US whites falling to minority in under-5 age group

JonnyPistachioJonnyPistachio Posts: 10,219
edited June 2013 in A Moving Train
Interesting trends on US demographics:

US whites falling to minority in under-5 age group

The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In a first, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, reflecting sweeping changes by race and class among young people. Due to an aging population, non-Hispanic whites last year recorded more deaths than births.

These two milestones, revealed in 2012 census estimates released Thursday, are the latest signs of a historic shift in which whites will become a minority within a generation, by 2043. They come after the Census Bureau reported last year that whites had fallen to a minority among newborns.

Fueled by immigration and high rates of birth, particularly among Hispanics, racial and ethnic minorities are growing more rapidly in numbers than whites. The decline in the U.S. white population has been occurring more quickly than expected, resulting in the first "natural decrease" for whites — deaths exceeding births — in more than a century, census data show. For now, the non-Hispanic white population continues to increase slightly, but only because of immigration from Europe.

Based on current rates of growth, whites in the under-5 group are expected to fall below 50 percent this year or next, said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau's acting director.

"This is the tipping point presaging the gradual decline of the white population, which will be a signature demographic trend of this century," said William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution. "More so than ever, we need to recognize the importance of young minorities for the growth and vitality of our labor force and economy."

The imminent tip to a white minority among young children adds a racial dimension to government spending on early-childhood education, such as President Barack Obama's proposal to significantly expand pre-K for lower-income families. The nation's demographic changes are already stirring discussion as to whether some civil rights-era programs, such as affirmative action in college admissions, should be retooled to focus more on income than on race and ethnicity. The Supreme Court will rule on the issue this month.

The government projects that in five years, minorities will make up more than half of children under 18.
Studies show that gaps in achievement by both race and class begin long before college, suggesting that however the high court rules, the U.S. remedies to foster equal opportunity will need to reach earlier into a child's life.

"The educational system is likely to be the most widely used and most acceptable policy tool we have for equalizing life chances. But it does not seem so far to achieve this goal," said Timothy Smeeding, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who specializes in income inequality. "This specter of unequal opportunity may be the biggest negative social outcome of the continuing American inequality boom."

The gap between rich and poor in the U.S. has now stretched to its widest since 1970, making opportunities to reach the middle class increasingly difficult.

Longer-term changes in family structure, such as a decline in marriage, have led to a rise in single-mother households across all racial groups, with the fastest growth now occurring among whites. More than 40 percent of newborns are now born out of wedlock in families more likely to be low income.

The latest census numbers show:
—The population younger than 5 stood at 49.9 percent minority in 2012.
—The nonwhite population increased by 1.9 percent to 116 million, or 37 percent. Hispanics make up 17 percent of the U.S.; blacks, 12.3 percent; Asians, 5 percent; and multiracial Americans, 2.4 percent.
—About 353 of the nation's 3,143 counties, or 11 percent, are now "majority-minority," including six which tipped last year.
—Among the under-5 age group, 22 percent live in poverty, typically in more rural states such as Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. Black toddlers were most likely to be poor, at 41 percent, followed by Hispanics at 32 percent and whites at 13 percent. Asian toddlers had a poverty rate of 11 percent.

Smeeding's analysis of the latest research and data on social mobility, provided to The Associated Press, shows that a child's achievement varies widely depending on a parent's education and income. The reason: More educated parents tend to have fewer children and generally earn more money than before, allowing them to spend larger amounts of time or money on a child's development, including music or art classes, extra tutoring, or travel and summer camps.

The gaps in achievement tend to emerge early in childhood, continuing through high school, and disparities are especially evident in SAT admission scores. College Board data show that average scores spread as wide as 130-140 points in each of the reading, math and writing sections for a student with family income of less than $20,000, compared with a student with family income exceeding $200,000.

About 40 percent of whites age 25-29 graduate from college, compared with 15 percent for Latinos and 23 percent for blacks.

Obama proposed expanding pre-K education for any 4-year-old whose family income was below twice the federal poverty rate, or $46,000 for a family of four. That is an increasingly minority age group that would benefit from what Obama calls the single most effective way to boost educational outcomes.

The plan would be paid for by a nearly $1 per pack federal cigarette tax. But at a time of strapped federal budgets, Republican lawmakers have been reluctant to expand the scope of government or raise new taxes. Medicare and Social Security costs due to aging of the mostly white baby boomer generation are also adding to the government burden.

