Food Stamps Will Feed Half of U.S Children at some point in their childhoond

[Stuart G]

Source: Huffington Post

CHICAGO — Nearly half of all U.S. children and 90 percent of black youngsters will be on food stamps at some point during childhood, and fallout from the current recession could push those numbers even higher, researchers say.

The estimate comes from an analysis of 30 years of national data, and it bolsters other recent evidence on the pervasiveness of youngsters at economic risk. It suggests that almost everyone knows a family who has received food stamps, or will in the future, said lead author Mark Rank, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis.


Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/food-stamps-will-feed-hal_n_342834.html

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[reggie the dog]

1. good God that is horrific!

[bobburgster]

2. Yup, land of opportunity!

Pretty sad.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Just saw that

An amazing figure

[HippieCowgirl]

4. Food stamps and food aid kept me from going hungry

My mother and I qualified for welfare for most of my life. Welfare money, food stamps, and church food banks stocked with "US Government not for resale" commodities kept me from being homeless and hungry.

Yes, please spend my tax dollars on welfare. PLEASE make sure the safety net that was there for me is still there for the next kid who desperately needs it.

I turned out OK. They will too.

[4_TN_TITANS]

21. "US Government not for resale" commodities ... mmmmm!

Government cheese and peanut butter were the best! I haven't seen actual commodities in years, are they still available? I'm with you - I'll gladly allow taxes to be spent to make sure kids get wholesome American made food.

[phantom power]

5. Wow. I feel the pride.

Good thing I've been told I live in the free-est, most vibrant economy the world has ever seen, or that news might upset me.

:eyes:

[tblue]

6. Unconscionable!!!

[slackmaster]

7. I guess the good news is that people in need CAN get food stamps

:argh:

The War on Poverty is farther from being won than when it was declared.

[EFerrari]

17. Can childless adults get food stamps? I could never figure that out.

Henry Louis Gates points out that about 38 million black kids were living in poverty when King marched and today abou 35 million live in poverty. We're going in the wrong direction.

[slackmaster]

18. Yes, but you have to be dead fucking broke and not own anything of value

For most single, childless adults the process isn't worth the time and effort. Your time would be better spend picking up bottles and cans to recycle. Or hanging out in the Home Depot parking lot hoping someone will hire you for day labor. Or maybe looking for an actual job of some kind.

[bitchkitty]

19. Yes.

I've been on food stamps since I became disabled a few years ago. It's based on income.

[defendandprotect]

8. What a disgrace . . . !!!! The wealthiest nation in the world -- !!! Disgusting!!

[ck4829]

9. Republicans: Why can't these kids just pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get a job?

[KamaAina]

11. Don't give them any ideas!

I read on an earlier thread about the meat packing industry where child labor is making a comeback. :scared:

[Jkid]

15. They can't

They're not old enough to get a job. Besides, what if there is no job market?

[stray cat]

10. Actually one could argue its fantastic - just think if there was no unemployment or food stamps

or WIC. We may not have a great safety net compared to some countries buts its a hell of alot better than some.

[change_notfinetuning]

12. Smothered in ketchup (a vegetable you know), food stamps aren't that bad.

But, seriously, with the wealth in this country, we should be ashamed of ourselves - if not for our own greed, then for the completely unabated greed that we allow.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

13. Wow, that is a stat that I am not proud of at all.

[Psephos]

14. I take a contrary view: it's admirable that we have a public system that helps millions eat decently

This is a good example of how taxpayer money *should* be spent.

[RedSock]

16. lazy f*#kers

Go pick some blueberries!

[LynnTheDem]

20. Just close your eyes and chant; "We're #1! We're #1!"

Then you don't have to face the facts and fix the problems.