The economic slowdown has coincided with a sharp increase in food prices, which has exacerbated hardship for many low-income families also facing high gas prices (and by the fall and winter, very high home heating bills). Unfortunately, during periods of rapid food inflation, the Food Stamp Programâs current rules do not ensure that needy families and individuals receive sufficient support to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet. Food stamp benefits are adjusted annually for food price inflation, but the adjustment is based on lagged data that are four months old at the beginning of the fiscal year and 15 months out of date by the end of the fiscal year. http://www.alliancetoendhunger.org/...ionAdjustmentLags-CenteronBudgetandPolicy.pdf
Some folk can't make it due to lack of a job. It's not just ignorance, although that plays it's part. It's a drastic, sudden lack of income. The hateful posts here are just amazing. I've added 4 to my Ignore List just from this one thread.
This is a serious problem and will be a crisis within the next 12 months. Just look at the Point of sale advertisements at your local convenience store. Previously they were for coupons and local promotions and now they are the local crime blotter. No Job, No Money = increase in survival crime. Shop Lifting, robberies etc. In 2008 when unemployment was < 5% Over 2% of the US population was in jail or on supervision. * Nearly 5.1 million adults were under community supervision at year end 2008the equivalent of about 1 in every 45 adults in the United States. 1.7 Million adults are jailed... http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1764
There is no excuse for 90% of the US population to not have enough to eat. It's about choices, saving for the proverbial rainy days, etc. Not running out and maxing CCs, living paycheck to payckeck, taking out HELOCs and going out to eat and buying the latest toys all the time.