Obviously they're different and go about delivery of services differently. I talked in some other post about follow up and checks with regard to public assistance.
Some people equate people who disagree with welfare as hating the poor because there's a certain level of disdain that comes through while they try to back up their position. People who argue against welfare seldom make intelligent arguments and instead try to support what they're saying with beliefs rooted in myths and stereotypes. You know, like how 'most' food stamp money in spent on convenience store junk food,
Can you back up your comment on this so-called myth? I don't think data exists. In fact, I think the government is trying to not allow the data out. Moreover, companies like McDonalds are outraged at the thought of the data coming out. .... hmm... I wonder why.
that they're on it permanently, and that those people just need to go get a job.
I don't know how many are on it permanently, but do we not want them to get jobs? Am I missing something? Don't they want jobs? I would if I were in their shoes.
Then they drop in the anecdotal story about their friend or uncle who had a neighbor who abused the system as if to say that this is the majority of recipients.
Do you think people don't abuse the system? Are they just making this up? How do we know how many are? How do we know that a majority aren't abusing the system? Moreover, a more important question - how would you define abuse?
People who also disagree with public assistance also talk in a way about recipients as though they should be shamed when accessing services. They tend to lack empathy, and also tend to attribute their success with inflating their individual efforts and down play or deny their interconnectedness that contributed to their success.
I think people who say "food stamps are efficient" are people who tend to not understand reality.
Therefore, they conclude that everyone has the same opportunity they had, and if they just worked hard and put forth effort, they could be financially successful just like themselves.
Definitions of success vary based on one's environment. Each person should do the best you can with what they're given - when they do - that's success. Complaining about what you don't have, falling into the thought that you can't do better than your current state - that, my friend, is the opposite.
* Report stokes debate over goal of food stamp program
* Comes shortly after a call to ban supersized drinks in NYC
* Critics say food purchase disclosures expensive, unwieldy
By Lisa Baertlein
LOS ANGELES, June 12 (Reuters) - A new report from a California watchdog group is calling for the U.S. government to disclose how much sugary soda and other unhealthy food is paid for with food stamps at a time when policy makers are searching for ways to contain the spiraling cost of diet-related illness.
It is the latest skirmish in a years-long battle over whether the goal of the federal nutrition-assistance program used by about one in seven Americans should evolve from simply fighting hunger to also encouraging healthier eating habits.
And, it lands on the heels of a proposal by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to ban sales of oversized sugary beverages by restaurants, mobile food carts and movie theaters.
Coca-Cola Co and McDonald's Corp have slammed the proposal, which also has prompted critics to accuse Bloomberg of trying to turn New York City into a nanny state.
Nevertheless, there is growing concern about the social and economic costs of expanding waistlines in the United States - where more than one-third of U.S. adults and nearly one-fifth of U.S. children are obese.
"The federal government should not be fueling America's epidemic of diet-related chronic disease with taxpayer money," said Michele Simon, president of consulting group Eat Drink Politics, which produced the report.
Titled "Food Stamps: Follow the Money," it also calls for the disclosure of redemptions paid to individual retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, as well as fees paid to JP Morgan Chase and other banks that have contracts to process the electronic benefits.
High unemployment and a tepid U.S. economic recovery have conspired to boost participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which despite a name change in 2008 is still widely referred to as food stamps.
Spending for the program jumped to $71.8 billion in fiscal 2011 from $30.4 billion in fiscal 2007 due to high unemployment and a weak U.S. economy.
COKE VS. ORANGE JUICE
"SNAP's tagline is 'putting healthy food within reach.' Without data on how much money is being spent on Coke versus orange juice, or Lucky Charms versus oatmeal, how will we ever evaluate the nutrition goals of the program?" Simon asked.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, found it was not cost effective to capture food data at checkout stands when the program's processing system was set up more than a decade ago, spokesman Bruce Alexander said.
"We are preparing to launch a new feasibility study to see if today's system environment makes this approach more feasible," said Alexander, who added that USDA has several projects underway to capture information on food purchases.
He said other national data sources provide a fairly detailed picture of the purchase and diets of SNAP participants and that the data overall show few differences in the food choices of low-income and high-income Americans.
