Opinion: The politics of hunger in the U.S.
By John Packham
It comes as no great surprise that Food Stamps and other means-tested public programs for the poor have emerged as campaign issues during the current election cycle. Expect more of the same as the Republican presidential primary race tightens and the candidates attempt to outduel each other on matters of reducing federal spending and eliminating dependency on “big government.”
Newt Gingrich’s recent labeling of President Obama as “the best food stamp president in American history” follows a time-honored Republican tradition of demonizing programs for the poor and vilifying their recipients — campaign tactics that hearken back to Ronald Reagan’s bromides on “welfare queens” and other stereotypes of aid recipients.
After unemployment insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP — formerly the Food Stamp Program) has historically been the most responsive federal program in assisting families during economic downturns. SNAP is a cornerstone of the nation’s public health safety net and, simply put, our most important anti-hunger program.
The full cost of SNAP benefits is paid by the federal government, with the costs of administrating the program shared between Washington and the states, which operate the program. In Nevada, the average monthly benefit per person is $123.
Unlike most means-tested benefit programs, SNAP is only available to households with low-income individuals and limited financial assets. Currently, SNAP eligibility is limited to households whose net income is less than or equal to the federal poverty line (about $18,500 a year or $1,545 per month for a family of three) and who possess assets of $2,000 or less (or $3,000 for households with an elderly or disabled family member).
John Packham is director of health policy research at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and president of the Nevada Public Health Association.
But let us not forget that these same “low-income” households are the ones who receive the most government subsidies not only in terms of food, but health-care, housing, legal assistance, and whatever else they “desire.” It is becoming a family tradition to pass on to children how to “milk the system.” Only now is Congress addressing the use of EBT cards for alcohol, cigarettes, and casino gambling.
These projects hurt the “working” middle class who pay for these people, and unless they divest themselves of all assets, they themselves cannot even attain what the looters receive for nothing.
“Hunger” has been eradicated in the United States, which is very different than consumption of nutritional sustenance. The latter is a decision of choice, not availability.
SNAP may be funded by the Federal Government, but guess what? It is responsible people’s hard earned money that pay the taxes to the Federal Government. I for one do not want it given away to those who are too irresponsible to even try to take care of themselves because they can get it all for “free” from the Nanny State.
Please stop this nonsense propaganda to encourage more entitlement and dependency by attempting to misdirect sympathies. Promote self reliance, motivation and integrity. Perhaps you could take a look in the mirror John Packham, and take a good look at yourself.
OH Boy George, Thanks ever SO, SO much for saying All the things that make Me feel better about being.. well you know , ..ME!
If there wsn’t food stamps being passed out right now ,we would be another Syria shooting the hell out something.
Not true, Hang Ups. As a Christian nation we are quite a bit more generous than most of the middle East. And if the government wasn’t stealing so much money out of our pockets, we could be even more so. America doesn’t let its own people starve.
I’m not a Christian, so I would not like the idea that I would have to go to a church to ask for mercy from them, as I imagine a Christian would not want to have to go to a mosque when in dire need. I would like my assistance; which I have paid into, to be non-denominational. Hopefully I will never need it!
There are secular charities out there as well.
As for having “paid into” your assistance? Good luck collecting on that insurance policy~the trough has been pretty much sucked dry by everybody who got there before you.
axe’s to grind instead of mercy
seems like some of you folks have never been broke and hungry
I would much rather give to the needy
than buy bombs to rape and pillage people around the world
if you do not belive in Jesus then your eternity will be something that you might not like
For some those above!!! Concentration Camps could solve your problems.