How about more attention to our TANF rate? We already know so much about our unemployment rate, and everyone concedes knowing how many people are unemployed goes a long way in telling how the economy is faring.
So, how about our TANF rate, you know, the percentage of people who are receiving a little help from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program?
Of course, a welfare rate perhaps should include not just TANF, but, if possible, all of our welfare programs. But some say TANF is the most welfare of all welfare, so I wonder what the participation rate for it, alone, is.
Perhaps TANF participation figures are released, although I doubt it. If they are, I never hear about them.
Perhaps a welfare rate is released. If it is, it doesn't receive near the attention the unemployment rate does.
Perhaps it should. It is the welfare rate that would tell us how many are hurting to the point they cannot pay thier bills without a little help from big brother.
(This post was updated 9/4/10.)
No comments:
Post a Comment