Last year, USDA officials nixed a plan by Mayor Bloomberg to ban food stamp purchases of sugary drinks in New York City. Proposals from other jurisdictions, which would also limit purchases of candy, cakes and chips with food stamps, have either failed or stalled amid intense lobbying.
Anti-hunger charities and industry associations representing retailers, food and beverage companies and even some fast-food chains warn against limiting food options and say such restrictions threaten to further stigmatize food stamp users.
They also say that harnessing the data on SNAP food purchases is a difficult, expensive and unwieldy task, largely because the food sellers categorize products differently.
"Our focus should be on protecting SNAP from harmful cuts and structural changes and strengthening participation, not adding additional complications to the program," said Maura Daly, a spokeswoman for Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity.
Karen Harris, a director at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, disagreed, saying that the data requested would help guarantee that the program's resources are being spent appropriately.
"My guess is that this information will show that healthy food resources are scarce in many areas," Harris said.
A drunken man reportedly slashed a Brooklyn clerk’s face after being told he couldn’t use food stamps to buy a bottle of beer.
The New York Daily News reports that Mutahar Murshed Ali, 34, was attacked in the Express Deli in Brooklyn’s Bushwick section at about 7:35 a.m. Thursday.
“Sell it to me,” the suspect told Ali. “Don’t get me mad.”
Ali then told the man, who is being sought by police, that he couldn’t purchase the 22-ounce Colt 45 with a food stamp card, causing him to shout a racial slur before storming out of the store.
Minutes later, the man returned and dove across the counter before slicing Ali’s face, causing a gash from his upper lip to his cheek, the newspaper reports.
The suspect was described as a black man between the ages of 25 and 30 with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt.
"My guess is that this information will show that healthy food resources are scarce in many areas," Harris said.
I think this is really true. As far as I know there is still not an actual grocery store within the city of Camden, NJ. I believe there are 2 that are on the outskirts, technically Pennsauken. There are a number of convenience stores selling all kinds of processed crap, but I think fresh produce, etc is hard to come by for a lot of people living within the city. I know the local food banks recently received funding to be able to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables.
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
I hear about rich people skirting taxes every day...
not sure why you would say all we ever hear about are all these free loaders...
you won't get an argument from me, corporate welfare needs to end as well.
i don't see any threads about rich people taking advantage of the system ... and i'm not even talking about corporate welfare ...
edit: it's pretty crazy what some people will go to jail for yet all these corporations on wall street who committed fraud haven't been charged with anything ...
It gets brought up in every thread about tax policy, corporate profits, or the GOP. It is a constant theme here that rich people take advantage of "the system"...there was just one on Romney and Bain capital. i won't go and find them all.
I completely agree with your edit though...it is a travesty what is considered a crime worthy of punishment and what is considered only fine worthy...
I love it...there is a giant interest rate fixing scandal and there is a fine payable to the Gov't. Great...I am sure that is who was affected the most...the gov't...not the people.
that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
"My guess is that this information will show that healthy food resources are scarce in many areas," Harris said.
I think this is really true. As far as I know there is still not an actual grocery store within the city of Camden, NJ. I believe there are 2 that are on the outskirts, technically Pennsauken. There are a number of convenience stores selling all kinds of processed crap, but I think fresh produce, etc is hard to come by for a lot of people living within the city. I know the local food banks recently received funding to be able to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables.
First, I don't really agree that it's not available. But, for arguments sake let's say there are parts of the city where it's not. I'd still argue back that that statement is false, but with a caveat. My take is this - cheap healthier food is only not available because demand is not there. Let me explain, a can of vegetables is relatively healthy and cheap and it "could be available" and "would be available" if most of the population in an area wanted it to be. Your arguing it's not there because the stores don't sell it. I say it's a function of demand and most of their constituency in these poor locales probably use food stamps. So, if the government changed the policy of what you could buy on food stamps to limit junk food and focused on canned vegetables and other cheap yet nutritious items - they would be supplied because the majority of the demand in that area would NEED to buy those items. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be ALLOWED to purchase shit like Doritos and Soda. So, if your a store owner where the heavy majority of your sales go to individuals using food stamps, and what you can buy on food stamps changed, do you think you would slowly alter your menu to suit them and what they can now purchase? I do.
