Posted on 11/28/2009 5:27:37 PM PST by reaganaut1
With food stamp use at record highs and climbing every month, a program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.
It has grown so rapidly in places so diverse that it is becoming nearly as ordinary as the groceries it buys. More than 36 million people use inconspicuous plastic cards for staples [...].
Virtually all have incomes near or below the federal poverty line, but their eclectic ranks testify to the range of people struggling with basic needs. [...]
While the numbers have soared during the recession, the path was cleared in better times when the Bush administration led a campaign to erase the program’s stigma, calling food stamps “nutritional aid” instead of welfare, and made it easier to apply. That bipartisan effort capped an extraordinary reversal from the 1990s, when some conservatives tried to abolish the program, Congress enacted large cuts and bureaucratic hurdles chased many needy people away.
...
[T]he program is now expanding at a pace of about 20,000 people a day.
There are 239 counties in the United States where at least a quarter of the population receives food stamps
...
In more than 750 counties, the program helps feed one in three blacks. In more than 800 counties, it helps feed one in three children.
...
Although the program is growing at a record rate, the federal official who oversees it would like it to grow even faster.
“I think the response of the program has been tremendous,” said Kevin Concannon, an under secretary of agriculture, “but we’re mindful that there are another 15, 16 million who could benefit.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Your comment is not hyperbole.
I hadn’t heard that!
I remember lectures on water empires, how the empire of such systems was far more stable because he could turn off the water at a word and cities starved in weeks. Now we have a food dole democracy, and at a word, people would riot for lack of fatty fried stuff within two days.
Claim additional dependents for the year, and put the saved tax money in your own bank account. At the end of the year, pay your taxes with a check. That way, YOU get to collect the interests on that money. The government collects a lot of interest each year by holding on to peoples weekly deductions. They count on that extra tax freebie.
Also, for Christmas, by food. Everyone eats! Food is non taxable. A collection of nuts and cheap nut crackers go over well. Sweet cakes, cookies, jellies, cheeses, etc. That way, there's no sales tax. The dollar stores have baskets that can be Saran wrapped and tied with inexpensive ribbon to dress things up a bit.
Pay attention to what is taxed and what is not taxed. Limit those things that are taxed like a plague. You'll be surprised how much money you save, and how much money the politicians DON'T get.
The 2008 Farm Act removed the asset test completely, nationwide. A state couldn’t use federal money if they didn’t comply.
thank you so much
Seriously, you want the government to decide when a woman can give birth to a baby and when she can't? Did you just fly in from Stalingrad?
“Indeed. The phones are FREE courtesy of your tax dollars.”
Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!
You know, at first glance you look at this from the perspective of saying it's not right, or good for the country, for folks to be able to vote themselves public money.
But there's another point: can you imagine how this rule would affect the behavior of politicians? 99% of the political motivation for entitlement programs is to BUY VOTES. If the programs themselves disqualified those voters--- IOW, no votes could be bought with the programs --- you'd see a lot less (ahem) "compassion" oozing out of congresscritters.
Even if the rule just applied to presidential elections, it would certainly be a step in the right direction!
And think what the Rats would save in "walking around money"? Not only do they have to buy their voters from the git-go. Then they have to pay them cash on the spot to get them on the bus to go down to the polls on Election Day.
This is why, long ago, I got out of my youthful exuberance for getting out the vote.
If people don't care enough to vote, I'm fine with that.
Several years ago I was very involved in a particular program to give donated toys to poor kids at Christmas.
When the gifts were handed out, I’d never heard so much griping in my life.
The basketball was “stupid” and “I wanted a different doll” and “look at this ugly sweater!”
No doubt some of this is just being a kid. But, really, there was no gratitude or even politeness at all.
1996 ‘Welfare Reform’ signed by Bill Clinton
Establishing a Five Year Lifetime Limit on Assistance: To address long-term welfare dependency, TANF placed a five year lifetime limit on assistance, but allowed states to exempt up to 20 percent of such cases for hardship reasons. States are allowed to reduce this lifetime limit below 5 years, and almost half of the states have done so.
Eligibility for TANF assistance is limited to pregnant women and families with children. Within these constraints, however, TANF allows states broad discretion in how they spend their federal block grant money.
I believe you are talking about the Obamaphone -— it’s available nationwide. And, yep. It’s “free.”
Oh, and don’t forget vouchers to use public transportation and even taxis in some cities. And utility vouchers.
House Passes Welfare Reform Reauthorization (5/16/02)
House Passes Welfare Reform Reauthorization
The House-passed bill would require states to ensure that 70 percent of welfare recipients have jobs by 2007. An estimate 58 percent of welfare recipients do not have jobs now. It would also require welfare recipients to work 40 hours per week, with at least 24 hours spent at a work site and up to 16 hours spent in training.
The bill would continue current federal spending levels on the welfare program at $16.5 billion per year and increase child care funding by $2 billion over five years. It would provide states new flexibility in implementing housing and food stamp programs. It also authorizes $300 million per year for marriage-promotion programs.
- 5/16/02
Wow!
I wish you’d been able to vid that.
If benefit levels were not tied to the number of children, and so long as abortion is not paid for the federal government, I’m quite sure you’d see fewer pregnancies.
Oh yes they do!
Their 'church' buses them to vote.
Claim additional dependents for the year, and put the saved tax money in your own bank account. At the end of the year, pay your taxes with a check. That way, YOU get to collect the interests on that money. The government collects a lot of interest each year by holding on to peoples weekly deductions. They count on that extra tax freebie.
Also, for Christmas, by food. Everyone eats! Food is non taxable. A collection of nuts and cheap nut crackers go over well. Sweet cakes, cookies, jellies, cheeses, etc. That way, there's no sales tax. The dollar stores have baskets that can be Saran wrapped and tied with inexpensive ribbon to dress things up a bit.
Pay attention to what is taxed and what is not taxed. Limit those things that are taxed like a plague. You'll be surprised how much money you save, and how much money the politicians DON'T get.
Your post bears repeating! It is SOOO important that each of us do whatever we can to starve the beast. We can make a difference.
And, again, after you tally up your tax bill for this year, see about making a charitable donation to reduce what you give the government as much as possible.
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