There was a recent article in The New York Times titled, As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record. Once again, the media is attempting to grab our attention with headlines that are only half-true.
Estimates are that 28 million Americans will use food stamps in 2008 - that is the highest number ever. However, that number is a poor measure; it doesn’t provide context.
What this article doesn't tell you is the percentage of the population that is on food stamps. Guess what? It's 9.2%. Something else? 1993, 1994 and 1995 were the years the with the highest percentage of the population on food stamps - 10.4% in 1993 and 1994, and 10% in 1995 (which for those of you paying attention was during the Clinton administration). Although the headline is accurate, it is misleading.
So why the sudden increase in the use of food stamps? I'd be a fool if I attempted to minimize our current economic issues. Yes, people are paying more for fuel and groceries, and I have no doubt there are those that need a little help.
Here's my question though - if the need is so great - if there are millions of Americans going without food, why did the USDA have to launch a $3 million advertising campaign this winter? Not only were there old-fashioned jingles blaring across radio stations, but several states launched TV commercials attempting to coax people to apply. Surprisingly (not), applications for food stamps went up after the advertising blitz. Were these really people who were in dire straights, or were they people who discovered there was such a thing as a free lunch and the Government was handing it out?
It used to be that being on food stamps was somewhat of an embarrassment. You actually had to pay with coupons that resembled something similar to a scarlet letter on your forehead. Was that such a bad thing? Is it possible that the "shame" of taking a handout motivated people to do more for themselves?
We've made it easy to depend on the Government for help. We spend millions of dollars advertising social programs on television and radio and we give food stamp recipients an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card so that no one will be able to tell that they are on food stamps. What happened to shame? What happened to encouraging people to do for themselves rather than encouraging them to be dependent on the Government?
29 comments:
Since food stamps came out, there have been abuses. They have helped some people a great deal, but also have been sold in exchange for money spent on beer, cigarettes, and even drugs. I always thought someone in need might be better served by a food bank- getting staples like flour, sugar, oats, butter, etc., instead of a free pass to order steaks, chops, frozen prepared foods, etc. I read somewhere they won't do this, because most chronic users of food stamps don't know how to cook from scratch.... Maybe we could spend tax dollars to teach them, instead of throwing them free food. "Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for life"...
I don't think that shaming people into being more self sufficent is the answer. People either will or will not seek to work to better themselves, that is just a fact of life. We found out after Hurricane Katrina that the government is not capable of dealing with the abuses to the system designed to help those in actual need. What is the answer? I am not sure.
Buff, my experience has been that most social programs start with good intentions, and fall prey to the population that will always find a way around the rules.
I wrote this post after learning that a long-time cyber-friend of mine (we've been on the same email list for 10 years now) has been receiving food stamps. She is a single mom with 3 children - all different fathers. A choice she has eluded to making so that she would get more child support (22% of net income from each father rather than the 28% of net income she would get if all three were from the same father). She is in her mid 30's, not currently working or going to school, lives with her parents and she talks about the ribeye steak BBQ she had last weekend.
Something is very wrong with that picture ...
Doc, I think shame is a great motivator! Call me cold, but I know that when I found myself in need of a food pantry in my early 20's, it took me only two visits to put myself in a better financial position.
Dana I've used the Illinois Link Program and WIC when the girls were smaller before we had Thing #4and I can tell you the shame aspect doesn't and won't work.
The people who SHOULD feel shame for taking advatage of the handouts don't feel it, won't feel it, can't feel it. And the people who actually NEED the help already feel enough shame for having to use the programs in the first place.
The food card is a good idea and much more convenient than the paper food stamps, but still carries a certain level of shame in itself just knowing where it comes from. My opinion of course.
In my experiences the program has good intentions but the majority of the people don't want HELP they only want the AIDE, and it's easier to just give up the aide and sweep the people under the rug.
WIC's idea of HELP was giving out handouts and pamphlets telling you what you COULD do to better yourself. The LINK program has you watch videos of how to utilize your aide and buy healthy worthwhile food, but how easy is it to nod and give a smile and then walk out the door and do whatever you want?
For these "professional" people that are on the dole and play the system, shame doesn't enter there minds. it is a game, there "job" is to beat the system. They win , we workers lose.
Leighann, being someone who has been on the other side of this, I appreciate your perspective. As I've said many times before, I don't take issue with temporary assistance - many of us will find ourselves in a position where we need that at some point - I do take issue with never-ending Government hand outs that are clearly doing nothing but maintaining the problem.
Richard, unfortunately, I *know* you are right. I've often wondered what things would look like in this country if we went back to a system where people helped people rather than the government helping people.
I like Buff's idea of a foodbank. We keep hearing about the unhealthy food choices people are making and the strain on the health care system... why not designate the help to go towards staples?
Anndi, I do too! I know that when I went to the food bank, I was given some foods that I wasn't sure what to do with, but I was also given recipes that used every bit of food they gave me. All that it required was a bit of time on my part to actually prepare the food.
