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30 percent of Chicago's kids are living in poverty. Could we help them by balancing the state's budget?
Rising poverty in Illinois: Is one solution to fix the state budget? - One Story Up
chicagonow.com - 7 weeks ago - 313 views
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anti-poverty initiatives definitely need to be more of a priority...
Actually, I'd argue that a series of spending reforms need to be given a priority first. Rapid Medicaid expansion over the past six years has strained state resources dramatically (thanks Blago!) and we've created new programs with one-time revenue sources (pension bonding, thanks Blago!) that continue to have no ongoing source of funds. Basically, state government's been unnaturally expanded without any long-term income solution.
The main problem that you run into is that if you want to expand social programs (like anti-poverty, pro-education initiatives, etc.), then you need to increase taxes or cut spending elsewhere. Pretty simple idea. But politicians can't really do either.
Voters flip out over raising taxes and you get creamed if you cut a program. A classic political dilemma and one that Illinois faces every year. It takes guts to say, "I'm going to cut your program" or "I'm going to raise you taxes." No voter wants to hear that.
The root of the problem is that you have to create a social ideal that voters agree with. They have to believe in the idea of eliminating poverty, raising the bottom up, creating the opportunity for social mobility. Most voters, in my opinion, really don't see that as a priority.
As Megan Cottrell points out, 70-80 percent of us DON'T live in poverty. Voters tend to be very self-interested, not philanthropic. When you look at the middle-class voting block that's primarily based in the suburbs, worried about making sure their kids have good schools and their immediate neighborhoods have low crime, it's hard to get them to vote against their self-interest (ie: bank account) and pay into services that they'll never benefit from. If poverty is literally an hour away and not a problem for you, then why should you care? "I'm OK," is the attitude one takes.
And I think this is the key thing that idealists and activists miss. They're not the majority. While their mission and goals are noble, it's really hard to change social attitudes.
Basically, it's hard to make people give a damn.
Kiyoshi,
Great post. A couple of things though.
First, the article isn't advocating for expanding social programs, it is for NOT reducing them as budgets get constrained. Social service providers are facing budget cuts and massive payment delays for already rendered services while simultaneously seeing an increase in demand for services.
It is also funny that you mention the suburbs as a place where there isn't poverty because that is exactly where poverty is spreading. There are more poor people in suburbs as a whole than in urban and rural areas across the united states.
I agree that it is hard to "make people give a damn" because they think that these social service programs don't affect them. The fact of the matter is, that they do. Who doesn't have a parent or grandparent who could benefit from assisted living? Who doesn't have children that need pre-k and head start programs so they can work to make a living? In lieu of health and housing programs, who do you think pays for the cost of the homeless going to emergency rooms and or jail? We all do.
Not reducing and expansion are kind of the same idea, when you have a reduced pool of funds. I get where you're coming from on that, but I think the general ideas are the same. Basically: there's not enough money to pay for what we have, let alone what's needed.
Also, I should've known I'd get nailed on the suburbs comment. I was mainly speaking of "affluent" suburbs (Naperville comes to mind, but insert your own well-off picket-fence town here). Areas that have a solid tax base and good schools are the ones I was referring to.
This isn't meant to downplay your comment's point though about a growing and substantially larger number of those in poverty in the suburbs. What used to be an urban problem is now a suburban one, too. But I'd say my main point still stands: geographical divisions by class exist and it's a very "out of sight, out of mind" mentality.
You bring up a great point at the end. We all use government services and all complain when we have to deal with them and something goes wrong. But we also carve out this mental exemption for ourselves ("Well, I only just use this one... but the rest of those...") which keeps us from being honest about how substantial the problem really is for our state.
Perhaps that's the really problem here: No one wants to see or think about this holistically. Instead, we break it down into digestible issues that's black and white and then vote based on where we fall on one thing. We pick our leaders based upon single ideas, but not their vision for the whole of society.
From the Heartland cubicle farm? Balancing the state budget? Increasing taxes or cutting spending? Increase taxes & disengage free market job creation to feed "hungry children" or reduce state spending & taxes to give business a chance to thrive & hire thousands.
our cubicle farm only produces sustainable, chemical free research and solutions.
What we have here is a market failure. The private market is not equipped to address the barriers folks experiencing poverty - especially those in extreme poverty - have to overcome to access living wage work. The role of government in this area is clear and long established. Provide true opportunity to those that need it and provide necessary supports to the most vulnerable who cannot or are not expected to work (e.g. children, seniors, those with severe disabilities). We need sufficient resources for this role so that the earnest solutions are available.
The free market is a key component to our society. So is compassion and shared responsibility. They have a complex relationship that goes beyond "taxes bad."
(Comment deleted by editor. Reason: Spam. Account blocked from future access.)
Are you honestly shilling for the predatory loan industry on here and claiming it positively addresses poverty? Have you no shame?
One suggestion as Illinois looks to fix our budget problems as well as help meet the needs of those in poverty is to look at the Supportive Living Program here in Illinois.
I know it is unusual for any governmental body to be innovative, but the state government here in Illinois certainly was when it adopted the Supportive Living program.
The beauty of Supportive Living is that it not only generates significant cost savings for the State, but it provides older adults and persons with disabilities with a wonderful alternative to much more costly nursing home care. Apartment home living is combined with the availability of personal assistance and support services such as meals, housekeeping and laundry. The emphasis is on personal choice, dignity, privacy and individuality.
Ten years ago yesterday, the state certified for operation the first Supportive Living community in Beardstown, a community located about 45 miles northwest of the state capitol in Springfield.
During the past 10 years, the number of Supportive Living communities has grown to 115, housing more than 9,150 apartments. The communities are located throughout the State. Another 31 communities have been approved for development.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which regulates Supportive Living, reports that last year 6,000 individuals on Medicaid benefited from Supportive Living. For each of those individuals, the Department reports that the State is saving between 40% and 55% on the cost of care versus if they lived in a nursing home.
Older adults throughout Illinois should be singing the praises of their state government for its foresight in adopting the Supportive Living program, especially those older adults who are without the financial resources to afford assisted living should the need arise. So should their families and taxpayers.
The Supportive Living program is a model that other states have begun to consider. All of us who live and work in Illinois should be proud.
More information on Supportive Living can be obtained by going to Illinois Supportive Living or to www.bma-mgmt.com
Happy to have you here, but this reads a lot like an ad. Do you work with these guys? If so, speak up. Everyone's got a cause they're looking to promote, I think people here are cool with that so long as there's disclosure.
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