Reuters
Altogether, there are now almost 46 million people in the United States on food stamps, roughly 15% of the population. That's an increase of 74% since 2007, just before the financial crisis and a deep recession led to mass job losses. At the same time, the cost doubled to reach $68 billion in 2010 - more than a third of the amount the US government received in corporate income tax last year - which means the program has started to attract the attention of some Republican lawmakers looking for ways to cut the nation's budget deficit. In some parts of the country, shoppers using food stamps have almost become the norm. In May 2011, a third of all people in Alabama were on food stamps - though part of that was because of emergency assistance after communities were destroyed by a series of destructive tornadoes. Washington DC, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon and Tennessee all had about a fifth of their population on food stamps that month.
"It's a good thing that the government helps, but if employers paid enough and gave enough hours, then we wouldn't need to be on food stamps," said Green, who has a six-year-old daughter. Of course, with an unemployment rate over 9%, some argue that those with any job at all are lucky. Millions of Americans whose unemployment benefits have expired have to exist only on food stamps and other government aid, such as Medicaid healthcare support. And even with unemployment benefits, said Jessica King, 25, from Portland, Oregon, her family juggles bills to ensure the electricity stays on. They are also selling some belongings on Craigslist to raise funds.
"It's a good thing that the government helps, but if employers paid enough and gave enough hours, then we wouldn't need to be on food stamps," said Green, who has a six-year-old daughter. Of course, with an unemployment rate over 9%, some argue that those with any job at all are lucky. Millions of Americans whose unemployment benefits have expired have to exist only on food stamps and other government aid, such as Medicaid healthcare support. And even with unemployment benefits, said Jessica King, 25, from Portland, Oregon, her family juggles bills to ensure the electricity stays on. They are also selling some belongings on Craigslist to raise funds.
I half to laugh at the 9% BS figure.
ReplyDeleteForget the banker media and look around. It is more like 30%.
During the last Depression, the nation was addicted to long bread lines. In this Depression, the nation is addicted to food stamps.
ReplyDeleteUmm... I don't know how many times people will not correct this.
ReplyDeleteThere are 46 million people signed up for food stamps, that means 46 million "families." Only one per house is qualified to be on them, which means each person in the household uses them.
The real percentage of people on food stamps is around 50%.
Unemployment likewise, they use all kinds of euphemisms to hide the reality. There has been no job growth, but an increase in lay offs. The unemployment, which is at least 25%, does not include those not working altogether, which is about every other American.
Government stats... so whenever you see people talk about the 1 out of 6 Americans on food stamps, know they are badly mistaken and mean 3 out of 6. This mistake is the exact same form as when people complain about the 9% unemployment, which is actually, as mentioned, 25% or more.
Get with it writers!
3:42
ReplyDeleteAnd the inflation rate is like around 8% not the 3.xx% the government cited. This means we have negative interest for bond and not the 0% interest rate that Bernanke is citing.
So the woman who works at Wal Mart is a pert timer, as are most of her co-workers as the story stated.
ReplyDeleteThis means that if Wal Mart intentionally maintains a majority Part Time work force, they DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY BENEFITS and that same part time work force will qualify for PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, paid for with our tax money!
Wal Mart has a low paid, part time work force that gets no benefits, except a SNAP card paid for by the tax payer.
Excellent strategy, Wal Mart!