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,423
I guess "healthy" is relative. I've been through small towns where I found it very difficult to find thing I personally consider healthy. Same thing in certain sections of big cities. Canned vegetable are low on the list. The enzymes and most of of the vitamins have been destroyed in the heating process, and the texture and taste- pretty hard to swallow! Better than Cheez Doodles or whatever, but only slightly.
But I don't think poor eating is just a problem for food stamp recipients. It's an American problem. Just look at all the "food" products made from corn and that nasty by-product, corn syrup. In his book Against The Grain Richard Manning (who is from Missoula MT. by the way ) says, "[Corn] is not so much a food as it is a raw material." And this:
"ADM makes most of its corn into syrup. Nationally, about 42% of the precessed corn goes to sweetners, something almost no one ever buys directly but which most everyone eats. Just read the label on any processed food, especially "fruit juices". Look for "high fructose corn syrup" as the second ingredient, right behind water. It's in scalloped potatoes, barbeque sauce, salad dressing, ketchup, oatmeal cookies, Wheat Thins, Campbell's Chunky Soup, granola bars, canned fruit, SpaghettiOs, ice cream, and virtually every carbonated soft drink.
This ubiquitous "food" has spawned a wave of obesity in the United States."
And then there's the horrendous environmental impact mono cropping the stuff on top of that.
If you really look at what most of our "food" products are made from you'll understand how poorly most Americans eat. I live in a semi-rural area that has a farmer's market so we are lucky (damn lucky) to be able to get fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables. In many area that's not available. Add to that a lack of
nutrition education, especially among the poor, and you start to get closer to the problem.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
"My guess is that this information will show that healthy food resources are scarce in many areas," Harris said.
I think this is really true. As far as I know there is still not an actual grocery store within the city of Camden, NJ. I believe there are 2 that are on the outskirts, technically Pennsauken. There are a number of convenience stores selling all kinds of processed crap, but I think fresh produce, etc is hard to come by for a lot of people living within the city. I know the local food banks recently received funding to be able to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables.
First, I don't really agree that it's not available. But, for arguments sake let's say there are parts of the city where it's not. I'd still argue back that that statement is false, but with a caveat. My take is this - cheap healthier food is only not available because demand is not there. Let me explain, a can of vegetables is relatively healthy and cheap and it "could be available" and "would be available" if most of the population in an area wanted it to be. Your arguing it's not there because the stores don't sell it. I say it's a function of demand and most of their constituency in these poor locales probably use food stamps. So, if the government changed the policy of what you could buy on food stamps to limit junk food and focused on canned vegetables and other cheap yet nutritious items - they would be supplied because the majority of the demand in that area would NEED to buy those items. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be ALLOWED to purchase shit like Doritos and Soda. So, if your a store owner where the heavy majority of your sales go to individuals using food stamps, and what you can buy on food stamps changed, do you think you would slowly alter your menu to suit them and what they can now purchase? I do.
I understand your point about supply and demand, but it's not just that the stores don't carry the food; there are no stores at all. I'd agree with Brainlux about canned vegetables not being a good source of nutrition and this being an American problem, not just a food stamp problem. Fortunately my town has a farmers market every week with locally grown produce. They don't take foodstamps, however.
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
I guess "healthy" is relative. I've been through small towns where I found it very difficult to find thing I personally consider healthy. Same thing in certain sections of big cities. Canned vegetable are low on the list. The enzymes and most of of the vitamins have been destroyed in the heating process, and the texture and taste- pretty hard to swallow! Better than Cheez Doodles or whatever, but only slightly.
I doubt that canned vegetables and water are only slight better than Cheez Doodles and Soda, personally.
But I don't think poor eating is just a problem for food stamp recipients. It's an American problem. Just look at all the "food" products made from corn and that nasty by-product, corn syrup. In his book Against The Grain Richard Manning (who is from Missoula MT. by the way ) says, "[Corn] is not so much a food as it is a raw material." And this:
You're right it's a problem nationwide. But, nationwide people don't eat for free. We're already restricting choices for those on food stamps, why not do it more to semi-nutritious products? We pay for their health problems now - right? Plus, and this is the important part - IT'S NOT ONLY MORE NUTRITIOUS - IT'S CHEAPER!
