1 in 8 now using food stamps

[old mark]

Source: NYT

1 in 8 US families - 1 in 4 US children - now using food stamps.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=igw

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Republicans called this program socialism, and lately said it was a failed government giveaway. Now Republican generated debt and corporate greed make it a necessity for millions of Americans, including 1/4 of our kids.
Sounds like what they are saying about health care reform.

mark

[saigon68]

1. Disgusting watching Repuke Jayzeus freaks compare the poor

to Lazy welfare grabbers.

Plenty of cash however, to civilize and democratize the (insert racial epithet here) Heads

[SkyDaddy7]

2. Is it not ironic that...

American Christians are the first to war, support torture, control women, openly hate complete groups of people, some of the greediest people on earth and hold an utter disdain for the poor/elderly/disabled...Now, I may have the wrong version of the Bible as there are countless versions these days or someone swapped mine out as joke...But my Bible says Jesus taught folks to turn the other cheek, treat others how you would want to be treated, should not judge others, one should not focus their life around money, rich man has less a chance at getting into heaven than a camel has of walking through the eye of a needle, and true followers should sell their possesions give the money to the poor and follow him.

The typical American Christian defines "anti-christ".

Just a thought.

[pattmarty]

5. I believe the "American Christians" you describe in the beginning.......

..............of your piece, were called Nazis a few decades ago. You know, they hated "queers" and "mental deficients" and even experimented on quite a few. In this country we now do the "experimentation" thing, except it's called voluntary prisoner drug tests. I hate to say this, but I really hate some of these self righteous right wing fucktards.

[elocs]

11. So then, you know exactly what defines the "typical" American Christian?

How did you reach that definition? Are you aware that likely thousands of the over 150,000 DUers are not only American Christians but also practicing Christians? They must be untypical American Christians. Or perhaps, just perhaps, maybe some American Christians are as you describe and some are not.

Republicans also use the broad brush when talking about Democrats and Liberals because it makes thinking more simple.

Just a thought.

[boppers]

25. Do they sell their posessions and give the money to the church?

It's kind of a part of Acts. The punishment for not doing so is death.

They're Christians in name only, and the vast majority wouldn't know a Bible verse from an Eminem verse.

See: Acts 2:42-45, Acts 5:1-10

[Quantess]

22. That's a bit too much of a broad brush. That can't be said of mild-to-moderate Christians.

It's more fair to reserve that criticism for the fundies.

[SpiralHawk]

7. "I don't need food stamps, only socialists do." - Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R)

"Listen, I manage to rake in $40 million a year or so by spouting corporate republicon lies and propaganda points and so I don't need no steenkin food stamps. I get by just fine on caviar and champagne. Why don't these socialist-leaning hungry people just shut up and do what I do. Sneer."

- Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R)

[SkyDaddy7]

3. I think if you have attended a TEA BAGGER rally...

You should not be allowed to have food stamps! Down here in the south you drive by any given trailer park and you will see TEA BAGGER signs. Not that all folks in trailer parks are TEA BAGGERS or on Gov asst. but it is a good place to start. A friend of mine had a women argue with her that medicaid for her children was not government aid!! Not to mention if she had her kids on medicaid then she was probably getting other help like WIC.

My point is if you are going to support stupid ideas about government has no role to play in helping those who need help then you should not be getting help from the government, period! WALK THE WALK!!

[pattmarty]

4. I have heard said a number of times and it must be a Fox talking............

....................point, "they choose to live that way". When I first heard a person say that, I wanted to punch him in the head. Take a "poll of poor people" and ask them if they "choose to live that way". Fucking ass holes!!!!

[avalonofmists]

6. I know people all around

me living on the edge, from paycheck to paycheck or in low paying jobs trying to pay the rent after losing a good job. and on food stamps. I do not know how long we can last in this state.

[Le Taz Hot]

8. We're getting them for the first time ever.

My BFF who is retired and lives with us was able to get $67.00 a month. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but, if I shop sales and use coupons, I can get a good $150.00 worth of food with that.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. When you need food assistance, every little bit helps.

Even without those sales and coupons having $67 more in the kitty helps.


eta: if 1 in 8 Americans are using food benefits, the number eligible to use it is probably closer to 1 in 7. There's always been a low participation rate from Food Stamps/SNAP benefits.

