Comments on: Inequality at Birth http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/05/04/inequality-at-birth/ Citizen Economists is an online economics magazine written by citizen journalists. These ordinary citizens provide reports and commentary on the current events affecting the economics of the fields they work in. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: dvb http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/05/04/inequality-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-10252 dvb Wed, 06 May 2009 12:13:52 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=1148#comment-10252 I quoted Marion Nestle from the Atlantic Food Blog for the 50% statistic here is the link. Looking back I realize that I misquoted the source as the 50% statistic is only in regards to infants. However, this doesn't change my basic point. http://food.theatlantic.com/nutrition/our-61-billion-food-assistance-tab.php As far as what the policy response, I don't the government should restrict who can have children, but greater efforts need to be made to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities available to poor children. Allowing a significant portion of the future generation to grow up in desperate poverty would be economic suicide for the country. Given what we know about brain development and the long term health impact of childhood nutrition, ensuring that children are eating good diets is a very good investment. Even though there is some waste and abuse in the system the benefits of food assistance to poor families far outweigh the costs. I quoted Marion Nestle from the Atlantic Food Blog for the 50% statistic here is the link. Looking back I realize that I misquoted the source as the 50% statistic is only in regards to infants. However, this doesn’t change my basic point.
http://food.theatlantic.com/nutrition/our-61-billion-food-assistance-tab.php

As far as what the policy response, I don’t the government should restrict who can have children, but greater efforts need to be made to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities available to poor children.

Allowing a significant portion of the future generation to grow up in desperate poverty would be economic suicide for the country. Given what we know about brain development and the long term health impact of childhood nutrition, ensuring that children are eating good diets is a very good investment. Even though there is some waste and abuse in the system the benefits of food assistance to poor families far outweigh the costs.

]]> By: Emmanuel Tabones http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/05/04/inequality-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-10230 Emmanuel Tabones Wed, 06 May 2009 05:02:48 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=1148#comment-10230 Social policy advocates love reciting statistics to bolster their various positions, but I would take all of them with a grain of salt. After all, they often downplay the costs of fulfilling their agenda. 50 percent of American children eligible for food stamps? I'm a skeptic, myself. I used to work as a cashier in an upscale supermarket in New York City and I would often see food stamp recepients coming in and purchasing items that I certainly could not afford on my meager salary, at the time. They were eating a lot better than I did.... Social policy advocates love reciting statistics to bolster their various positions, but I would take all of them with a grain of salt. After all, they often downplay the costs of fulfilling their agenda. 50 percent of American children eligible for food stamps? I’m a skeptic, myself. I used to work as a cashier in an upscale supermarket in New York City and I would often see food stamp recepients coming in and purchasing items that I certainly could not afford on my meager salary, at the time.

They were eating a lot better than I did….

]]> By: B.P.T. http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/05/04/inequality-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-10210 B.P.T. Tue, 05 May 2009 20:48:28 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=1148#comment-10210 Do you have a link to the study that found that 50% of American children are eligible for food aid? I searched for a source for a while without success. I'm not surprised, but I would like to read more about it. It's well known that lower income households have a higher birth rate, but I'm not sure what the solution is without instituting some sort of means test before allowing a child to leave the hospital with its parent/parents. Do you have a link to the study that found that 50% of American children are eligible for food aid? I searched for a source for a while without success. I’m not surprised, but I would like to read more about it. It’s well known that lower income households have a higher birth rate, but I’m not sure what the solution is without instituting some sort of means test before allowing a child to leave the hospital with its parent/parents.

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