"ADM makes most of its corn into syrup. Nationally, about 42% of the precessed corn goes to sweetners, something almost no one ever buys directly but which most everyone eats. Just read the label on any processed food, especially "fruit juices". Look for "high fructose corn syrup" as the second ingredient, right behind water. It's in scalloped potatoes, barbeque sauce, salad dressing, ketchup, oatmeal cookies, Wheat Thins, Campbell's Chunky Soup, granola bars, canned fruit, SpaghettiOs, ice cream, and virtually every carbonated soft drink.
This ubiquitous "food" has spawned a wave of obesity in the United States."
And then there's the horrendous environmental impact mono cropping the stuff on top of that.
If you really look at what most of our "food" products are made from you'll understand how poorly most Americans eat. I live in a semi-rural area that has a farmer's market so we are lucky (damn lucky) to be able to get fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables. In many area that's not available. Add to that a lack of
nutrition education, especially among the poor, and you start to get closer to the problem.
This is all well and good. But the argument some are making are how necessary these food stamps are and that they are a maker of government efficiency. Most people know - they aren't efficient at all.
But, on to your point - "closer to the problem" the problem here is really economic. That's honestly the real area. It's not unhealthy food. It's not government. It's the fact that the economy sucks and so many people are on food stamps. Even if we altered what they ate, it would not make food stamps good. We should be aiming to not have anyone at all on food stamps. You don't ge there by saying this food is ok, and this isn't - in fact let's create a food stamp czar and get him 800 employees to waste more money. You get there by improving economic conditions so that the only unemployment is the natural rate.
[ I understand your point about supply and demand, but it's not just that the stores don't carry the food; there are no stores at all. I'd agree with Brainlux about canned vegetables not being a good source of nutrition and this being an American problem, not just a food stamp problem. Fortunately my town has a farmers market every week with locally grown produce. They don't take foodstamps, however.
It's an economic problem. Food stamps, and their growth, are a symptom.
But, on to your point - "closer to the problem" the problem here is really economic. That's honestly the real area. It's not unhealthy food. It's not government. It's the fact that the economy sucks and so many people are on food stamps. Even if we altered what they ate, it would not make food stamps good. We should be aiming to not have anyone at all on food stamps. You don't ge there by saying this food is ok, and this isn't - in fact let's create a food stamp czar and get him 800 employees to waste more money. You get there by improving economic conditions so that the only unemployment is the natural rate.
I'm sure economics is part of the problem. I'm just very much of the belief that education and compassion are the foundations for solving most problems.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
they take them at a sunday market in jackson heights (queens, NY) ...
Hopefully they'll start taking them here. Not that it will help Camden city residents
I don't think anything would help Camden,.... ever. Maybe the city could start by not killing one another.
Yeah that would be a start. It's a real scary place for the residents. Not sure how what's gonna happen with the changes they're thinking of making to the police force, but that's a whole seperate issue.
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
Comments
I think private charities do charity work "better than government does". That's what I'm saying.
Can you back up your comment on this so-called myth? I don't think data exists. In fact, I think the government is trying to not allow the data out. Moreover, companies like McDonalds are outraged at the thought of the data coming out. .... hmm... I wonder why.
I can see this "myth" is also concerning enough to have huff post report on it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/food-stamps-soda_n_1588976.html
I don't think there lives are "comfortable", but the program does encourage dependency.
I don't know how many are on it permanently, but do we not want them to get jobs? Am I missing something? Don't they want jobs? I would if I were in their shoes.
Do you think people don't abuse the system? Are they just making this up? How do we know how many are? How do we know that a majority aren't abusing the system? Moreover, a more important question - how would you define abuse?
I think people who say "food stamps are efficient" are people who tend to not understand reality.
Definitions of success vary based on one's environment. Each person should do the best you can with what they're given - when they do - that's success. Complaining about what you don't have, falling into the thought that you can't do better than your current state - that, my friend, is the opposite.