A recent Rutgers University study found that state funding for pre-K programs had its largest drop ever last year, with states now spending less per child than a decade ago.
Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
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Comments

  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    EVERYBODY PANIC!!!

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXhRlJpHNFj7Y_RA5D0pMNY_OW3TiuCV0gqzN-Hmd9FnGpDSkt








    :lol:
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • BentleyspopBentleyspop Posts: 10,770
    A group of your average regressives meeting to figure out what to about this news :o

    Arepublicans-too-old-too-white_zpsf691e51d.jpg
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    this should be no surprise to any political party. people were saying this was going to happen when i was in 5th grade. so like almost 30 years ago...
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • BentleyspopBentleyspop Posts: 10,770
    Gay Marriage being legalized in state after state
    Marijuana being legalized in state after state
    Whites becoming a minority

    Whats a republican to do??

    ABoehnercryinggif_zpsac167b75.gif
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    Gay Marriage being legalized in state after state
    Marijuana being legalized in state after state
    Whites becoming a minority

    Whats a republican to do??

    ABoehnercryinggif_zpsac167b75.gif
    this, and they blame obama for all of it.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    I heard a blip about this on the news this morning, and appreciate reading it more in full (though I'm not sure how the rich/not rich fit into this; is it about race, income, culture - or, as some of the comments so far indicate - political party?)

    As long as there is divisiveness, whether on the govt level or among the people themselves, there will never be any reasonable discussion or headway made.

    I think that fucking sucks.
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 29,575
    Gay Marriage being legalized in state after state
    Marijuana being legalized in state after state
    Whites becoming a minority

    Whats a republican to do??

    ABoehnercryinggif_zpsac167b75.gif

    That is great thanks i wish he could choke on hi's next stake dinner ...
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    Sorry, no kids here, and probably won't have any. It's irresponsible to bring children in to the world when they are already crippled by $50,000 in debt.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Good - I can't wait to get all those minority perks!

    (In actuality - I think categorizing people by race is antiquated and needs to go away. We're all mixed anyway and there's no objective definition to determine actual race)
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 9,096
    unsung wrote:
    Sorry, no kids here, and probably won't have any. It's irresponsible to bring children in to the world when they are already crippled by $50,000 in debt.

    I bet you say that to all the ladies.
  • JonnyPistachioJonnyPistachio Posts: 10,219
    unsung wrote:
    Sorry, no kids here, and probably won't have any. It's irresponsible to bring children in to the world when they are already crippled by $50,000 in debt.

    I had a friend say that the world in its current state is a crappy place to bring kids into. That kinda irked me.
    You're a smart guy unsung, my buddy is a smart guy... you smart folks should have kids to bring some responsibility and focus into the world. We need good kids with good parents.
    know1 wrote:
    Good - I can't wait to get all those minority perks!

    (In actuality - I think categorizing people by race is antiquated and needs to go away. We're all mixed anyway and there's no objective definition to determine actual race)

    Good point. it probably will evolve, but not likely go away. Too many people feel the need to categorize... what it accomplishes, I'll never understand.
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • peacefrompaulpeacefrompaul Posts: 25,293
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    My GF of almost four years is saddled with a higher college loan payment than my mortgage and she makes less than a third of what I do. I'm not going to go into debt to have a kid. Once she gets through that, and after possible marriage, we might explore the option.

    If I do have children I will not send them to public schools. That's not to start a battle here, just cant have them being brainwashed. I wish I knew then what I know now, I'd love to discuss current events with an instructor.

    Anyone look into those Montessori schools?
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.


    I'd call that reality and being responsible.
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    unsung wrote:
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.


    I'd call that reality and being responsible.
    I'm in the same boat - both with the (non)choice and with the reasoning. For me, it's not just the monetary side of it but also knowing I'm not cut out to be a good parent at the intangible cost to myself.

    That said, I'm with JP...I see too many irresponsible people raising little versions of themselves.

    By the way, that encompasses all races, all colors of collars, all religions.
  • JonnyPistachioJonnyPistachio Posts: 10,219
    unsung wrote:
    My GF of almost four years is saddled with a higher college loan payment than my mortgage and she makes less than a third of what I do. I'm not going to go into debt to have a kid. Once she gets through that, and after possible marriage, we might explore the option.

