Healthy Children: Does the U.S. love its kids?

Dr. P's favorite quote of the week

"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)
German Protestant theologian, hanged for a plot to overthrow Hitler

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Dr. P comments

OK, it's my blog and I'm told I get to rant every now and then.

First, here are some of "Dr. P's Unidentifed Flying Facts" about the status of some kids in the U.S.:

13 million children live below the poverty line (which, as an example, is a combined family income $19,307 for a family of four).
4.2 million white, 4.1 million Hispanic and 3.9 million black kids live in poverty.
Nearly 10 million children (12%) have no health insurance.
Food insecurity (defined as inconsistent access to adequate nutrition) is experienced by than 13 million kids.
Food insecurity + episodes of hunger are experienced by about 420,000 children.
And, last but not least in this Hall of Shame: The U.S. has the highest child poverty rate of any of the top 17 wealthiest nations.

Let me stress that, unlike many challenges we face as a society, these are fixable and at a price which is pretty cheap compared to what we are spending on... (fill in your favorite blanks). Personally, I'd vote for starting with universal health insurance for kids, more programs to lift their families out of poverty, and more resources put into ensuring top notch public education, starting at age 3.

Of all the stupid ways to save money, there are few stupider than not guaranteeing excellent health care, adequate nutrition, and great educational opportunities for all of our youngest citizens. It's shameful how little we, as a society, seem to value other people's kids, especially if they are poor. I just don't get it (or, even worse, perhaps I do.).

If Dietrich Bonhoeffer somehow came back, I'm not sure we could even look the guy in the eye.