About 1 in 7 in U.S. Receive Food Stamps

[NHSparky]

About 1 in 7 in U.S. Receive Food Stamps

May 3, 2011, 2:10 PM ET
By Sara Murray

LINK

(excerpt)

Growth in the food stamp program appeared to reach a plateau in February — with 14.3% of the population relying on the safety net program.

The number of food stamp recipients was essentially flat in February, the most recent month available, with 44.2 million Americans receiving benefits, according a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The food stamp program ballooned during the recession as workers lost their jobs or saw their hours and income reduced. The rise in recipients has begun to flatten in recent months, which may mean that as the economy is improving fewer Americans are seeking to join the program. Enrollment in the program is still high though, with 11.6% more people tapping benefits in February than the same month a year earlier.

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More of Obumble's "Hopey-Changey" Program.  NH is at 8.5 percent, but that number has jumped nearly 10 percent since a year ago.

[JohnnyReb]

You know, I was raised back in the 40's/50's in poor ass cotton country but even the poor seemed to be able to feed themselves. But after 47 years of democrats and a war on poverty 1 outta 7 can't?

[NHSparky]

You know, I was raised back in the 40's/50's in poor ass cotton country but even the poor seemed to be able to feed themselves. But after 47 years of democrats and a war on poverty 1 outta 7 can't?

Can't?  Or WON'T?  I live on the Maine border.  Hit the Market Basket the first Saturday of the month (coincidentally, this Saturday.)  It's gonna be a friggin hoot.

[Rebel]

You know, I was raised back in the 40's/50's in poor ass cotton country but even the poor seemed to be able to feed themselves. But after 47 years of democrats and a war on poverty 1 outta 7 can't?

My grandfather, born in 1918, grew up during the depression in the MS Delta. He always said the same thing. They didn't even know a depression was going on and didn't know they were poor until some idiots in the press told them they were poor. They always had food and they were dirt poor. Today, we're stock-full of a bunch of entitlement-minded leeches who think everyone else is supposed to provide for them. This is where Darwin should come into play.

[Gratiot]

That's a very sobering statistic 

[Eupher]

It seems like I've seen a steady increase in food stamp usage over the past 5-7 years or so. Strictly unscientific, but I've gone from not having a clue about food stamps to being able to recognize the documentation from my standpoint behind the person at the checkout who is using them.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Food stamps are like the rest of the "War on poverty" machinery, it will always perpetuate itself first and above all else.  No matter how well off people are materially by any objective measure, there will ALWAYS be a "Poorest tenth/fifth/whatever."  Thus, there is always a defined 'Poverty level,' and therefore the need for a bureaucratic machine and resources to 'Fight' it.  Once these programs are established, they inevitably grow because they exist to say 'Yes,' not 'No.'

[Freeper]

Look at the bright side, every dollar that is spent for food stamps, puts $1.80 into the economy. 

 

[JohnnyReb]

Look at the bright side, every dollar that is spent for food stamps, puts $1.80 into the economy. 

 

Yeah BUTT they took out $3 to get that dollar so we're still short a $1.20.

[ChuckJ]

The thing that amazes me is that the people who are too sorry to work seem to get on the dole without much problems. Those that actually need help between jobs seem to have a tough time getting help. I had two different friends attempt to get food stamps. Both were turned down. One got turned down  because she had a car in her name. I don't understand that one. The other had 5 children. He had a job lined up, but it wouldn't start for four or five weeks. He wanted food stamps during that time to feed his kids. They told him he was an able-bodied white male so he should just get a job.

[MrsSmith]

The thing that amazes me is that the people who are too sorry to work seem to get on the dole without much problems. Those that actually need help between jobs seem to have a tough time getting help. I had two different friends attempt to get food stamps. Both were turned down. One got turned down  because she had a car in her name. I don't understand that one. The other had 5 children. He had a job lined up, but it wouldn't start for four or five weeks. He wanted food stamps during that time to feed his kids. They told him he was an able-bodied white male so he should just get a job.

If they think you'll take "No" for an answer, they'll start there.  Those that persist get all they want...eventually.