The Politicization of Child Hunger

In the most powerful nation of the United States, there is an often-overlooked and egregious reality -- starving children. According to the Agriculture Department, there are now 17.2 million children that are at risk of lacking adequate food across the country. Sadly, as the economy still struggles to recover, we will only see these startling numbers rise, especially among those that are already the most vulnerable among us. And if a proposed GOP Congressional bill passes, these disenfranchised and forgotten ones could see what little food they have literally ripped from their mouths if a family member dare fight for his/her rights as a working, contributing member of society. It is beyond despicable; it is the politicization of child hunger.

According to a scathing piece in Think Progress, H.R. 1135 -- recently introduced by a group of House Republicans -- is not only pushing for an overall spending limit on means-tested welfare programs, but in an unprecedented and shocking maneuver, states that all food stamp benefits will be eliminated to any family where an adult is striking against an employer for any reason. Translation: any employee who may be bargaining for fair wages so that he/she may not have to put his/her family through the rigors of governmental aide in the first place, will likely think twice before taking such action now for fear of watching a child starve. It is the highest form of intimidation by those that already yield immense power over the nation's working-class and poor.

There are an estimated 44 million Americans that desperately depend on food stamps today -- an increase of 13 percent from last year alone. And a shocking 1 in 5 children in the U.S. get an adequate amount of nutrition thanks to food stamps. This latest gimmick by the far right to bully families and their children cannot be ignored, nor can we allow them to penalize our little ones as they play a game of politics. In a continuing effort to demonize and eliminate unions in this country, they now feel it is appropriate to use children as a casualty in their war on working families.

When the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went to Memphis, Tenn. in his final march in 1968, he was standing alongside laborers who were collectively chanting for livable wages and benefits. If this proposed legislation were in effect in '68, the children of those marching with Dr. King on that day would not have been able to receive food stamps. The right attempted to hijack the memory of Dr. King last year, and now they are sending a clear signal that they would rather allow the children of those protesting to starve than support the very cause Dr. King gave his life for.

The fact that such an outlandish proposal is even a thought in a civil society like ours is beyond the pale. It is cruel, and lacks any semblance of moral recognition. We all know that politics can and often is a dirty game, but when did our children -- innocent boys and girls -- become targets for self-aggrandizing individuals willing to do practically anything to advance their own (or their party's own) agenda? How do we as human beings think it is OK to take away food from kids because we don't want to pay their parents a decent salary? And how can anyone even think of starving the very young in order to punish a worker? We cannot, nor should we even dream of validating any of these reprehensible ideas.

If children in fact emulate adults, we must ask ourselves, what example are we setting here?

 

Follow Rev. Al Sharpton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheRevAl

Comments

[kengault]

01:08 PM on 03/30/2011

It is wonderful to read of big Al's concern. Al Sharpton recently said, ' States rights has always been the enemy of civil rights. The idea of the civil rights movement was for the federal government to protect citizens not leave them alone." Do ya think Al? Huh?

[Huffmeister1]

11:58 AM on 03/28/2011

Actually Rev. Sharpton, I was a food stamp caseworker for the State of Tennessee for over three years and the law in Tennessee already prohibited strikers and their famiy from receiving food stamps. I guess you're talking about a movement afoot to make that a Federal law. That's just wrong. Translation: "We can treat you how we want or we'll starve your family." Welcome back to the 19th Century.

[bluepond]

09:54 AM on 03/28/2011

Please remember that welfare and food stamps and such are programs designed not to be "charitable", but to stop violent riots and revolution, hold down inflation by keeping unemployment at a certain level, and to provide at least marginally healthy and nourished soldiers. That is their real function, and benefits us all. That is why we pay for them. Social Security and Medicare keep us from having to individually bear the enormous costs of caring for our own elderly and disabled, and are a form of welfare for the insurance companies. Economy of scale, and actually pretty successful. Oh yeah, and they also protect us all from having to witness total and horrific poverty and suffering and death in the midst of our wealth.

[fisherdude1969]

10:39 AM on 03/28/2011

wouldn't teaching people personal responsibility and less reliance on government be alot cheaper and better for our society?

[bluepond]

12:26 PM on 03/28/2011

Well, it would be helpful in some cases, but not most. When you have intentional unemployment orchestrated by the financial powers, absurd and obscene medical costs, and unforseen events like natural disasters and personal tragedies, personal responsibility doesn't cover it. That is one reason we form societies, rather than living alone in caves with clubs. "The poor you will have always with you, and whenever you will you can do good to them." Jesus.

[APMOTRBC]

01:32 PM on 03/28/2011

My dad was born in 1906 and mom in 1914. They went through the depression. We have social security and medicare for a reason. But it only took the selfish and self-involved and invested in boomers to undo all that those who came before did.

