USA becomes Food Stamp Nation but is it sustainable?

[defendandprotect]

USA becomes Food Stamp Nation but is it sustainable?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Genna Saucedo supervises cashiers at a Wal-Mart in Pico Rivera, California, but her wages aren't enough to feed herself and her 12-year-old son.

Saucedo, who earns $9.70 an hour for about 26 hours a week and lives with her mother, is one of the many Americans who survive because of government handouts in what has rapidly become a food stamp nation.

Altogether, there are now almost 46 million people in the United States on food stamps, roughly 15 percent of the population. That's an increase of 74 percent 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 U.S. 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.


http://news.yahoo.com/usa-becomes-food-stamp-nation-sustainable-160645036.html

[leftstreet]

1. Author lost me at 'government handouts' n/t

[Quantess]

5. Yes, the term is often used in an insulting way,

but it's technically true, isn't it?

Other than that, it's a worthwhile article.

[defendandprotect]

7. Agree -- and recently I learned that such assistance can be very, very little!!

Remember asking someone what they were getting --

Can't recall exactly but something like $12 a month? Or less?

[Kennah]

9. We get WIC because of our 2 year old

It ain't much at all.

$6 worth of fruits and vegetables, a gallon of juice, a loaf of bread, a pound of beans, a pound of cheese, two boxes of cereal, for the month.

[defendandprotect]

11. Thanks for the info -- I think people get the idea that it is lots more ---

at least something that would fully sustain a family -- and that is certainly a

false concept!!

[dflprincess]

2. Genna Saucedo is a woman who works hard but her employer won't pay her a living wage

I really object to the article referring to the food stamps she gets being referred to as a "government handout" (most food stamp recipients pay something for them, they are not free).

If anyone is getting the handout it's Walmart and any other employer who is using what few safety net programs we have as a way to supplement the lousy wages they pay. And then the very same corporations complain about the taxes they (theoretically) pay.

[lonestarnot]

3. And to think pugs are block all aspects of revenue and job creation.

[LaydeeBug]

6. I take offense at the use of the word "pugs" on behalf of all adorable little doggies. nt

[FreakinDJ]

4. "Foodstamp Nation" - Nice to see Walmart got their wish

[angryxyouth]

8. Food stamps program is safe

JP Morgan makes too much money from the program to let it go down.

[xchrom]

10. Recommend