South by Southwest: Barack Obama Wants Diapers to be More Affordable for Poorer Families
President Barack Obama has just recently addressed the criticism hurled against him, accusing him of inciting the polarized political landscape in the United States today. He simply dismissed the allegation and slung it back towards the GOP side, which he said is solely to blame in the divisiveness.
But, it seems like it wasn't the only chasm that the White House would like to put an end to. Turns out, there is also another pressing matter -- the "diaper gap."
The Obama administration revealed a new measure that it intends to implement in order to allow low-income families gain access to more affordable diapers. The initiative will be supported by Jet.com, which makes Cuties diapers, and it could cut back diaper cost by as much as 25 percent.
The Numbers
"Technology and the new economy have given us access to necessities like diapers at just the click of a button," says Cecilia Muñoz in a post published on the White House website. "But the benefits of this new economy aren't available to all Americans, and the consequences of that divide are severe."
According to Muñoz, about 30 percent of American families today are struggling to afford baby diapers and, in some instances, the parents are forced to use a diaper longer than necessary.
And it seems like the disparity in this diaper divide is just getting bigger. Higher income families are enjoying lower prices for these diapers because of their ability to pay for transportation enabling them to purchase from big box stores, buy in bulk at cheaper prices, or to make online transactions and avail of online subscription services with Internet access.
On the one hand, families that belong to the lowest-income bracket are shelling out $936 for diapers per child each year on average. This takes up about 14 percent of their already meager income.
The White House Takes Action
Obama will be discussing the matter at the upcoming SXSW event in Texas, where he will discuss how to maximize technology in order to help improve the lives of Americans today.
"There is also no federal assistance for purchasing diapers, unlike other essentials like food or health insurance. Programs like WIC, SNAP, Medicaid help provide parents with nutritious foods and the supports they and their babies need to stay healthy...
"But unless Congress acts, we don't have a program to help struggling families buy diapers for their children. So, we're getting creative and using every tool we have to help solve this problem," Muñoz added.
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