I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE ALL MY LIFE. I've paid into FICA since I was 14. I began putting money into a 401(k) in the early 80s when they were invented. I watched over 60 percent of it's value wash away in 2008 due to Bush/conservative policies.

No. It's a lot cheaper and better for society to have social insurance with large risk pools cover things that we know are going to happen. The old are going to need to rest one day. No matter how personally responsible we are, we are all going to need access to healthcare sometime.

It is the rich who need to be taught self-reliance and personal responsibility. It is the conservatives who need to be taught self-reliance and personal responsibility.

[tnlcallen]

05:51 AM on 03/28/2011

I just read the text of the bill, and it does specifically say that if a person is on strike they won't be eligible for food stamps. I can at least understand both sides of the issue. On the one hand they are saying that a person who refuses to work shouldn't be getting food stamps. On the other hand, refusal to work via strike isn't really the same as someone who just doesn't want to go to work. They are striking to protect themselves and their family. I tend to think that Food Stamps shouldn't be tied to whether a person is seeking work or not. It is meant to prevent people from going hungry. This is a horrible bill, and I seriously hope it will make it out of committee.

[ZeldonGilroy]

01:34 AM on 03/28/2011

What else would you expect from Reverend Sharpton? He understands that full and equal civil rights, human rights, and economic justice are the only hope for the United States, and in fact, for human beings on this planet.

That's why I supported him when he ran for president in 2004.

All, I wish I could Fan and Fave you!

[tnlcallen]

05:34 AM on 03/28/2011

Always wonder who you were.....His supporter that is.

[fisherdude1969]

11:27 AM on 03/28/2011

you supported Sharpton to be President of the United States? Wow.

How have his policies helped the black community? Are they in better shape or worse shape since the civil rights movement? Would MLK be proud of the community today?

[APMOTRBC]

02:50 PM on 03/28/2011

Sharpton has had little impact on the black community outside of his own NYC community .. there is room for all types of leaders.

Who are you to ask if MLK would be proud of his people. What I do know was that MLK was hated by conservatives in his day. You should read what guys like George Will thought of MLK.

I do know that he'd think that our country has lost all moral compass given the income and wealth disparities in our country.

Although I'm sure you've heard all about the persistent black underclass, there are more educated blacks and middle class blacks in this country than ever before. It is more that there is a giant divide between the haves and have-nots of all color.

[Jimmeier]

01:15 AM on 03/28/2011

The irony is a bit thick, Reverend, when you talk about "self-aggdrandizing people using children to advance their own agendas." I'll start listening to you again when you publicly, finally, apologize for your role in the Tawana Brawley fiasco (and you should still be ashamed, sir).

[1987; for those not old enough to remember, Wikipedia has a good summary]

[RealityChezck]

09:10 AM on 03/28/2011

An apology for something that hasn't be proven nor disproved wont put food in the stomach of an empty child and is a Red Herring concerning the issue of child hunger and poverty rates. It amazes me that every time I see an issue that aggravates the good "folks" on the right, they begin demanding apologies from everyone else but they never apologize for their own atrocities like Rosewood,Tulsa,7,000+ lynchings and the disenfranchisement of an entire race for 2 centuries and counting. As I read many calls for apologies, I come to realize it doesn't matter. Islamic organizations daily call for an end to terrorism, but their cries go unnoticed by those who think the world owes them an apology daily. You wont listen anyway. Either the issue of child hunger to you is a serious one or not, because you dislike the messenger, you would starve a child and ignore the message ? Says a lot about your character or lack thereof.

[Jimmeier]

01:50 AM on 03/29/2011

We are both amazed, but for different reasons. If you truly believe there is anything yet to prove in the Tawana Brawley matter or Rev. Sharpton’s part in it, I would only direct you to the references in the Wikipedia entry which give the transcript of the judge’s final ruling. The good Reverend was found guilty on multiple charges and the $65K judgment against him was paid by others, including Johnnie Cochran. It is also ironic that you use the term “Red Herring” to set up a Straw Man argument. I counted seven fallacies of logic as well as three misstatements of fact (presumed and otherwise) in your comments, which ended with a presumptive character slur. Even so, I have to say ‘thank you’ for your comments: I got to forward the URL to my friends as “Look at this! I got anonymously snooty-flamed on the Internet by someone who thinks I’m politically conservative!” :) [ I am an old white guy who has belonged to the ACLU for decades, but many of my friends and co-workers are quite well off financially and so perhaps understandably vote party line GOP] As John Stuart Mill famously said, “Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.”

