Food Stamp Use At Record Pace As Jobs Vanish

New York Times:

Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.

The number of recipients, who must have near-poverty incomes to qualify for benefits averaging $100 a month per family member, has fluctuated over the years along with economic conditions, eligibility rules, enlistment drives and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which led to a spike in the South.

But recent rises in many states appear to be resulting mainly from the economic slowdown, officials and experts say, as well as inflation in prices of basic goods that leave more families feeling pinched. Citing expected growth in unemployment, the Congressional Budget Office this month projected a continued increase in the monthly number of recipients in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 -- to 28 million, up from 27.8 million in 2008, and 26.5 million in 2007.

The percentage of Americans receiving food stamps was higher after a recession in the 1990s, but actual numbers are expected to be higher this year.

Federal benefit costs are projected to rise to $36 billion in the 2009 fiscal year from $34 billion this year.

Keep reading.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[BOfever]

I read another article today that can basically be directly related to the food stamps issue, the rate of high school graduates: 24% in Detroit, 30% in Cleveland.

Drop out of high school = live off food stamps.

[mamacat]

Since the Food Stamp program is helping only those without money, I would not be surprised if the neo-cons started attacking it soon. It seems that their philosophy involves furthering only those programs that help the already wealthy, and devil take the hindmost. I hope I am wrong about this one.

[argent1]

Not that his should be the main headline anywhere. John Edwards where are you!

[BOfever]

Why does he need foodstamps?

[downwithgop]

I look at how "great" this capitalist society is to its people that hurt the most and it makes me vomit. Seriously, always pick on the ones who can't afford to defend themselves because they are too busy trying to make ends meet. It makes me wonder....

Would socialism really be that bad?

Can't be any worse than this horrible system. And the people that have wealth hoard it like the whores they are. Shame on this nation. Seriously, shame!

[BOfever]

"Would socialism really be that bad?"

Are you serious?

What is the motivation for anyone in this country to work . . . there wouldn't be one.

What is the motivation to get an education . . . there wouldn't be one.

[PierreLeClerke]

The most arrogant entitlement attitude is from that of the wealthy person that somehow believes and promotes the theory, that they are entitled to reap and to keep, the vast majority of the harvest from this our great Nation. The belief that after hundreds of years of blood, sweat, tears, lives, and untold sacrifice, from millions of souls that carved this great society out of the wilderness. With zero consideration to the Natives that walked it before the great European on slot. With all the systems that have been built by the many; roads for their goods to be delivered on, schools to educate themselves and the workforce they rely upon, laws that protect the contract and conduct of commerce, utilities that power their endeavors, a monetary system that quantifies their gains, a research and development protocol funded by We the People for generations of ideas, The list is more than can be mentioned. And as our great infrastructure crumbles, These most arrogant of persons declares, "I created this wealth" "I created these jobs", I am entitled to keep the fruits of my labors". REALLY, Your Labors, I ask, I think not!
Join U.S April 19th in the City of Philadelphia @ 9am Independence Hall to begin the process of a Constitutional Convention and to ABOLISH this criminal government.

[sandiegoconservative]

So you don't believe someone is entitled to everything they work for?

In that case, I would like some of your paycheck. I'll email you my address. Because I don't think you are entitled to all of it.

[BOfever]

Those that don't have or work to have feel entitled to things that they cannot get. It's called liberalism.

[PierreLeClerke]

The most arrogant entitlement attitude is from that of the wealthy person that somehow believes and promotes the theory, that they are entitled to reap and to keep, the vast majority of the harvest from this our great Nation. The belief that after hundreds of years of blood, sweat, tears, lives, and untold sacrifice, from millions of souls that carved this great society out of the wilderness. With zero consideration to the Natives that walked it before the great European on slot. With all the systems that have been built by the many; roads for their goods to be delivered on, schools to educate themselves and the workforce they rely upon, laws that protect the contract and conduct of commerce, utilities that power their endeavors, a monetary system that quantifies their gains, a research and development protocol funded by We the People for generations of ideas, The list is more than can be mentioned. And as our great infrastructure crumbles, These most arrogant of persons declares, "I created this wealth" "I created these jobs", I am entitled to keep the fruits of my labors". REALLY, Your Labors, I ask, I think not!
Join U.S April 19th in the City of Philadelphia @ 9am Independence Hall to begin the process of a Constitutional Convention and to ABOLISH this government.

[shag11]

Everytime the subject of how wealth has been transferred to the extremely rich, the rightwingers suggest that the Lefties are trying to claim class warfare. While there is no "war," the fact that more and more people are hurting is real.
People on the Right need to stop allowing themselves to be duped by, "gay marriage, "illegal immigration," "islamo-fascism," "affirmative action," and on and on. These are wedge issue that dumb-down the masses, and hence one misses the big picture,
I shouldn't put it all on the Righties, we Lefties can allow ourselves to be swayed into confrontation with each other. Especially in the minority communties, of which I am a member.

[MajorKong]

I just read that 10% of Ohio residents are on foodstamps! This state has lost at least 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001.

[KOisGod]

Yeah, and they keep voting Republican and just gave their state to Hillary in the Primary. I think it must be the water.

