NPR: One In Seven Americans Is On Food Stamps

[marmar]

A Grim Record: One In Seven Americans Is On Food Stamps
01:11 pm

December 8, 2010
by Jacob Goldstein


The number of people on food stamps keeps hitting new all-time highs; as of September, nearly 43 million people were using the program, according to figures out this week.

Of course, because of population growth, absolute numbers only tell part of the story. The best way to look at the numbers over a long period of time is as a percentage of the population. And when you do that, you see that we're also hitting new highs.

The criteria for qualifying for food stamps haven't changed much over time, according to Jean Daniel, a spokeswoman for the government agency that oversees the food-stamp program (the program is officially known as SNAP, by the way). .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/12/08/131905683/a-grim-record-one-in-seven-americans-is-on-food-stamps?sc=tw&cc=share

[Deep13]

1. I wonder how many are children.

Some of the freeper responses are pretty sickening.

[timo]

2. here along the border

quite a few of them are, mom and dad are here with no papers, so the kids are on the lone star card. been that way for years and years and years!!

[Hannah Bell]

50. sure it is. undocumented immigrants have *never* been eligible for food stamps.

http://www.cppp.org/research.php?aid=588

slide 11

[readmoreoften]

62. +1

[Gormy Cuss]

42. Yeah, it's amazing how easy it is for some to lose sight of that aspect of the stat. n/t

[EndElectoral]

3. GOP solution: eliminate food stamps

[katnapped]

5. Sadly many of ours also support gutting it n/t

[Deep13]

6. Also, tax cuts for the rich.

We can't forget that!

[katnapped]

4. Which of course is why we need to gut those programs!

Ain't that right? :sarcasm:

[captain jack]

7. And the figure for those on corporate welfare? The other (far more) grim record. nt

[seabeyond]

8. i really have a mix of opinion on this. my niece and family is on them. she was talking the other

day about it as just matter of fact. as if it is a normal and expected thing. we were talking about the difference in the economy and how we all needed to look at our spending today differently than not too far past. the ready cash to spend wasn't there. she agreed that not but a couple years ago, she could spend eating out, buy the kids clothes whenever, had cash. yet.... she was on food stamps.

my oldest brother used it for first time about a year ago.

for both members of family, i was glad to see they had help to feed family. yet on the other hand, both are horrible about spending money and always have been. often spending on unnecessary because they want it, or simply because they have the money. lacking fiscal responsibility consistently.

that pisses me off.

i think it should be used when the help is needed, but with the goal of create finances so they aren't needed too.

(this is a delicate issue on du, because if anyone says something about these programs, they tend to be called rw'ers)

i feel a societal responsibility with the help thru food stamps. for example: kids and hubby talking about scholarships for colleges, and working hard to receive the scholarships. i told them, we have the money to pay for college. i would rather the kids leave scholarships for the kids that accomplish, that really need, that dont have the opportunity.

i feel the same with the food stamps. use them when needed, but with goal to get off, for others that need. that is the shift i am seeing today, opposed to yesterday. as if they should just be a part of the fiances along with wage.

[ipaint]

10. I don't know what state you live in but here if you have a wage you get little to no food stamps.

And you are right your "personal responsibility" lecture is right out of the right wing smear manual 101.

[seabeyond]

13. you are right your "personal responsibility" lecture is right out of the right wing smear manual 101

so old and tired. very very tired.

[ipaint]

16. Not quite as old as your personal responsibility baloney. nt

[seabeyond]

18. really, because in our limited thinking, because repugs use it to abuse, then it is all bad and

should never be used. none of us has any responsibility period.... it is one mass free for all.

there is the thinking

[ipaint]

22. No repugs use it because it's bigotry. The ability to recognize bigotry

is what makes you a liberal.

[seabeyond]

28. you seem to lack that ability, yet i can still say that you are a liberal. nt

[AngryAmish]

11. My MIL works at a food bank

According to her, some (very few) abuse the privilege. But what can you do? If you are truly poor hitting a few food banks along with food stamps (now done electronically with a card) means you don't starve. And not having starving people is good, no?

But money is fungible.

[seabeyond]

14. i dont kow how my post would suggest i am into people starving. really

i dont see how you got from point A to B

[AngryAmish]

27. I didn't mean to imply that.

Rhetorical question really. I don't think anyone around here wants to do away with food stamps because there are a few cheaters, but cheaters frost peoples' asses and make it harder on the truly needy. That was the point I was trying to get across, maybe imperfectly.

[seabeyond]

29. i agree iwth you. and kinda why i thought an open discussion could be had. but

i dont consider this cheating. that isnt really the issue. cheating is clear. my thought after talking to my niece, what i was left with thinking, is not the cheating to receive food stamps, but the way we preceive them today and if that is the intent of them. as if they should be viewed as almost a given supliment and not necessarily a help from govt. i felt odd in the conversation with her, when she was discussing it.

she and hubby young. purposely had one of two children. though possible to get higher paying jobs, not wanting and staying with waiting tables. and the acceptance that food stamps were there to supplement their income.

does that make me bad.... because i dont see it that way? (i appreciate a least a little open in discussion of this. had me thinking this last week. we as a society)

[AngryAmish]

33. It doesn't make you bad

I think we are all in this country together and just taking when you can do more is not a good way to go through life. There are so many who can't work, too old, too injured, etc. That is what a safety net is for - and food stamps are a safety net, not a way of life.