It's the whole "temporary" thing that is enabling people to stay on it for as long as they want.
When I've filled out paperwork they always ask "Do you expect any changes in the next 6 months?" Well yeah of course you HOPE you'll be in a better sitation 6 months down the road, but if you're not - because you tried and failed or because you didn't try at all - you just keep getting the help.
If I remember correctly in the state of Illinois you can only qualify for cash assistance for a total of 5 years lifetime, so if you use up all 5 years of cash assistance you can never qualify for it again within the state. WIC lasts until the child turns 5.... I think. However there's no limit on how long you can be on food stamps.
We never used cash assistance, I may be wrong on that though, so don't quote me.
I agree with you whole heartedly. I think that there should be a bit of a stigma to being on public assistance. The funny thing is in some areas it is like a badge of honor - When a girl gets pregnant for the first time and she claim public benefits, her family is happy for her.
I don't know what the answer is, but making it easier to obtain benefits is not the answer. In my opinion.
Karen I don't think it could be any easier to obtain benefits than it already is. You fill out some paper work, provide the required information and voila.... you're good to go.
Leighann, your point is EXACTLY why I believe there needs to be motivation for leaving the program - like placing, and enforcing, benefit time limits. We do it with unemployment, why not with food stamps?
Karen, I know my *shame* stance isn't a popular one, but I do believe making the process easier has done nothing but increase the abuse of the system.
Leighann, I did a little research on benefits in Illinois before writing this post. I was amazed at just how easy it is to apply, and just how quickly (7 days) benefits begin. As a Veteran, I'd likely wait MONTHS to be seen at a VA Hospital, but let me apply for food stamps and I can get them in a week. Go figure.
I don't about where y'all live but where I live folks won't starve to death. They will get employment before they do that.
You mean you expect me to believe the media distorted something?
Nah ah!
Ya don't say.
Who done it?
PMSnbc?
maybe if some of the food stampers would stop breeding out of wedlock, breeding when they are 12 and picking sorry assed people to sleep with, maybe just maybe the problem, as minute as it is, would be even less.
SS, I do realize there are people out there who need help, and I don't mind my tax dollars going towards that help, I just hate to see it become a lifestyle - which it does for many.
Since you threw in the "When Clinton was President" part I thought I would remind you of "The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act of 1996. Signed into law by Clinton and passed by a Republican controlled Congress, but got lots of bi-partisan support.
That law resulted in a HUGE decline in people on Food Stamps and set time limits on how long "able-bodied" people could receive public assistance.
And then there was the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 passed by a Republican Congress and signed by the guilty white liberal George W. Bush which re-authorized the Food Stamp Program. The numbers of people on the program have risen dramatically since the passage of that bill.
When it was passed there were 17 million people on food stamps in 2002, now that number is near 28 million. All under a Bush.
Anyway, on to other things you mentioned. There is nothing and I do mean NOTHING that pisses me off more than to see "single" mothers who are on the fullest amount of public assistance the law allows while at the same time living with some redneck, not the father of their kids, who makes $20 an hour or more and works tons of overtime. Since they're not married his income doesn't "count" when she applies for these programs.
They always seem to have a nice place and he has a brand new truck and she has a brand new SUV. I see it all the time around here. What pisses me off so much about it is that while watching this I also work with single mothers who are working for like $8 an hour that are told "Oh you make too much to receive assistance." Or single mothers who are like 18 years old who are told "Oh if you live at home you don't qualify for any help."
So, what do they do? They move out. But the assistance doesn't cover rent and stuff like that. So they get a job. But, the job doesn't pay enough for the basics and lose assistance. And on and on.
If we allowed assistance to these single mothers while they lived at home or worked part time, but tied it to them attending college or classes then we are giving them a legit chance at a better job and a better life.
So why do go the other way? Because the system is designed to punish people who do the right things and reward people doing the wrong things.
And why is it set up that way? Well, basically it's set up that way because the primary aim of BOTH parties is control over people's lives. They WANT people dependent on the gov't so they can control them. And it drives me crazy when anyone says that one party is worse than the other in this area because the facts just never show that to be true. They're both after the same thing. A citizenry that is dependent on the gov't which makes them dependent on the political parties.
And then they go out and beat up on the people who are actually honest and in actual need of help. Because in addition to all that, in our public dialog we seem to be harshest on the people who are honest and aren't taking advantage of the programs, because like someone above said the people who are gaming the system don't have any real shame anyway so it doesn't work on them.
Okay, that was a long comment. Have a great day babe. ;-)
Wow. I'm on the fence on this. I come from a family of 5 kids. We were raised alone, by my mother, who suffered extreme Bi-Polar, but at that time, they just though she was having "nervous breakdowns". She would be hospitlized, put on valium, and there were days she was home in bed and we wouldn't see her for 3 days at a time. We were on welfare. I remember those "coupons". Yea, BIG scarlet letter. We got hand-me-downs from neighbords. The first time I ever had new clothes is when I bought them myself when I was working at McDonalds in highschool. We certainly needed them.