[calirighty]

Funny. I was born and raised in Ohio. Many of the people that I saw lose jobs were the SAME people who refused to buy the products they made. For example Schwinn Bicycles moved to Mexico. When I asked some of the workers what bikes they purchased for their kids get what the common answer was? Not Schwinn. No. These people would buy the cheap bicycle at Wal Mart. Same thing with Hoover. Same thing with Frigidaire. When I worked for Honda Manufacturing I saw the same thing. Many people refused to buy the products they manufactured. Now who is to blame? I don't want to hear any crying from people that have good jobs, refuse to buy the goods they make, and shop at wal mart. Everybody wants cheap goods and everyone wants good paying jobs. You can't have it both ways. The days of walking out of high school straight into a factory job are gone. No one has the right to a good job. They have to earn. Learn a trade. Learn a skill. Go to school. Start your own business. There are plenty of opportunities. You just have to look.

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

So why should we continue to buy Schwinns after they have moved to Mexico? Anyway they would have no matter how much they were selling in order to make bigger profits. Many profitable companies moved overseas to make more profits. There is absolutely no guarantee that Schwinn would still be here no matter how many bikes the people in Ohio bought.

[BOfever]

Why do you think manufacturing jobs are going extinct in this country? Try a min. wage.

[UltraClassic]

Hillary '08

Funny you should mention this.

I was in line at the local strips in south Texas buing my morning taco. A big fat woman infront of me with dirty clothes was buying groceries with her "Lone Star" card. After she paid (rather you and I paid) for her groceries, she pulls out a wad of cash from her pocket and begins buying scratch off and quick pick lotto tickets.

Our economy in south Texas is based on government money (medicaid, medicare, food stamps and section 8 housing) as well as drug money. It's quite a circus down here.

Hillary '08

[Pippilangstrumpf]

Wow. You saw a dirty, fat woman buy groceries with food stamps and then pull out some cash to buy lottery tickets.
What's your point?
Have you ever seen rich people descend on baskets of freebies like their lives depended on it?
The wealthier you are, the more you LOVE to get your free stuff.
So, what is more disgusting to you?
An example that we are all familiar with is the swag bags given out at events such as the Oscars.
I was out shopping once with a wealthy European business owner...this guy has millions. He has cars worth more than most people's homes...and he made a huge stink at a perfume counter after buying some perfume, he did not get the 'free umbrella' that came with purchase.
Like he needed some free, crap umbrella with a tacky corporate logo on it.
There are no freeloaders like the wealthy freeloaders...with their tax breaks and free rides.

[sandiegoconservative]

Well, I agree that running for the free items is dumb, but there is a big difference between getting something for free that everyone has access to and me having to pay for someone else to buy the necessities of life, when they are prefectly capable of doing it themselves, then paying for a non-necessity because they somehow feel they are entitled to the welfare they are using.

And if the woman did that, then she is telling everyone she is entitled.

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

That fat women probably regard the Lotto tickets as an investment.
Maybe she should but her money into Structured Investement Vehicles.....

[edweird]

Unfortunately, I've been on disability for sometime now and I hate it. When I go out and apply for part-time work, I'm looked upon suspiciously even though the so-called employer doesn't pay enough for me to pay my rent and electric. We have created an economy of slave-drivers who offer nothing, and expect everything.

[BOfever]

You aren't the guy on disability that is out there running races to win Hannah Montanna tickets are you?

[speakingtruth2power]

How about gas stamps so we can drive to our minimum wage jobs?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Dream on!!!!

[calirighty]

How about getting an education so you don't have to work minimum wage?

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

Well since the cost of college has been rising several times faster than the wages of low wage workers an education is becoming a hopeless dream to more and more people.
Besides what would happen if everbody had a degree? Answer : more Starbucks barristas with degrees, more cashiers with degrees, more janitors with degrees. Face facts we simply cannot educate our way out of this problem. People with degrees have to send hundreds of resumes out to find a job in their field these days, there simply are not enough high quality jobs for everybody no matter how many new degrees with mint.

[BOfever]

LOL, i was thinking the same thing. Why do people always call on others for help when if they look back on their lives to this point you will see thousands of missed opportunities.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Welcome to George W. Bush's service economy.

Back when outsourcing started Bush was out there saying that we would be getting goods for half the price of what they cost now.

Too bad back then no one asked him the most obvious question

"WHAT GOOD IS HAVING CHEAP PRODUCTS IF NO ONE CAN AFFORD IT, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WON'T HAVE JOBS??"

[BOfever]

Most people won't have jobs? What is the unemployment rate at right now?

4.8% is the correct answer, that is a very good number.

If you consider most people to be 4.8% then you are right on, otherwise your dead wrong.

[fedupnburnin]

It looks like 3rd world America has begun. Thank those rotten bastards who comprise the Democrat and Republican parties. Especially Ronald Reagan. I remember the day he announced the U.S. was going to a service-based economy. The lie of globalization and a "free market" came later.

[Paul]

Exactly.

Under unrestricted free-market capitalism, the US is heading towards a central American lifestyle.

How long before some general siezes power and becomes "Maximum Leader?"

Socialism - the way forward.

[Stretchumall]

Don't confuse Socialism with Fascism.

[joebaggadonuts]

I object to the article calling the food stamps program an entitlement. It's not. It's a safety net issue, not an entitlement. If we can't call things what they are we will never get anywhere together.

[Lemeritus]

Thank you very much, joe, for pointing this out. When did the concept of providing for a common good go out of style? (Don't tell me; I think I know.)

[Harrier]

This has been going on for 30 years. I noticed this a long time ago. The deeper the recession, th longer time manufacturing had for moving jobs. Without those jobs, out when jobs in related and support industries. Congress and the Presidents openly discussed this issue and turned on the working class. The didn't care then and I see nobody caring now.