    If I do have children I will not send them to public schools. That's not to start a battle here, just cant have them being brainwashed. I wish I knew then what I know now, I'd love to discuss current events with an instructor.

    Anyone look into those Montessori schools?

    Oh, I hear ya. I somehow thought you were talking about the debt our country is in. I misunderstood. But yeah, kids are super expensive and it worries me a bit.

    Ive been looking into local schools here, and I'd lean towards public school. There are some very good ones here, and I learned that many of the private schools require much fewer credentials to be hired as a teacher. I need to look into the Montessori a bit though too. Im not sure what you meant by brainwashing in public schools.

    PeacefromPaul - Its not selfish - it makes perfect sense. I'd never consider it until after age 32 or so anyways. My suggestion for people wanting to have kids is to Get established, get secure, reduce debts as much as possbile. Its ok to have kids later these days. everyone from my parent generation thought it was weird that I didnt have kids in my 20's. I think thats just insane. I finally became secure and thinking about kids when I was about 36-37...
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,447
    Kids are only expensive if you plan to pay for them yourself. ;)
    hippiemom = goodness
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    this is exactly how idiocracy started. all of the responsible and intelligent people like unsung and some of the others in the thread saying that it is too expensive to have kids so they do not have kids, while all of the dumbasses who do not contribute to society are the ones having 10 kids. eventually it has effects on society as a whole. everyone should check out that movie.

    unsung, i hope you reconsider man, as someone said you are a smart guy and you would do well with raising your kids.

    i would like a kid or two at some point, but fuck man, i gotta find a date first.... :fp: :lol:
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • where's GF in this discussion? :lol:
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    Well guys I appreciate some of the comments, and yes I was referring to the debt that the country is in. Politics aside this country has a monetary policy that I don't agree with, but locally I need a change out of Illinois. This state is so beyond fixing that its going to come down to the federal government bailing out the state, and that I highly disagree with.

    July 20 we are driving to Idaho to look for a new place to live. Idaho is our first choice, then possibly NH. Gotta find work though. The kids thing may happen, but not until after the move.
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.

    I personally think having more than 2 kids is being selfish.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958
    Sounds like racist people from all ethnic groups in the US need to get over being racists pronto, or else America is going to go to absolute SHIT within 30 years. Also, poor people: stop having so many kids goddammit! The line about how poorer people have more kids and then don't have the time or resources to offer any of them decent opportunities, or even their own time, is disturbing, and I don't understand how people with little means are so willing to bring children into their plight. It's so selfish. This day and age in America i don't think it can be blamed on ignorance anymore. Kids know about birth control by the time they're 12. The problem must be selfish apathy now. How depressing. (I am aware, of course, that having less poor people is the ultimate ideal solution, but in the meantime (and since the wage gap just keeps growing), they really need to stop having so many babies they can't offer a better future for)
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    dignin wrote:
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.

    I personally think having more than 2 kids is being selfish.


    Selfish? How so?
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,447
    unsung wrote:
    Well guys I appreciate some of the comments, and yes I was referring to the debt that the country is in. Politics aside this country has a monetary policy that I don't agree with, but locally I need a change out of Illinois. This state is so beyond fixing that its going to come down to the federal government bailing out the state, and that I highly disagree with.

    July 20 we are driving to Idaho to look for a new place to live. Idaho is our first choice, then possibly NH. Gotta find work though. The kids thing may happen, but not until after the move.


    Good luck to you. Although I might have picked a few states closer together to look at!

    As far as kids go, the simple truth is the people that are unable to afford them and unable to provide them with opportunities are the ones overpopulating the world and draining resources. Something has to change.

    As far as having more than 2 kids being selfish I tend to agree. Because even if you can afford them, you are adding to the population problem.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958
    unsung wrote:
    Well guys I appreciate some of the comments, and yes I was referring to the debt that the country is in. Politics aside this country has a monetary policy that I don't agree with, but locally I need a change out of Illinois. This state is so beyond fixing that its going to come down to the federal government bailing out the state, and that I highly disagree with.

    July 20 we are driving to Idaho to look for a new place to live. Idaho is our first choice, then possibly NH. Gotta find work though. The kids thing may happen, but not until after the move.


    Good luck to you. Although I might have picked a few states closer together to look at!

