08-31-2006, 10:46 AM
Hazen, I don't think your post is negative or judgemental at all. One big reason I can think of regarding the prevalence of assistance in Puna (and Hawaii in general) is the high cost of living. The states and the feds work in conjunction on most assistance programs and there are formulas that take the local cost of living into account. This in turn affects food assistance, rent assistance, etc. That said, there is also a strong state "generosity factor," i.e. the states do have the option to use their own funds to supplement the federal dole. The result is that assistance tends to be more generous and widespread in places like Wisconsin and Massachusetts (maybe Hawaii?) than places like Texas and Georgia. It all comes down to politics in that regard.
Aloha,
Jerry
Aloha,
Jerry