when I hear that a parent has to make the decision on whether to feed themselves so they have the strength to work or to feed there kids and not have the strength to work and not be able to feed there kids at all then I will believe someone is living in poverty. I am the poor in this country but I have never lived in what I call true poverty and I doubt most people in this country that are poor have lived in poverty.
During the depression in this country, there were indeed people who made that choice, eat myself to keep up my strength to work, or let my growing kids eat.
As chode said in his post, I’ll bet there are some elderly who have to make the choice between food and meds.