I swore that would NEVER be me. I have a friend that wants welfare. She got divorced, has three kids. She is mad cause they told her she makes too much money. She gets child support totallying $1,500, and makes about a $1,000 a month working. Guess what. My mom raised five kids, one with Down's Syndrome, on welfare alone. My friend has a nice care she can't afford, rents a house that costs to much for her, is always buying things. She doesn't need welfare!
These people that abuse welfare so totally piss me off. I have been there, and while our family had to be on welfare, my friend can get off her lazy ass and get a better job (but she LIKES Belk! Whatever), or get a second job. I worked two jobs when my boys were little so I wouldn't HAVE to have welfare.
Where is pride, and self respect, ya know?
Geez. Didn't mean to write a book! Sorry.
Oh, by the way, my mom made everything from scratch, including milk! LOL She bought that powdered milk and then mixed it with extra water. We rarely had meat except for hamburger and I never had a steak in my life until I was out of the house. We mostly had some type of pasta, mac & cheese, goulash, stuff like that. On rare occasions, we had chicken or pot roast. Neighbors or the church would drop off food boxes on the holidays. My mother had a friend whose husband cleaned out peoples attics and would haul their stuff away. He always brought stuff to our house, and we got free furniture, TV's, toys, stuff like that.
I went to a low income housing once to deliver food baskets with my company, and ALL those people had nice cars and big screen TV's. THAT really pisses me off.
Let them eat cake!!--Dana Antoinette. ; )
While I certainly agree that abuses occur. Is shame really a remedy?
It's people who actually experience shame that are the one's who would be "emabarassed" and not get the help that they need, not the ones who will take advantage of a government hand-out. Cheers!!
Jay, I *heart* it when you reply to my "political" posts! You are so good with the other side and you offer a great deal of balance to what I post ... even if you are wrong *giggle*
Of course, your points are factual and valid, although we do interpret them a bit differently.
Bina, pride and self seem to get left outside of the welfare office!
Matt-Man, you and Jay ... damn if you don't make me think beyond my little world. Can we pick and choose which ones we motivate with shame? That seems to be the little bit of this that I have somewhat of an issue with. I don't want folks who really need the help to be shamed, but for the abusers? Yeah! I say paint their foreheads with a scarlet "W"!
When I got out of high school and was on my own I applied for medical, in California. When I applied they asked if I wanted food stamps and welfare. I said no just medical, wanted to have medical insurance. They said well the food stamps kinda come with it so take those. Are you sure you don't want welfare too. No I don't need it. I'll never forget that.
I used to work at a deli and mother fuckers used to come in at the beginning of every month to spend those things on (cold) sub sandwiches. It was beyond annoying.
Too me, there useless since you can't buy alcohol or tobacco with them. ;)
Well I have been holding back a post about why conservitive people vote Dem. I'll have to post it soon. The reason being because right now today I can buy all the food stamps you want for .25 on the dollar, it seems you can't buy crack, dope or drink with stamps.
another foolish program.
Lu, that is a prime example of what is wrong.
Corky, if it weren't for the kids, I'd say let them purchase alcohol and cigarettes - if nothing else it will shorten their life expectancy!
SS, capitalism at its best!
I believe that embarrassment may be one reason folks eligible for Food Stamps—which is a misnomer since most states now issue plastic cards that are similar to ATM cards and not stamps. However, I believe that another reason is that elderly folk, who have never had to depend on any form of assistance, are now in need in greater numbers than any time since The Depression. Many (most?) do not realize that the assistance is available to them; therefore, the advertising campaigns. And I believe that this number will grow, as Baby Boomers, who mistakenly believed that the combination of their pensions and Social Security would see them through their elder years, find that inflation, the drop in the value of the dollar against other currencies, and the sky-rocketing costs of fuel and food are resulting in their not being able to make ends meet.
See all of the insight once can get from an old due like me who had a few economics courses in college some 40 or so years ago!
In Tennessee, we have TennCare for people who don't have health insurance and if they financially qualify. I work at a small company that does not offer insurance, so when I got pregnant the first time I applied, and qualified (just barely). When applying for this as a pregnant woman they also "encourage" applying for WIC. I had that for a while too after my daughter was born. I found it useful when my milk dried up during my second pregnancy and I had to stop nursing. (Pregnant twice in 2 years both times on birth control!~) The thing that made me crazy about WIC is that you get a voucher for a quantity of each item. Two gallons of milk, 10 cans of formula, etc. Well there is no incentive to purchase a less expensive or generic item. I could have bought 3 gallons of store-brand milk for the cost of 2 gallons of Purity. The only formula we were allowed however was the most expensive kind available. I think programs like this could definitely use some reformation. They are great for people who truly need them, but they waste a lot of money in the way they are executed. I also think that putting more restrictions on the amount of time you can receive these types of assistance would make a big difference.
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