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Poverty is very closely linked to education. Massachusetts (1), Connecticut (3), Vermont (4), and New Hampshire (7) all rank really high for education level of the population. Maine (22) and Rhode Island (23) are middle of the pack. Vermont and New Hampshire have no cities so they don't have the failed city problem. New Hampshire's population is dominated by the Massachusetts border towns which are affluent so it skews their rural poverty problem.
Maine and Rhode Island are pretty much in a dead heat for the bottom ranking in New England. Rhode Island has the failed city problem. Maine has the rural poverty problem. They're both middle of the pack nationally for poverty rates.
I was surprised to see this, as I always thought Maine had the highest rate in New England. But apparently, that changed in 2013 (therefore this is not "new" news) when Rhode Island's poverty rate increased slightly and Maine's dropped a little.
I was surprised to see this, as I always thought Maine had the highest rate in New England. But apparently, that changed in 2013 (therefore this is not "new" news) when Rhode Island's poverty rate increased slightly and Maine's dropped a little.
It's obviously disheartening news. Rhode Island's compact city-state size should give us a terrific advantage in successfully tackling issues such as poverty & education. But, it doesn't. The state's coastal pockets of affluence seem like exclusive worlds upon themselves, while the rest of the place continues to deteriorate in most meaningful ways. This can only be explained by a wanting culture which must be first recognized, then abandoned wholesale - if things are to change for the better. And, we have to face it, our political leaders are only as good as we are.
Rhode Island has the highest child poverty rate in New England as well as the highest poverty rate over all. What say you Broken Staters, regarding the causes? More of the usual? Bad luck, coincidence, the feds, space aliens? It's part and parcel of a failed and dying republic. You're a sovereign state though, with control of your own destiny. You've got nobody to blame but yourselves. Pinnochio was half right though, Rhode Island IS "on the move".
This could be directly tied in with being a "sanctuary state." No area can take in more people than the given economy can absorb, and be prosperous, especially when jobs are not being created. Then we hear the governor, and other politicians say companies don't want to come here because the population is not educated enough.
When refugees arrive here that can't speak English, have no skills, that make babies that they can't afford to take care of, that the tax payers have to clothe, feed, to educate, often with special/expensive bilingual education, that need medical and dental care, that require free ESL classes, free interpreters, low cost, or no cost housing, heating assistance, food stamps, etc, it puts a serious drain on an already delicate economic situation.
I can remember back in the late 80's and early 90's areas such as Woonsocket were taking in refugees, I suspect because the cost of living is cheaper in that community. However, when refugees are relocated to areas that are more affordable, such as in Woonsocket, rather than in more expensive Massachusetts, it only exacerbates an already bad local economy, expanding urban blight. Career politicians eager to keep, or win votes from the poor, and the less educated, appeal to these segments of the population that don't understand the consequences.
And, we have to face it, our political leaders are only as good as we are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 9162
This could be directly tied in with being a "sanctuary state." No area can take in more people than the given economy can absorb, and be prosperous, especially when jobs are not being created. Then we here the governor, and other politicians say companies don't want to come here because the population is not educated enough.
When refugees arrive here that can't speak English, have no skills, that make babies that they can't afford to take care of, that the tax payers have to clothe, feed, to educate, often with special/expensive bilingual education, that need medical and dental care, that require free ESL classes, free interpreters, low cost, or no cost housing, heating assistance, food stamps, etc, it puts a serious drain on an already delicate economic situation.
I can remember back in the late 80's and early 90's areas such as Woonsocket were taking in refugees, I suspect because the cost of living is cheaper in that community. However, when refugees are relocated to areas that are more affordable, such as in Woonsocket, rather than in more expensive Massachusetts, it only exacerbates an already bad local economy, expanding urban blight. Career politicians eager to keep, or win votes from the poor, and the less educated, appeal to these segments of the population that don't understand the consequences.
Both hit the nail on the head here. While ME and RI are in most ways apples vs. oranges, one significant difference is that Maine has since 2010 had a governor extremely proactive in reforming welfare and reversing the state's long earned status as a social service magnet. For whatever reason, RI still continues to attract the wrong inward migrants. It also has a bad habit at chasing away those it should be retaining.
This could be directly tied in with being a "sanctuary state." No area can take in more people than the given economy can absorb, and be prosperous, especially when jobs are not being created. Then we here the governor, and other politicians say companies don't want to come here because the population is not educated enough.
When refugees arrive here that can't speak English, have no skills, that make babies that they can't afford to take care of, that the tax payers have to clothe, feed, to educate, often with special/expensive bilingual education, that need medical and dental care, that require free ESL classes, free interpreters, low cost, or no cost housing, heating assistance, food stamps, etc, it puts a serious drain on an already delicate economic situation.
I can remember back in the late 80's and early 90's areas such as Woonsocket were taking in refugees, I suspect because the cost of living is cheaper in that community. However, when refugees are relocated to areas that are more affordable, such as in Woonsocket, rather than in more expensive Massachusetts, it only exacerbates an already bad local economy, expanding urban blight. Career politicians eager to keep, or win votes from the poor, and the less educated, appeal to these segments of the population that don't understand the consequences.
While it would probably be easy to have something like immigrants to blame RI's problems on, Sanctuary State is probably not it. My understanding is, it is the contrary. Sanctuary areas/cities are some of the most economically successful areas of the country. However, there should be comprehensive immigration reform for everybody's benefit.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by independent man
While it would probably be easy to have something like immigrants to blame RI's problems on, Sanctuary State is probably not it. My understanding is, it is the contrary. Sanctuary areas/cities are some of the most economically successful areas of the country. However, there should be comprehensive immigration reform for everybody's benefit.
This is the reality. You can't blame the economic malaise in parts of RI on immigrants!
Both hit the nail on the head here. While ME and RI are in most ways apples vs. oranges, one significant difference is that Maine has since 2010 had a governor extremely proactive in reforming welfare and reversing the state's long earned status as a social service magnet. For whatever reason, RI still continues to attract the wrong inward migrants. It also has a bad habit at chasing away those it should be retaining.
The apples & apples comparison may be that Maine suffers a crackpot, extreme right wing governor who is evidence that the state may have bigger political culture problems than even Rhode Island.
While it would probably be easy to have something like immigrants to blame RI's problems on, Sanctuary State is probably not it.
Occam's razor.
Look no further than Providence and Pawtucket.
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