[APMOTRBC]

10:29 PM on 03/27/2011

More refutations of posts by conservatives by "A Proud Member of the Reality Based Community.":

That my statistics are wrong. No, if I have a 401(k)--that both my husband and I have been saving in since 1985/86, + the equity on our home. Yes, through my connections, hard work and diligence my business is already valued at over $1.2 million based on revenue over the past five years. So yes, I am honored and proud to be among the lucky in the top 5%.
“You can only do what the market says you can do.” No, we have free will. We can use our economy and money any way we want. They are tools that we invented and we get to modify and improve them anytime they are failing to work as advertised.

So, Conservatives I have no idea why you believe in this view of the world. Why you value your fellow Americans so little. But I do know that you will never, ever get me to believe that your views are the best or only way or the way that I will feel good about showing up in the world.

I cannot change you into people who have hearts and souls who care for others. But I will not let you deter me from walking my walk and demonstrating to all who care to see the benefits of making such choices not only for the poor but for the strong.

[Paul Andrews]

06:18 AM on 03/28/2011

@APMOTRBC why do you hate conservatives ? All Conservatives are not alike. I dont hate all libs

[papapj]

10:31 AM on 03/28/2011

Where in that text does it state that (s)he "hates" anybody...?

If you're going to rebut, do so with facts, not conjectural idiocy designed to place one on the defensive....

Again...the tried and tested neocon knucklehead modus operandus of attacking the source without responding to the assertions and/or facts presented...a complete waste of time, fooling noone...

[APMOTRBC]

02:50 PM on 03/28/2011

I don't hate conservatives. I am like Molly Ivans. The fact that conservatives policies never work and are always penny-wise and pound foolish.

Right now in the US Congress, there is not one republican conservative who believes that global climate change is occurring. In my state that conservatives have decided that schools in the urban core don't need any extra money for ESL or immigrant refugees (the type that Bachmann's churches are bringing in) or those who are un/underemployed . . so they have decided to take their funding and give it the richer suburban schools.

Meanwhile they have cut 50% of the HHS budget, including thing like support for elderly who want to stay in their homes longer. Now we know this will actually explode the budget (particularly now with the first boomers retiring), but they didn't like the report from the non-partisan budget office, so they no longer are willing to accept reports from the budget office but instead are only getting audits from an outside contractor that is also a lobbyist for conservative policies. They won't show back-up for their new magical numbers, but somehow even though we know that by cutting this aid that keeps people in their homes will cost more when those people have to go to other forms of housing . . well, like magic they've waved a wand and now it doesn't cost more on paper.

I don't hate conservatives. I just know that the policies don't work!

[APMOTRBC]

10:25 PM on 03/27/2011

I find it fascinating how many conservatives talk about valuing families and freedom. But when confronted by someone with a strong moral compass who actually lives my values you attempt denigrate and tear me down by telling me:

1. "You don't live in the real world." (Pretty sure I do. I don't think I'm in Enchanted or some other cartoon.)

2. "You can't be a business person." Not only am I a business person, I'm an award-winning, innovative business person who has built a promising new technology. Imagine a room, in that room are 400 people on one side. They have beautiful things the best of everything. 380 of those people were born on that side of the room and only know people who live on that side of the room. The other 20 people are came from the middle of now on the other side of this room are 280 million other people. 11 access and have to share exactly the same amount of resources and 400 people on the Sabbath.

3. “You are a marxist.” No. I'm just a person who does't believe that because I have access to wealth that it's okay for me to make 250x an hour more than my lowest paid worker. What I personally believe is okay is at most 15X, but I could live with even 50x.
Cont.

[countryview]

07:29 PM on 03/27/2011

Curbing collective bargaining by creating the possibility of starving children? Wow - someone has been angry for a long time at labor unions to dream these bills up.

[maxhnb]

06:50 PM on 03/27/2011

Reoublicans write bill to deny foodstamps qand any government assistance to families where a member is a striker in a labor dispute. This is a declared war against hungry poor children.

[Paul Andrews]

11:11 PM on 03/27/2011

@maxhnb READ THE BILL it says only a person who apparently has employment with the FEDERAL or State government and goes on strike. It has never been the policy to give welfare or food stamps to striking workers that is what union dues are for. Also it is Illegal for Federal workers to strike. President Carter took that away

[Paul Andrews]

11:12 PM on 03/27/2011

@maxhnb I thought welfare and food stamps were for people that couldnt work

[bluepond]

11:31 PM on 03/27/2011

Food stamps (Welfare is all but gone) are now for the elderly on fixed incomes, the severely disabled, single mothers with very young babies, and severely underpaid workers. A mildly disabled person is still expected to work, mothers with young children are expected to work, and no able-bodied person over 18 can get welfare or food stamps. All adults in a household must work. Which is fine, except for the underpaid workers. What that amounts to is the American taxpayer is subsidizing the businesses to underpay workers so the businesses can keep prices low, and not have to pay worker benefits (they keep them below 30 hours), so they keep profits high. Then the taxpayer also pays sales tax and bail-outs and subsidies to the corporation. So who exactly is it that is getting welfare?