[TBF]

12. Do you really think folks are happy to be on food stamps? nt

[seabeyond]

15. such perdictable answers. all three. walk on eggshell, only one perspective, keep it limited.

really, cause that is what i was talking about, people over joyed being on food stamp.... all that is in the post, ignored.

[ipaint]

17. Yes because your first hand description of NOT being on food stamps is so compelling.

Along with the lightly disguised bootstrap rant directed at those who, according to your moral handbook, just aren't acting correctly while on them.

I'll make sure to be perfectly personally responsible for all my purchases so you personally can rest easy knowing you don't pay one cent of your tax dollars to support freeloading by those of us who need to eat. Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity to live up to your expectations.

[seabeyond]

19. ya ya ya so tired of the narrowminded tripe passes for posts on du. dont dare discuss

fuckin

ANYTHING

then personally attack, in all your whine

[ipaint]

21. Conservatives also have a nasty mean streak when called on their judgmental

nonsense.

Perhaps sticking to privately berating relatives for perceived moral failings and not projecting that baloney onto the rest of us would be a better approach to "discussing" the snap program and the implications for the growing underclass forced to rely on it.

[seabeyond]

30. again, i am seeing your nasty mean streak as you freely change the intent of my post

and still, i dont accuse you of being a conservative.

[ipaint]

53. Well if I am ever in a position to afford plenty of food to feed myself and I get on a

progressive discussion board and proclaim that I have mixed feelings about whether others deserve help to get enough to eat because they don't meet my definition of fiscally responsible, you have my permission to slap me upside the head, call me a conservative asshole and tell me to grow the fuck up and get over myself.
I'd deserve it.

[seabeyond]

61. fuck you..... nt

[bobbolink]

20. !!!! Perfect!

"Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity to live up to your expectations."

That is so perfect! May I quote you? :applause:

[ipaint]

24. Of course. Good to see you bobbolink.

Funny how a topic about the factual, massive food stamp need in this country is once again derailed by the pull yourself up by the bootstrap crowd.

Well i have a relative... or in the grocery line I saw... or my friend did this...

The "make the poor moral" police need to give it a fucking rest. This isn't about YOU personally.

[bobbolink]

25. "I am not on this earth to do penance for the mistakes of another" was what I said to the last

judgemental idiot who said that kind of thing to me.... who happened to be a priest.

As I see it, here is one of the problems..... *WE* haven't done well at making a big issue of Corporate Welfare.

Until *WE* find a way to make that a daily topic, picking on poor people is going to take priority.

[seabeyond]

31. so, my niece brings up things that make me question. i want to discuss on du. and this is how you

bottom line it.

do we EVER get tired of rewriting another posters post to have a totally fabricated argument and then jump up in glee when we are able to "win" that fabricated argument.

[TBF]

35. Of course you avoid answering the question posed. Typical. nt

[seabeyond]

36. no, i answered. right there in the post. the typical? you wouldnt catch it if it bet you on the

nose. nor the oppotunity to actually address what i posted.

[TBF]

39. You didn't answer. You admonished folks for pointing out your rw arguments -

but you never did answer my question of whether you think folks are happy to be on food stamps?

Look we (meaning generically on this site) are workers. Some of us might have better budget skills that others, may have managed to save a bit more, may have a pretty nifty salary, or may not make enough to even save. But we are not the billionaires running this world. If we spend all our time worrying that the Jones' next door shouldn't have a SNAP card 'cuz we can see plain as day that they had a new widescreen tv delivered, we will never get anywhere.

People do different things with their money, they have different philosophies, and yes some are downright foolish. I will grant you that. But most of us really aren't living high off the hog, and we certainly aren't encouraging Congress to give tax breaks to millionaires while trying to dismantle our social security.

I'd have no problem requiring folks to attend a few budgeting classes if they find themselves applying for food stamps (hell, maybe it's already a requirement, I don't know), but I do know we have to stop sniping at each other about stuff like that. Instead we should ask ourselves why folks like Bill Gates really deserve to have hundreds of billions of dollars while others live in tents.

Solidarity. I will stand with you, if you will stand with the rest of us.

[seabeyond]

40. when did you stop beating your husband? that question has NOTHING to do with my post.

i dont worry about jones doing with snap card adn not the issue of my post. YOU once again, project my post what it is not then lecture me on what i do NOT need to be lectured on. you have changed the whole conversation of not only the op but my post and then demand that i have fallen short when i have not even discussed what you are. again, when did you stop beating your hubby?

you dont even kinda get the intent or reasoning of me posting. so you can really stop the lecture if you are not even willing to understand the what or why i am talking about

[TBF]

41. You know what? When you post something, I'll ask whatever questions I want to ask.

You can answer them or not. But these childish posts that attack without conversation are not worth my time. Go talk about food stamp "abuse" with your right wing friends. Obviously the plight of the poor is of no concern to you. And welcome to my ignore list of 3. Rarely do I add to it, but if I want to talk on this level I'd rather speak with my own 3-yr old here at home.

