"USA 2008: The Great Depression"

The article referenced regarding food stamp statistics is primarily from The Independent World, a United Kingdom daily paper, entitled "USA 2008: The Great Depression," written by David Usborne in New York.

As we just witnessed, banks and financial institutions tried, successfully, to dump their debt to American taxpayers, and succeeding due to actions of the Federal Reserve. Yes, they printed another $200 BILLION to bail them out. Whereas many will lose their homes, the money changers are on the dole at the taxpayer’s expense. This has devalued the dollar further and is heightening the already serious problem of the impoverished in our nation.

With the rapid exodus of manufacturing jobs from our country, we saw critical levels of unemployment, especially in the rust-belt regions. Michigan is still experiencing its own recession, as one in eight of this collapsed industrial base requires food stamps. In 2000 this number was one in four. For the twelve month period from December 2006 to 2007, forty states reported an increase in food stamp applications. Rhode Island reported an increase of 18 percent in two years and Florida, Maryland and Arizona reported a 10 percent increase this last year, as have at least three other states.

The food stamp program is a Federal program which was introduced in the 1960's. Its purpose was to provide supplemental aid however, today many folks are using it to totally cover their food needs. Drastic increases in gas prices have led to a hasty upward spiraling of food prices. There remains the ever present transportation problems, especially in rural communities which will be greatly exacerbated if the Oates program is crushed from existence, has been discussed.

There has been a six percent rise in the cost of feeding a family of four, according to the US Dept of Agriculture. Another problem is that so many of the indigent are lacking in knowledge of food preparation and tend to purchase "junk", and highly processed food, thus not providing basic nutritional needs of the body. Further, our food sources are increasingly becoming contaminated. To cite an example of this, one only needs to look to our neighboring state of Kansas. There is a section of land which is so contaminated it is toxic, yet wheat continues to be produced on it, and added to our nation's supply of flour. One must purchase non-bromulated flour or use another source of grain such as spelt, to avoid this toxic flour. These can be readily found in specialty food stores but not necessarily are they available in every grocery store, and they are more expensive.

As the dollar continues to fall and we experience a prolonged fracturing economy, there will be a converse fallout relationship to poverty. We in the helping professions must join together in doing our part to sustain our countrymen. Yes, this may mean making hard choices and taking a stand, but that's what our forefathers did. By doing nothing, we are telling the world they died in vain and for naught.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/usa-2008-the-great-depression-803095.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/us/31foodstamps.html?ei=5065&en=0e6e07da47bbb747&ex=1207540800&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print