Best states
The Foundation for Child Development has released their annual study on which U.S. states are doing the best to ensure children's well-being. Surprising (sort of) results within.
The subtitle of the study says it all: "Investing in Public Programs Matters: How State Policies Impact Children’s Lives." As one of the key findings of the study points out, "Higher State Taxes Are Better for Children. States that have higher tax rates generate higher revenues and have higher CWI values than states with lower tax rates."
This is the document that politicians should be referring to as they campaign/legislate in 2012. If children are not faring well in your state (ahem, California! We used to be Golden... now we're 30th?), slashing spending on public programs is probably not the way to go.
The Monterey Peninsula, where I was raised, is a great example of how decreased government spending and poor tax policy create huge gaps between California towns that have great public schools and plenty of fun, safe, enriching activities to stimulate growing minds, and their neighboring cities that don't. Pebble Beach and Carmel are a short drive from Salinas, and yet to visit the latter is viewed as a death wish by residents of the former. The extreme gang violence and a thriving narcotics industry in Salinas does not remain sealed in the city borders, though. The retired residents of Carmel-by-the-Sea, those who most vehemently oppose tax increases to fund education, Medicare, and social welfare spending, may be able to coast along in their bubble, but their grandchildren won't.
In a Gang-Ridden City, New Efforts to Fight Crime While Cutting Costs
The above article describes the budget cuts that brought down the Salinas police force's capacity to deal with the city's exploding gang violence. I would venture that California's failed method of allocating state funds to the education budget based on local property taxes has more to do with the poverty that leads to such violence. Remember when Salinas had to struggle to keep its ONE public library open?
The subtitle of the study says it all: "Investing in Public Programs Matters: How State Policies Impact Children’s Lives." As one of the key findings of the study points out, "Higher State Taxes Are Better for Children. States that have higher tax rates generate higher revenues and have higher CWI values than states with lower tax rates."
This is the document that politicians should be referring to as they campaign/legislate in 2012. If children are not faring well in your state (ahem, California! We used to be Golden... now we're 30th?), slashing spending on public programs is probably not the way to go.
The Monterey Peninsula, where I was raised, is a great example of how decreased government spending and poor tax policy create huge gaps between California towns that have great public schools and plenty of fun, safe, enriching activities to stimulate growing minds, and their neighboring cities that don't. Pebble Beach and Carmel are a short drive from Salinas, and yet to visit the latter is viewed as a death wish by residents of the former. The extreme gang violence and a thriving narcotics industry in Salinas does not remain sealed in the city borders, though. The retired residents of Carmel-by-the-Sea, those who most vehemently oppose tax increases to fund education, Medicare, and social welfare spending, may be able to coast along in their bubble, but their grandchildren won't.
In a Gang-Ridden City, New Efforts to Fight Crime While Cutting Costs
The above article describes the budget cuts that brought down the Salinas police force's capacity to deal with the city's exploding gang violence. I would venture that California's failed method of allocating state funds to the education budget based on local property taxes has more to do with the poverty that leads to such violence. Remember when Salinas had to struggle to keep its ONE public library open?
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