; but it might not be that easy. This poll also shows a majority of people have a negative view of the GOP's policies; and only one-third say they trust Republicans over Democrats to handle the country's problems. As for the Tea Party, half of the public has an unfavorable view of them.
Meanwhile voters across the country went to the polls yesterday for the busiest primary day so far this year.
And the results were mixed.
It was a big day for women candidates - in California, Republican primary voters overwhelmingly chose two female business executives. Former Hewlett-Packard head Carly Fiorina will go on to face longtime Senate fixture Democrat Barbara Boxer; and former eBay CEO and billionaire Meg Whitman will run for governor.
In Nevada - the Tea Party-backed candidate, Sharron Angle won the Republican primary and will now challenge Majority Leader Harry Reid in November.
And in Arkansas, Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln managed to hold onto her seat in a tight race... no doubt giving hope to incumbents everywhere.
Here's my question to you: Do you plan to vote to re-elect your member of Congress in November?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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