I have just read an op-ed piece that should give us all cause for concern. Adapted from a research brief, it addresses how Maine’s children are faring in Gov. Paul LePage’s war on the poor.

The work concludes that Maine has the third highest ranking in the U.S. for very low food security, and the highest rate of child food insecurity in New England. While other parts of the country have shown improvement in fighting poverty and hunger, Maine has seen an increase in deep child poverty. Also, Maine is the only state that has had a statistically significant increase in the number of children without health insurance between 2010 and 2014.

Is this what we want to be known for? Pushing children further into poverty and causing extreme hardship to families?

The researchers are Sandy Butler, professor of social work, and the graduate program coordinator in the School of Social Work at the University of Maine, and Luisa DePrez, professor emerita of sociology and women’s gender studies at the University of Southern Maine. To quote their conclusion in the brief, “It is imperative that we turn these frightening trends around, so we do not ruin the lives of a large segment of the next generation of Mainers. If we do not change course, the damage will seep into every part of our state, hardship that will result in lifelong consequences, undermining our workforce, our schools, and our communities.”

Let’s give some thought to the children of Maine before we institute any more of LePage’s welfare reforms.

Susan Suchar

China