Record 44.7 Million People on Food Stamps

[Forkboy]

The one and only clearest indication of just how effective the recovery and QE2 (Quantitative Easing 2) in general has been, comes courtesy of the USDA, whose just released update of April participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, shows yet another record, this time 44.647 million people, an increase from May’s 44.587 million. And after rising modestly in the last month, the average monthly benefit per household dropped again to a post April 2009 revision low of $282.38/month.



http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/record-44-7-million-people-on-food-stamps/

[Zenlitened]

1. But there are no bread-lines!

Depression 2.0: Sleeker and more user-friendly, but still damned powerful.

[Forkboy]

4. Not yet, at least.

I suspect we're heading there rather quickly though. And many food pantries simply can't keep up with demand. Maybe people aren't in lines because there's nothing to wait in line for.

[Zenlitened]

10. Fortunately, we have the SNAP program, a much more humane way...

... to ensure that people get a little food in their bellies.

I mean this in all seriousness (despite my previous inartful attempt at snark): those SNAP cards are the reason we don't have people standing in bread-lines today, thank the liberal pantheon of gods.

Yes, the food pantries are being emptied out. Could you imagine if there was no one else to turn to?

The right-wingers shriek and moan about "Big Gummint." Well, that's fine by me.

If my government can help keep 44.7 million people (plus their dependents) from starving to death in an economic catastrophe, then good.

That's the sort of thing We the People formed a government for, in the first place.

:D :D :D

[Forkboy]

11. Your snark was actually pretty spot on.

;)

[Zenlitened]

13. :)

:)

[Odin2005]

18. There is a bread line 4 days a week 2 blocks from my place.

The line is at a Dorothy Day center.

[Zenlitened]

26. .

:hug:

[Odin2005]

29. Thanks!

:hug:

[Forkboy]

30. Not sure how you would feel about this...

..but it would be fascinating if you could interview some of them, get some background on what they did for work, their politics, they're thoughts on the future, etc. If you could tape that I'd even transcribe them. Just first names and their stories. Just an idea that popped into my head.

Don't want to pressure you into doing anything you don't want to, and I realize that this might be an uncomfortable thing (plus a decent amount of work), so I totally understand if you don't feel up to it, or simply can't because of other things going on.

:pals:

[Odin2005]

32. One of their food pantry regulars is a coworker of mine, actually.

[jtuck004]

2. As of May 2011, 45,753,078 people receiving food stamps.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/34SNAPmonthly.htm

about 40 straight months of increase, as IIRC.

The debt deal will increase it. The failure to put the FAA employees back to work will increase it.

And not having a jobs program increases it.

Too bad they can't eat Kabuki Theatre.

[dflprincess]

3. I hope this doesn't get too much publicity

Because I fear the only way Congress and the Administration will manage to lower the number on Food Stamps will be to cut the program.

[lonestarnot]

5. Or disappear people. A little silent shock and awe.

[KoKo]

28. There's always another Anthrax attack, Swine Flu, Pharma Drug, Flood, Storm, Hurricane

Heat Wave, Tainted Meat or "other" that could come down to eliminate some of those folks. And, if they live in a "Double Wide" (due to storms, floods) the fumes from the pressed board and glues might do the trick. :eyes:

[FourScore]

6. Stunning. I'm speechless. n/t

[spanone]

7. i'd like to personally thank the republicans for those tax breaks, life has never been better

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[xchrom]

8. This is the 'Obama Recovery' .

Great Hallmark for a Democratic Admin.

[FLAprogressive]

9. CUT! CUT! CUT!

:sarcasm:

[OhioChick]

12. While the rich celebrate on their yachts n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. the only reason we do not have this...

is the food stamp program, a product of that period. That is a pretty high percentage of the population...

[indepat]

15. Just wait until another 1.8 million workers lose their jobs as the mechanisms to eviscerate

social security are being fully implemented. :patriot:

[Fire1]

16. I expected as much. n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

17. and various morons...

want to make all 44.7 million of them take a drug test. That'd probably be expensive.

[Odin2005]

19. I'm one of them. So is my mom.

[Forkboy]

23. Same here.

I spend all mine on soda just to piss people off. ;)

[Electric Monk]

33. LOL

nt

[Rex]

20. A sure sign our economy is right on track for recovery!

:sarcasm:

[Prism]

21. Nearly 1 in 6 Americans.

What is wrong with us?

[Karmadillo]

22. Fucking disgraceful. Let's all go on vacation and deal with this later.

nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. No doubt the New Super Catfood Committee will reduce the number...by raising the qualifications.

[Juche]

25. It has been virtually straight up since the recession

The recession officially ended in 2009, since we re-entered positive GDP growth. But all that growth goes to corporate profits (88% or so). So food stamp use just went up no matter if we were in the recession or out of it, since things aren't getting better for the majority of us.

I'm glad things aren't getting worse at the moment (we aren't losing 700k jobs a month anymore) but ever since then we have just been stagnating. Those at the top got all their money back and then some already, but I'm just holding on hoping things won't get worse again.

6 million people in the US have no income whatsoever other than food stamps.

How long does this go on? Even some rich people are getting worried, you can't keep people distracted by partisan bickering or false hope in a government truly willing to take on the plutocracy (only in words, never deeds) for ever. Inequality like this will lead to large scale social unrest.

[KoKo]

27. Well...there you go....it's "Feed your Family" or "Protest in the Streets."

I think most would choose....Feed My Family!

But, that's part of the problem of why "Folks aren't OUT IN THE STREETS" that many DU'ers talk about us having to do to get heard.

Through Bread and Create Circuses (Sports) and most will be pacified... And, Democracy here goes down the tubes and the Banksters and Wall Street tell the Administration...MORE CUTS...MORE CUTS...WELFARE STATE if you Don't GET DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL and SUPPORT A STRONG MILITARY!

[BNJMN]

31. That's a lot of drug tests. Someone is hiring.