Food Stamp Demand Swells

[flygal]

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050110/NEWS01/501010302/1002

Since 2000, more than 6 million Americans have joined the ranks of families who find it increasingly difficult to put food on their tables. By the end of 2003, 21.3 million Americans were using the food stamp program.

Following a seven-year decline, the number of Americans on food stamps has shot up 39 percent since 2000, according to federal statistics.

Every state except Hawaii has felt the impact.

In Arizona, food stamp rolls have increased 104 percent; in Nevada, 97 percent; Oregon, 79 percent; South Carolina, 68 percent; Missouri, 65 percent


I just read "Nickled and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich and it's pretty sad that someone has to work so hard for minimum wage yet gets nowhere. And since the gov programs are being slashed people are reduced to begging. In my hometown they featured a family every week during Dec. who needed assistance. It was mostly single mothers who had a minimum wage job but were getting kicked out of their apt.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Well, now that Georgie is in for another four years it looks like all of

these programs are going to get slashed in the next budget because it is much more important that the top 1% keep their tax cuts.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Usually at the grocery store, I'll see someone in line with food stamps

I'm in Oregon.

You know how all those discompassionate conservatives like to make fun of people on food stamps and claim they buy junk food? I've never noticed that. I do see that they buy a few things for their kids like candy or soda or chips, but that's not a crime. Everyone needs to satisfy a food craving now and then.

It's sad to see how apologetic these food stamp users are, they always seem to avoid looking people in the eye when they're taking out the stamps. Too many Repubs have made food stamp usage a mark of failure in our society, without even asking what caused these people to fall below the poverty level. Disgraceful.

[wellstone dem]

10. We never know the story of the person using the stamps

Maybe they have just got a job and are celebrating going off of FS.

Maybe it is their kids birthday.

Maybe they have to say, "no" "no" "no" to their kids, and once a month they can say yes to a bit of candy.

Maybe the candy will be rewards for good grades.

Maybe the shopper can't leave the kids with someone while they go shopping and are suffering the nightmare of "shopping with kids" and buying the candy is the only way to get through the store. (a woman I worked with on occassion would have to shop with her two young kids cause her husband was out of town. She said that by the end of shopping, she' have wrappers that were empty to pay for, because of how so much that looks good is at "kids eye level" in the store.)

While some of us may disagree with some of these choices, I wouldn't trade all my options (including shopping without people making judgements about what I buy) for food stamps.

[shadowknows69]

12. there is a lot of abuse of food stamps

not so much abuse but poor spending habits. My wife works a deli where first of the month several families come in and buy like a dozen subs at 5 dollars a whack with them. I'd think that 60 bucks could be better spent.

[shrike]

14. Then again, there is the story of a woman who left the grocery with

a fancy birthday cake. She got a lot of nasty stares from customers, but remarked privately to a few that it was her daughter's birthday -- and the child had cancer.

I don't begrudge anyone their food stamps.

[wellstone dem]

18. I'm always interested in how people decide

there is 'alot of abuse of food stamps' bsed on anecdotal evidence. It is absolutely true that some could buy more efficiently and effectively than they presently do. But, I have had folks on food stamps ask me if there is a program to help them learn how to spend their foods stamps in a way to make them last. Those kind of programs, "How to shop for nutricious meals on FS" were cut long ago from the program. Additionally, many people do not have refrigerators or freezers to help them shop efficiently. And, as the last person noted, some people may have illnesses which keep them from using the way in a way which is as cost effective as they would like.

If we are looking for efficiency we should require that all fs recipients spend their money on seeds to grow beans and corn. That is legal and would stretch their dollars the furthest. (I probably should not have said this, if it makes it into legislation I'll be kicking my self.)

The point of my post is not that people don't use food stamps in an inefficient way, but that most of us don't have the whole story to make a judgement. Again, thank God that someone doesn't sit around judging how I spend my food budget.

[shadowknows69]

21. there's a little common sense that should enter into it.

like if you have 120 for the week don't blow half of it in one day on subs. people need to be trained to spend them better? how bout treating it as real money? I agree it's a great program for those that need it and thankfully it's gotten harder to abuse it. I was on welfare at one point in my life and discovered that the local crack dealer would take my food stamps. Not a point in my life I'm proud of but just an example.

[shanti]

13. in california

there are no "traditional" food stamps anymore. everyone gets a debit card that looks just like everyone elses's atm card. you'd never know...

