Posted on 09/05/2009 2:43:14 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
US families turn to food stamps as wages drop
By Sarah O’Connor in Washington
Published: September 4 2009 20:10 | Last updated: September 4 2009 20:47
The number of working Americans turning to free government food stamps has surged as their hours and wages erode, in a stark sign that the recession is inflicting pain on the employed as well as the newly jobless.
While the increase in take-up is often attributed to the sharp rise in unemployment – which on Friday hit 9.7 per cent – the Financial Times has learnt that some 40 per cent of the families now on food stamps have “earned income”, up from 25 per cent two years ago.
The agriculture department, which runs the programme, attributes this rise to workers having their hours cut back.
“I’m sort of stunned, it seems like a dire warning . . . that even the jobs people are retaining in this recession aren’t at the wage level and hours level that they need to provide for their families,” said Heidi Shierholz, economist at the Economic Policy Institute.
The pace of outright job losses in the US has started to recede, prompting hopes that the labour market could be stabilising. Official figures on Friday showed that non-farm payrolls dropped by a better than expected 216,000 in August, but still marked the 20th consecutive month that the US economy has shed jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Ping!
OBAMAVILLE
Gett’n a head fake,
watchin’ msn’s take;
All of their pundits oozing foul oil.
Clean’n my six gun on my front porch swing.
Felling my blood—
It’s beginnin’ to boil.
Wasted away again in Obamaville,
Searchin’ for a job so I can earn my salt.
Some people claim that Bush is to blame,
But I know it’s Obama’s fault.
There’s no rhyme or reason,
They are all commitin’ treason
With nothing to show but a brand new tax or two.
But they are real beauties,
Despotic duties,
how they got passed I haven’t a clue.
Wasted away again in Obamaville,
Searchin’ for a job so I can earn my salt.
Some people claim that it’s Bush we should blame,
Now I think,— hell with them it’s Obama’s fault.
I blew out my flip flop,
Stepped on a pop top;
Cut my heel, but I just cruise on back home.
Because no medical care will the doctors render
They say there’s little service I can tender
And there’s no need for me to hang on.
Wasted away again in Obamaville
Searchin’ for a job so I can earn my salt.
Some people claim that Bush is to blame,
But I know, it’s my own damn fault.
Yes, and some people claim that Bush is to blame,
And I know because of my vote it’s my own damn fault.
AKA: The US is running out of workers to lay off.
Less workers, lower wages... Wall Street must be drooling.
It’s going to be a very long winter...
BUMP for tonight.
You got that right. Sooner or later, is is going to be a VERY long winter for several years.
wonder how many of them voted for comrade obama?
What are the thresholds to qualify for food stamps?
The IRS is going to be sorely lacking by this next tax cycle. Can’t get blood from us unemployed turnips, though they will try!
Net tax collections for Mother Government are down, down, down already...and as 0bama says, “You ain’t see nothin’ yet!”
We are swirlin’ ‘round the bowl...
Just wait until those benefit checks stop coming to the generational welfare class that voted in this nimrod. Blood in the streets.
Time to end the food stamp program. Shut down Medicare/Aid. Get rid of Social Security and let people invest their own money. Get rid of it all.
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