[seabeyond]

44. do you ever see your hypocrisy. YOU will do as you want as you lecture me otherwise

my childish attacks as there have been attacks continually from you and other poster as rwer, which i have seen on the last handful of threads from you, when anyone disagrees or does not tow YOUR line. and once again, obvious plight of poor....? obviously? obviously once again creating your fabricated accusation that has nothing to do with me. then another put down with your child.

your posts are chalk full of insults, ignoring what a poster says. hopefully this is not the kind of conversation you have with your three year old, or the lesson you teach thru examples.

[Gormy Cuss]

43. Why yes, most are very happy to receive SNAP benefits.

Beats having no food in the house.

[TBF]

45. Of course -

My question was to the poster who was questioning whether folks should have food stamps. And my intent was to point out that folks would likely rather be working (especially if there were decent jobs available - now it's even hard to get hired as Walmart greeter or Hamburger flipper). I don't think people would prefer to use them if they had other, better options.

[Gormy Cuss]

47. I understand, but it's really a shame that people view needing assistance as a moral failing.

IMHO that attitudes fuels the idea that we as a country don't have a responsibility to care for those who are less fortunate. It's not shameful to need help but it is shameful to make those who do feel like they're failures for needing a little assistance.

It's also shameful for the powerful in this country to create or perpetuate conditions that make it so difficult for others to be self-sufficient.

[TBF]

55. I don't see it as a moral failing - I'm sorry if it could be read that way.

With 1% of the country controlling 40% of the wealth and the gap between rich & poor wider than ever, it's no surprise that people are in need of assistance. I completely agree with everything you said.

[surrealAmerican]

48. This may be a minor point, but ,..

... most of the people on food stamps (excluding children, that is) ARE working. They just don't make enough money in those wallmart and burger-flipping jobs to afford the "luxuries" of life, like food.

[TBF]

56. That's not minor - it's a very important point. nt

[surrealAmerican]

59. Yes, but it's not exactly relevant to this discussion ...

... and I didn't want to imply that I disagreed with your main premise.

[Lucinda]

23. I agree with you. Take personal responsibility for managing your finances

and use them if you need them. I have also seen people abuse the system. And I've seen some people who have done everything possible and cut every corner.

I think some people argue just for something to do.

[seabeyond]

32. why cant we even discuss it without being called bigot, rwer, conservative, hater....

change my whole post to argue something i havent said.

thank you anyway, for not making me into a monster. though i knew the risk was high

[Lucinda]

37. I'm learning to just ignore people who seem to want to just pick fights

and not really have a discussion. It's just not worth getting upset about it IMO. Life is too short. It's definitely a challenge sometimes... :)

[ipaint]

9. I am one of them.

white, 54, life long worker-long term unemployed and food stamps is now how I feed myself.

Every second or third person in line at my working class grocery store pays with a snap card.

[zalinda]

34. I'm on food stamps too

First time except for a few months when I was going through a divorce. Only this time, not only am I feeding myself, but my son who can't get a job, and 3 other people who moved in because they had no where else to go. It's a good thing I know how to stretch a buck, because $200 a month doesn't go far with 5 people eating.

zalinda

[ipaint]

46. No it doesn't.

And as long as we have so called liberals with mixed feelings towards those receiving them it will remain extremely difficult both to get enough to eat and deal with the conservative abuse from the morally superior.

I am constantly amazed that in the middle of a working class depression there are people who's insensitivity to others causes them to vomit moralistic garbage onto those who need help getting food to eat.

I admire you for taking in those who need a roof over their heads and giving them food despite not being able to afford it. I hope there is an end to this for all of us soon but I am preparing for the worst.

Good luck to you.

[Bragi]

26. Let them eat tax cuts

:sarcasm:

[leftstreet]

38. K&R

[Hannah Bell]

49. all talentless lazy losers. if you work hard you have nothing to fear. lol.

[Ramulux]

51. I have a simple question

If a family loses their main source of income(a job) and loses any form of government assistance(unemployment, welfare), what is it that the republicans want the bread-winners in that family to do to feed their family?

It seems like a simple question, but I have never heard any sort of response to this question from a republican or conservative. If you have no job, no money, cannot find a job, cant pay your rent, and have no family members or friends to turn to for assistance, what are you supposed to do?

I would love to hear any republican attempt to answer this question, because I dont think they could come up with a solution that would fit in their limited world view.

[TBF]

57. I believe that you are supposed to turn to God. I've heard rich folk say

that folks should seek help from churches, and that it is better for the community to help than the government do "that kind of thing".

I disagree strongly with that view.

[mstinamotorcity]

52. one in seven

that sure is a lot of votes!!!!!

[AmandaMae]

54. those numbers say a lot about the state of our country.

[Dappleganger]

58. And there are many thousands more who've fallen through the cracks and still

don't qualify, although they desperately need the help. They're the ones who rely upon food banks for immediate needs (and those food banks are being drained, dry).

The "in-betweens."

[Liberal_in_LA]

60. amazing.