[NYC]

23. That is much better.

The shame of food stamps is that people (often working) cannot afford to buy food unassisted. There should be no shame associated with the person using them. Since the shame is misplaced, it is better that the food stamp user not be identified as such.

[mongo]

25. Ohio has the card system

but you use a seperate machine from the regular debit/credit machine in most places.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Wow look at all those red states on food stamps!

While voting for a party that cancels the safety net for the working poor

(Oregon being the ONLY exception mentioned in the article)

[Mokito]

4. to put food on their tables

No, no, they've got it all wrong! They have to put it on their children!

So the table can be chopped up for the stove!

bushonomics...bweirk :puke:

[Skink]

5. Last night was the first time I've seen them used..

I thought they were a relic. Thanks George for bringing them back.

[wellstone dem]

8. You rarely

"see" them used anymore. Most people have an card that they use rather than the stamps. You really have to pay attention to see them used. Folks will use the card and then pay cash for "non" food items.

I was in line behind someone who did not speak English and who was having trouble understanding the "food" "non-food" comment. When they were done, the cashier, apolgized for the time it took. I just responded, "No problem, it must be hard to try to understand everything when learning English can be so hard."

[dbt]

6. "Following a seven-year decline."

Wow. Now who's fault was that?

:evilgrin:
dbt

[fertilizeonarbusto]

7. Well, yes, food stamp use has gone waaaaaaay up under *

BUT IT'S STILL ALL CLINTON'S FAULT! :crazy:

[Rose Siding]

9. Just in time: "Applying Brakes to Benefits Gets Wide G.O.P. Backing"

In his budget request to Congress, President Bush will try to impose firm, enforceable limits on the growth of federal benefit programs, and the chairmen of the Senate and House Budget Committees say they strongly supported that effort.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/politics/09budget1.html?ex=1262926800&en=bc1615a98e3a559f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

[wellstone dem]

11. I hate these people

I really do.

[durablend]

16. "Hate" doesn't even come close to covering it.

It doesn't.

These people are just plain DISGUSTING

[flygal]

15. But we're probably paying $100K a year to a guy

driving a truck for Haliburton in Iraq while most of the low-level enlisted over there have families back home using the food stamps. Wake me when it's over.

[Mountainman]

17. Our taxes will not be lowered but what we get for them will be.

The government will still spend the same amount of money. The difference will be who gets the benefit. Conservatives are hypocrites when they talk about cutting spending. They say they want less spending yet they increase spending that goes to corporations and lower spending that goes to individuals. I hope the folks who voted for Bush like the brave new world they helped to create.

[gorbal]

19. I hate how this whole idea is "framed"

What I don't understand why all the focus and critisism in our culture is placed on the poor mother and her food stamps, where as it would be better to focus on where MUCH more of our money is wrongly spent. The very framing of the argument offends me.

Why should people who are going through the toughest of times have the microscopic lense of media critisism fixed upon them, while those living it up off the slave labor of children get hardly a mention?

If we are going to question our societies morals, perhaps we should start there.

[Ratty]

20. It'll be okay. Pretty soon they'll be able to invest social security

And be millionaires when they retire!

What? They used that extra money to buy food instead of investing in a future of wealth and comfort?? Shame on them? Haven't they heard the tale of the grasshopper and the ant? Then they just *deserve* to go homeless and starve!

[hatrack]

22. But the economy is strong, and getting stronger!

How can this be?!?! :eyes:

[Just Me]

24. More evidence of Bush's successful "War on the Middle Class".

When Johnson declared his "War on Poverty", there were 35 million Americans living below the poverty line NWS a 5.3% rate of unemployment.

Now, over 45+ million Americans are living below poverty, jobs are still being outsourced, and who the hell really knows what the unemployment rate is anymore.

[KT2000]

26. You know what this means don't you?

Make program cuts - make it harder for people to qualify - have them justify their status on a weekly basis - and no taking the bus to the food stamp office - you gotta walk - no exceptions!

The RW dogma preaches that where there is want there is a failed person who needs to be taught a lesson. They are laready planning for cuts in Medicaid - the last resort of the uninsured.

[NVMojo]

27. so, do you think the Bushcos want to murder citizens by starvation?

it's not like everyone can even afford to eat on minimum wage jobs.

[Megahurtz]

28. It's just going to get worse.

I can't believe we have to be subject to four more years of these horrible people.