[EFerrari]

24. We plan our shopping like a battle. I guess it is.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. The Result of 29 Years (And Counting) Of Unrelenting Far-Right Economic Policy

No end to the economic destruction in site.

Really, really sad.

[Botany]

10. Bingo

The accumulation of wealth among the top 2 %, NAFTA and other things that sent millions of jobs out of the country,
a media that is willing to push lies 24/7, and the willingness of some to vote against their own best interests all have
helped pull our nation down.

[AlphaCentauri]

21. .

:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mother earth]

14. The republicans spend money that benefits themselves or

the corporations that have purchased them. They want no progress, no change and stand for nothing but corruption, greed and hypocrisy.

[old mark]

15. My wife and I were getting food stamps about 10 years ago due to

severe illness and inability to work. Some people working in the grocery stores really looked down on us when we paid with stamps, but they helped us survive the bad times.
I am sorry so many have to depend on them now, but imagine if the food stamp program had not passed Congress. If the GOP had had its way, church groups would control who got handouts of food and who would not, and there would be no recourse if you were rejected for any reason.

Socialism, my ass.

mark

[zalinda]

16. I just got approved for food stamps

Since the person who had my case was sick and couldn't handle my case, I am getting Oct, Nov and the Dec amounts just about all at once. Since I don't eat that much, and I'm very thrifty, I've decided that a family that I know will get meat for Christmas. The husband makes just enough so they don't qualify for food stamps anymore, so they visit food banks. The problem with food banks is that very little protein is given out, so I will be giving them meat. Just have to ask my son how they eat, and I'll make up a plan so they can have protein for a month or more, depending how they use it. (They do have a stand alone freezer.)

zalinda

[old mark]

19. We really learned how to shop well with the food stamps, and when money was

available again, eventually bought a second freezer, which is full of meat, poultry and fish.

mark

[brentspeak]

17. Slimeball Heritage Foundation stooge says that food stamps "discourage work and marriage"

and yet almost everyone mentioned in the article receiving food stamps are both working and married.

[PassingFair]

29. And I bet at least half of them are Republicans.

Of course, there are mitigating circumstances
for THEM.

The rest of us are just lazy family destroyers.

[lovuian]

18. this is very very sad

and America should be ashamed

[old mark]

20. Most Republicans don't seem to have the capacity for shame, and

don't give a damn how many Americans get hurt as long as they get publicity/votes. Republicans are the scum of the earth, and prove it by opposing all programs like this.

mark

[rainbow4321]

23. Oklahoma hands them out pretty damn easily

Able bodied relative and her able bodied husband get about $800/MONTH in food stamps. She's having a hard time trying to spend it all in a month.
She just took some paperwork to their office and they didn't even blink when handing it to her. In the household is one baby and 2 parents.
Makes me feel bad for those really down on their luck who are not able bodied.
Apparently, she is also going to get assistance in paying her utilities from the state, also.

[old mark]

27. I'm glad they are able to get help from someone - I'd hate to have to rely

on private charities and the "good will" of "christians" in the churches, which is what the Publicans wanted instead of a government system.

I have long heard the old welfare cadillac bullshit, and it's a lie.

mark

[defendandprotect]

26. THIS should be the story for us all to be paying attention to -- !!!

Unfortunately, some rw trolls seem to have some time on their hands to distract us

with nonsense -- !!

Thanks for this post -- I saw the article this morning --- sad, awful!!

[RedSock]

28. that's what happens when you spend $4 billion every week for war (eom)

[mstinamotorcity]

30. A food stamp,

a food stamp, i'd give give six dollars for ten dollar food stamp. Boy them were the good old dayz:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[spinbaby]

31. Our local wingnut says...

...this is because the Obama stimulous failed. Also, all those people on food stamps are "gaming" the system.

On another note, we have a local fairly upscale supermarket where I frequently see people using food stamps (actually a swipe card now) and WIC. The store is a bit more expensive than the alternatives, so I always wondered why they shopped there instead of, say, Walmart or Aldis. Then I talked to a friend of my son's who was on food stamps. She said that she shopped there because they treated her nicely--like a real shopper--instead of like dirt.