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/food-stamps-soda_n_1588976.html
* Report stokes debate over goal of food stamp program
* Comes shortly after a call to ban supersized drinks in NYC
* Critics say food purchase disclosures expensive, unwieldy
By Lisa Baertlein
LOS ANGELES, June 12 (Reuters) - A new report from a California watchdog group is calling for the U.S. government to disclose how much sugary soda and other unhealthy food is paid for with food stamps at a time when policy makers are searching for ways to contain the spiraling cost of diet-related illness.
It is the latest skirmish in a years-long battle over whether the goal of the federal nutrition-assistance program used by about one in seven Americans should evolve from simply fighting hunger to also encouraging healthier eating habits.
And, it lands on the heels of a proposal by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to ban sales of oversized sugary beverages by restaurants, mobile food carts and movie theaters.
Coca-Cola Co and McDonald's Corp have slammed the proposal, which also has prompted critics to accuse Bloomberg of trying to turn New York City into a nanny state.
Nevertheless, there is growing concern about the social and economic costs of expanding waistlines in the United States - where more than one-third of U.S. adults and nearly one-fifth of U.S. children are obese.
"The federal government should not be fueling America's epidemic of diet-related chronic disease with taxpayer money," said Michele Simon, president of consulting group Eat Drink Politics, which produced the report.
Titled "Food Stamps: Follow the Money," it also calls for the disclosure of redemptions paid to individual retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, as well as fees paid to JP Morgan Chase and other banks that have contracts to process the electronic benefits.
High unemployment and a tepid U.S. economic recovery have conspired to boost participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which despite a name change in 2008 is still widely referred to as food stamps.
Spending for the program jumped to $71.8 billion in fiscal 2011 from $30.4 billion in fiscal 2007 due to high unemployment and a weak U.S. economy.
COKE VS. ORANGE JUICE
"SNAP's tagline is 'putting healthy food within reach.' Without data on how much money is being spent on Coke versus orange juice, or Lucky Charms versus oatmeal, how will we ever evaluate the nutrition goals of the program?" Simon asked.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, found it was not cost effective to capture food data at checkout stands when the program's processing system was set up more than a decade ago, spokesman Bruce Alexander said.
"We are preparing to launch a new feasibility study to see if today's system environment makes this approach more feasible," said Alexander, who added that USDA has several projects underway to capture information on food purchases.
He said other national data sources provide a fairly detailed picture of the purchase and diets of SNAP participants and that the data overall show few differences in the food choices of low-income and high-income Americans.
Last year, USDA officials nixed a plan by Mayor Bloomberg to ban food stamp purchases of sugary drinks in New York City. Proposals from other jurisdictions, which would also limit purchases of candy, cakes and chips with food stamps, have either failed or stalled amid intense lobbying.
Anti-hunger charities and industry associations representing retailers, food and beverage companies and even some fast-food chains warn against limiting food options and say such restrictions threaten to further stigmatize food stamp users.
They also say that harnessing the data on SNAP food purchases is a difficult, expensive and unwieldy task, largely because the food sellers categorize products differently.
"Our focus should be on protecting SNAP from harmful cuts and structural changes and strengthening participation, not adding additional complications to the program," said Maura Daly, a spokeswoman for Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity.
Karen Harris, a director at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, disagreed, saying that the data requested would help guarantee that the program's resources are being spent appropriately.
"My guess is that this information will show that healthy food resources are scarce in many areas," Harris said.
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The New York Daily News reports that Mutahar Murshed Ali, 34, was attacked in the Express Deli in Brooklyn’s Bushwick section at about 7:35 a.m. Thursday.
“Sell it to me,” the suspect told Ali. “Don’t get me mad.”
Ali then told the man, who is being sought by police, that he couldn’t purchase the 22-ounce Colt 45 with a food stamp card, causing him to shout a racial slur before storming out of the store.
Minutes later, the man returned and dove across the counter before slicing Ali’s face, causing a gash from his upper lip to his cheek, the newspaper reports.
The suspect was described as a black man between the ages of 25 and 30 with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt.
OH SNAP!