[John Penland]

11:39 PM on 03/27/2011

Actually, its for people that are below the poverty line. It is entirely possible to be working and not be able to afford even rent, bills, and groceries for 1 person, let alone a family.

Leave it to the Republicans to threaten starvation if somebody doesn't tow their party line.

[Alex Croley]

04:28 PM on 03/27/2011

It is America's secret shame. I'm sure that the talking heads will lament on how 'broke' we are, or how in 'debt' we are; but we can still feed everyone in our own country. It seems to be forgotten that it does take a community to raise a child, from parents to teachers to spiritual leaders to our government officials. We all have a hand in the future generation of our society. Yet, in thirty years we have had that beaten out of our society.

Shameful.

[Tedfl34]

04:45 PM on 03/27/2011

You seem to have made the mistake that many others have in that you believed the title of Mr. Sharptons article. Its actually about whether or not taxpayers should pay those in unions who go on strike or whether the unions who take hundreds of millions of dollars from these workers should pay for it.

[Alex Croley]

08:40 PM on 03/27/2011

Really?

'There are an estimated 44 million Americans that desperately depend on food stamps today -- an increase of 13 percent from last year alone.'

Seriously?

'According to the Agriculture Department, there are now 17.2 million children that are at risk of lacking adequate food across the country.'

mmm okay.

[Bob Elkins]

03:58 PM on 03/27/2011

Go Al!!

[Trickish Knave]

02:37 PM on 03/27/2011

It is a shame there are 44 million bums in the United States. Harsh opinion to be sure in this time of entitlement attitudes, but these tax burdens are part of the problem of why America is (still) going down the toilet.

Anyone want to go halfsies on Rosetta Stone Mandarin?

[bluepond]

11:53 PM on 03/27/2011

Bums=elderly on fixed incomes, disabled, abandoned women and children, catastrophic illness victims, unemployed in areas with no work who can't sell their homes and move, employed low-wage earners who make too little to survive even after second jobs and long hours, unpaid caretakers for disabled and elderly, victims of natural disasters whose homes and jobs are blown away in a second...I could keep going. They are all terrible people.
The people with a true entitlement attitude are those who live in this great country but don't want help carry the responsibilities that come with being part of a social world. They want the charitable to take care of problems, or for the problems to magically go away.

[APMOTRBC]

03:18 AM on 03/28/2011

Sorry. Don't need to go "halfsies" on a Rosetta stone Mandarin. My husband is fluent and lived in China for 17 years. He covered tiananmen square from inside China for the Far Eastern Economic Review. He went to the country when it first opened.

BTW "conservative" is not a political party in this US. Republican is a party, libertarian is a party, but conservative is decidedly NOT a political party. I assiduously use the term "conservative" to ensure that everyone understand that I'm not talking political party, but rather ideology. I don't believe that conservative policies ever serve anyone anywhere no matter what political party they are in.

Every single issue I care about from civil rights, to worker rights, to environmental rights, the conservatives have never believed or supported anything I believe or support.

I'm not blaming the problems of this country on a political party--although there are sure a lot more of them in one of the parties. I am directly and squarely blaming all the problems that our country currently faces on the re-emergent robber barons who have been waiting since the 1930s to gut social security and to return to company towns where the citizenry's only rights are to pay more and more to the owner of the town until finally every person in the town is indebted to one person.

Have you never played monopoly? It never ends well. Your brother always gets mad and slams the board across the room!

[Trickish Knave]

11:28 AM on 03/28/2011

I'm usually the one who throws the board because my brother cheats. I hate that game.

[1southernbelle]

01:47 PM on 03/27/2011

It is way past time for the news media to focus on the problem of hunger in the U.S. We need in depth stories of individual families who have lost jobs and homes and their current struggle to feed their children.

This should engender national shame, but it is completely off the radar of most people and they won't believe statistics--they need pictures and stories.

[Tedfl34]

03:18 PM on 03/27/2011

That only happens when there is a republican administration. Just like the war protests all went away even though Obama has continued Bush's policies and now started a new war. But don't worry if a republican is elected in 2012 all those stories will be on the front page again so keep your fingers crossed for a republican victory.

[Ruby Lester]

08:50 AM on 03/28/2011

Keep dreaming....

[PatWard]

12:43 PM on 03/27/2011

No child in this country should go to bed hungry, without a roof over their head or be denied access to knowledge.

[Tedfl34]

04:02 PM on 03/27/2011

Agreed. Not sure what that has to do with this article. You must have believed the title which is just unfortunate because it is completely false.