View Full Version : Are blue states better for children?
Study affirms value of increased state investments in kids.
The Editorial (http://www.startribune.com/561/story/977846.html)
Marzipan
02-07-2007, 11:36 AM
It's interesting, but I suspect the study is highly flawed for a number of reasons. There's a great deal of difference between correlation and causation, and this article doesn't do much beyond correlate.
I agree about the correlation/causation issue. I do think that more programs are better for kids, but in general blue states tend to have higher levels of education, lower divorce rates, and lower levels of poverty, and all of those things will also play a really big role in outcomes.
Jejune
02-08-2007, 08:59 PM
At the same time, I know there was a comprehensive education study done recently - the name is escaping me at the moment, but it was huge, and done nationwide - and I know that for education, the results seemed to vary HUGELY by state, and I didn't see a red state/blue state correlation. I'm certainly pro-blue, but it sounded like the causes of good/bad education and outcome were too complex to be narrowed down in this way. A child in Virginia (which is a mostly white state, and a comparatively wealthy one) has a much better chance in life than a child from New Mexico or California, states with large immigrant populations, and a real lack of money in education. I know we need to simplify these things to get anything done, but this sort of simplification annoys me.
I agree about the correlation/causation issue. I do think that more programs are better for kids, but in general blue states tend to have higher levels of education, lower divorce rates, and lower levels of poverty, and all of those things will also play a really big role in outcomes.
All those factors would make a state that had that type of population better for kids. I have experienced 2 different states with 2 different philosophies and the blue state has offered far more than the red state did. I know that doesn't make a true study but I would not go back to what we had now that I know what can be available in services for Rai.
A child in Virginia (which is a mostly white state, and a comparatively wealthy one)
Just my pet Virginia peeve but Virginia only seems wealthy due to Northern Virginia and then secondarily Hampton Roads. The rest of the state(outside of some random pockets) doesn't have the same wealth nor the same level of services in general.
Jejune
02-08-2007, 09:19 PM
Just my pet Virginia peeve but Virginia only seems wealthy due to Northern Virginia and then secondarily Hampton Roads. The rest of the state(outside of some random pockets) doesn't have the same wealth nor the same level of services in general.
Sorry - the comparatively was supposed to mean in comparison to other states. I certainly don't mean that the entire state is wealthy. But on this particular study, children in Virginia had a pretty good long term prognosis compared to other states. California seems wealthy from the outside, but also has its problems.
The sad thing is that it isn't the money, it is the philosophy. The money could be given to the right services but it isn't. Then you get outside the areas with money and the level of services drop lower. I am sure every state has it's oddities, I just get frustrated over Virginia's personally from experience.
What always galls me is that I spent nearly 2 years trying to get Rai vision therapy and they kept telling me that she didn't have vision loss even though I had a letter from her neurosurgeons to prove it. We came to Minnesota and I never once asked for vision therapy and they threw a vision therapist at us simply because Rai's vision wasn't functioning as it should for her age level.
Like any state, it comes down to what kind of money they have to spend, how far they have to make that money go and what their priorities are for spending that money.
Maleah
02-09-2007, 12:23 AM
Like any state, it comes down to what kind of money they have to spend, how far they have to make that money go and what their priorities are for spending that money.
ITA! Also I have noticed that some states have tons of money set aside but you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get to any aid.
I don't think you can take each state that all have different programs, demographics and reporting systems and make general statements comparing them to other states.