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/17/ne ... z23phA0cc8
I think this is really true. As far as I know there is still not an actual grocery store within the city of Camden, NJ. I believe there are 2 that are on the outskirts, technically Pennsauken. There are a number of convenience stores selling all kinds of processed crap, but I think fresh produce, etc is hard to come by for a lot of people living within the city. I know the local food banks recently received funding to be able to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables.
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
It gets brought up in every thread about tax policy, corporate profits, or the GOP. It is a constant theme here that rich people take advantage of "the system"...there was just one on Romney and Bain capital. i won't go and find them all.
I completely agree with your edit though...it is a travesty what is considered a crime worthy of punishment and what is considered only fine worthy...
I love it...there is a giant interest rate fixing scandal and there is a fine payable to the Gov't. Great...I am sure that is who was affected the most...the gov't...not the people.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
First, I don't really agree that it's not available. But, for arguments sake let's say there are parts of the city where it's not. I'd still argue back that that statement is false, but with a caveat. My take is this - cheap healthier food is only not available because demand is not there. Let me explain, a can of vegetables is relatively healthy and cheap and it "could be available" and "would be available" if most of the population in an area wanted it to be. Your arguing it's not there because the stores don't sell it. I say it's a function of demand and most of their constituency in these poor locales probably use food stamps. So, if the government changed the policy of what you could buy on food stamps to limit junk food and focused on canned vegetables and other cheap yet nutritious items - they would be supplied because the majority of the demand in that area would NEED to buy those items. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be ALLOWED to purchase shit like Doritos and Soda. So, if your a store owner where the heavy majority of your sales go to individuals using food stamps, and what you can buy on food stamps changed, do you think you would slowly alter your menu to suit them and what they can now purchase? I do.
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But I don't think poor eating is just a problem for food stamp recipients. It's an American problem. Just look at all the "food" products made from corn and that nasty by-product, corn syrup. In his book Against The Grain Richard Manning (who is from Missoula MT. by the way
"ADM makes most of its corn into syrup. Nationally, about 42% of the precessed corn goes to sweetners, something almost no one ever buys directly but which most everyone eats. Just read the label on any processed food, especially "fruit juices". Look for "high fructose corn syrup" as the second ingredient, right behind water. It's in scalloped potatoes, barbeque sauce, salad dressing, ketchup, oatmeal cookies, Wheat Thins, Campbell's Chunky Soup, granola bars, canned fruit, SpaghettiOs, ice cream, and virtually every carbonated soft drink.
This ubiquitous "food" has spawned a wave of obesity in the United States."
And then there's the horrendous environmental impact mono cropping the stuff on top of that.
If you really look at what most of our "food" products are made from you'll understand how poorly most Americans eat. I live in a semi-rural area that has a farmer's market so we are lucky (damn lucky) to be able to get fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables. In many area that's not available. Add to that a lack of
nutrition education, especially among the poor, and you start to get closer to the problem.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
they take them at a sunday market in jackson heights (queens, NY) ...
I doubt that canned vegetables and water are only slight better than Cheez Doodles and Soda, personally.
You're right it's a problem nationwide. But, nationwide people don't eat for free. We're already restricting choices for those on food stamps, why not do it more to semi-nutritious products? We pay for their health problems now - right? Plus, and this is the important part - IT'S NOT ONLY MORE NUTRITIOUS - IT'S CHEAPER!
This is all well and good. But the argument some are making are how necessary these food stamps are and that they are a maker of government efficiency. Most people know - they aren't efficient at all.
But, on to your point - "closer to the problem" the problem here is really economic. That's honestly the real area. It's not unhealthy food. It's not government. It's the fact that the economy sucks and so many people are on food stamps. Even if we altered what they ate, it would not make food stamps good. We should be aiming to not have anyone at all on food stamps. You don't ge there by saying this food is ok, and this isn't - in fact let's create a food stamp czar and get him 800 employees to waste more money. You get there by improving economic conditions so that the only unemployment is the natural rate.
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
It's an economic problem. Food stamps, and their growth, are a symptom.
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
I'm sure economics is part of the problem. I'm just very much of the belief that education and compassion are the foundations for solving most problems.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"
I don't think anything would help Camden,.... ever. Maybe the city could start by not killing one another.
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
"I need your strength for me to be strong...I need your love to feel loved"