Food Stamps

[disneysteve]

Just over 4 percent received the minimum
benefit available to households with one or two
members in 2009. The minimum benefit was $14

Is there really a point in giving someone $14/month? That's less than 50 cents per day. I understand that every dollar counts but seriously, if 45 cents/day represents the difference between starvation and not, I'd think the person would qualify for more benefits than that.

[snafu]

Joan o A: thanks for the details, it re-confirms my view that TV news reports are meant to alarm listeners with facts that are somehow fudged. In my mind I extrapolated a family of 2 would get $334. and that those sums would apply to all recipients. I have no idea what the criteria is...they made it sound like if you apply for benefits, you get benefits!

[maat55]

[QUOTE]

I'm not so sure about that. Before foodstamps, yes, people did starve in the US. Whether those you name were able to feed them or not, I don't know. But one way or another there were many who did not get fed, or fed healthily.

I and my sister grew up very poor being raised by a single mom. It was not uncommon for us to go hungry, but I never considered myself to be starving.

The mentality of this country towards food is out of balance. People expect large portions and multiple meals per day. We are becoming a fat nation.

IMO, most people on government assistance have not used every option they have to self-sustain. Many have car payments, loads of junk that can be sold, they can plan smaller meals, get rid of cell phones etc. etc.

There is no starving epidemic in this country that warrants federal intervention, we have an epidemic of irrational emotions.

[Seeker]

Household Food Security in the United States, 2003

As far as food and the whole of the reality today with those who truly need help, getting it in this SNAP program (as it is named today), my question is how much worse will it be if we do take it back to the 1960's level without the government supporting the provision of food to people in need?

The Food Stamps program was started in the late 1960's. It evolves as the economy does, and makes an attempt to help those that request it.

The rules for income are very strict -- I know they can be gotten around -- but most of the truly needy are being helped by this specific program.

The SNAP program does not withdraw all of it's funding at once when things get better for each family... it lessens it's contribution of monies as the needy's income improves or hours of work grow better and more income comes in. So that too is sort of an incentive to do better income wise.

I think Maat and I do agree, that we do want the same outcome, but we disagree about who and where the "help" or assistance should come from or even could come from.

State versus Gov't. In reality the goal is the same, but the path is not clear.

Before the late 60's when this program became available, the States pretty much ignored the needy folks.

Without the government's assistance in this program and some of the others, I can see the division between rich and poor growing greater. That's what it usually boils down to -- widening divisions.