    As far as kids go, the simple truth is the people that are unable to afford them and unable to provide them with opportunities are the ones overpopulating the world and draining resources. Something has to change.

    As far as having more than 2 kids being selfish I tend to agree. Because even if you can afford them, you are adding to the population problem.
    I totally agree.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 9,096
    PJ_Soul wrote:
    Sounds like racist people from all ethnic groups in the US need to get over being racists pronto, or else America is going to go to absolute SHIT within 30 years. Also, poor people: stop having so many kids goddammit! The line about how poorer people have more kids and then don't have the time or resources to offer any of them decent opportunities, or even their own time, is disturbing, and I don't understand how people with little means are so willing to bring children into their plight. It's so selfish. This day and age in America i don't think it can be blamed on ignorance anymore. Kids know about birth control by the time they're 12. The problem must be selfish apathy now. How depressing. (I am aware, of course, that having less poor people is the ultimate ideal solution, but in the meantime (and since the wage gap just keeps growing), they really need to stop having so many babies they can't offer a better future for)

    You actually can blame a lot of teen pregnancies on ignorance and lack of access to birth control. If you've had much contact with teen mothers, you find out that they have a lot of misconceptions about getting pregnant and how birth control works.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958
    Go Beavers wrote:
    PJ_Soul wrote:
    Sounds like racist people from all ethnic groups in the US need to get over being racists pronto, or else America is going to go to absolute SHIT within 30 years. Also, poor people: stop having so many kids goddammit! The line about how poorer people have more kids and then don't have the time or resources to offer any of them decent opportunities, or even their own time, is disturbing, and I don't understand how people with little means are so willing to bring children into their plight. It's so selfish. This day and age in America i don't think it can be blamed on ignorance anymore. Kids know about birth control by the time they're 12. The problem must be selfish apathy now. How depressing. (I am aware, of course, that having less poor people is the ultimate ideal solution, but in the meantime (and since the wage gap just keeps growing), they really need to stop having so many babies they can't offer a better future for)

    You actually can blame a lot of teen pregnancies on ignorance and lack of access to birth control. If you've had much contact with teen mothers, you find out that they have a lot of misconceptions about getting pregnant and how birth control works.
    Willful ignorance maybe. They do teach that shit in grade 6. But in any case, I'm talking about people with 2, 3, 4, 5 kids and no means to properly raise them to succeed... That's not a teen mother issue. Yes, teen pregnancy is an issue, but it's not the main issue here. Having kids without two parents aka without enough resources is a huge issue though, and that is selfishness at work too. For some reason, being a single parent is often talked about as though it's supposed to be admirable. I think it's irresponsible (i mean financially - I don't mean they even have to live together, but there should be two incomes there. I think women who let themselves get knocked up without knowing there is a second stable provider to help are totally selfish and irresponsible (and don't even get me started on men who bail after getting someone pregnant). Of course some circumstances can't be helped, and good efforts are sometimes thwarted one way or another, but usually, it's just people being assholes - they're poor, but they still know better, and just don't seem to care as far as I can tell. Their little relationship dramas and desire to fuck seems to be a lot more important than raising happy, healthy children who will have a chance to thrive in life.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336
    unsung wrote:
    dignin wrote:
    Everyone panic! Yikes! What are we to do?

    :lol:

    No, that's fine with me :D

    And, uh, yeah, I doubt I'll ever want to have kids. Too expensive... call me selfish, call me what you will.

    I personally think having more than 2 kids is being selfish.


    Selfish? How so?

    Overpopulation. I'm OK with replacing yourself, but anything more is irresponsible and selfish.
  • aerialaerial Posts: 2,319
    You don't need a lot of money to have kids....you just need to work hard, instill good morals buy being a good example and sacrifice. I did it and my Grandmother and Grandfather did it. We both struggled sometimes but we all turned out great. My grandmother had sixteen kids. I don't know why....
    My question is how can there be minorities when there are NO minorities?
    “We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” Abraham Lincoln
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,447
    aerial wrote:
    You don't need a lot of money to have kids....you just need to work hard, instill good morals buy being a good example and sacrifice. I did it and my Grandmother and Grandfather did it. We both struggled sometimes but we all turned out great. My grandmother had sixteen kids. I don't know why....
    My question is how can there be minorities when there are NO minorities?

    16 kids? Did she ever stand up? That is ridiculous.
    hippiemom = goodness
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