Why It's More Important Now Than Ever For Congress Members To Experience Poverty

Why It's More Important Now Than Ever For Congress Members To Experience Poverty
(LA)DENVER, COLORADO-JUNE 5, 2007- Lucia Guzman  , a mayoral appointee, grocery shops after accepting a challenge to live on a food stamps budget of $25.00 per week. She shopped at the Safeway located at 26th Ave. and Federal Blvd. early Tuesday morning. (LYN ALWEIS/THE DENVER POST) putting chili peppers on a scale and recording their price in her notebook (Photo By Lyn Alweis/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(LA)DENVER, COLORADO-JUNE 5, 2007- Lucia Guzman , a mayoral appointee, grocery shops after accepting a challenge to live on a food stamps budget of $25.00 per week. She shopped at the Safeway located at 26th Ave. and Federal Blvd. early Tuesday morning. (LYN ALWEIS/THE DENVER POST) putting chili peppers on a scale and recording their price in her notebook (Photo By Lyn Alweis/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

There were a dozen eggs, three mangoes, and six black plums, and that was a problem. The family in the bodega line would have to cut something from the bags waiting on the check out belt—the modest haul overspent the Women, Infants, Children food-assistance voucher good for only a portion of their appetite. The clerk removed three plums and placed them on the far side of the register, declining an offer of safekeeping from a family member she deemed had other intentions.

Perhaps you’ve seen a similar case of nutritional triage; perhaps you’ve experienced it yourself. In the age of increased economic segregation, though, there’s a good chance haven’t.

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