A Grim Record: One In Seven Americans Is On Food Stamps

NPR ^ | 12/8/10 | Jacob Goldstein

[Gabrial]

The number of people on food stamps keeps hitting new all-time highs; as of September, nearly 43 million people were using the program, according to figures out this week.

Of course, because of population growth, absolute numbers only tell part of the story. The best way to look at the numbers over a long period of time is as a percentage of the population. And when you do that, you see that we're also hitting new highs.

[Gabrial]

How many bodies can hang off the government teat before the the whole government falls over?

[MrB]

In the immortal words of Congressman Cleaver:

“’TAINT ENOUGH! ‘TAINT ENOUGH!”

[Spok]

Pelosi thinks the answer to getting the economy going is to get more people on food stamps. I’m not making this up.

[Yaelle]

I think we need to bring back shame. If you need food stamps, you should get FOOD STAMPS, not a cute little debit card that you can use in strip clubs as well as grocery stores.

[Owen]

I’ve never been sure of how this is measured.

Is it households or people? That would mean babies and elderly former store clerks with no pensions or savings and whose SS check is only $750/mo.

If it’s households, the number is much uglier.

[stuartcr]

The Defense Commissary Agency reports that more than $31 million worth of food stamps were used at commissaries nationwide in 2008 – an increase of about $6.2 million, or more than 25 percent – from the $24.8 million redeemed in 2007. That contrasts with a 13 percent overall increase in food stamp use by Americans for the same period, according to the Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program

I believe this includes retirees also.

[Frantzie]

We are about to find out.

[Larry Lucido]

Damn Republicans!

Oh, wait...

[CholeraJoe]

That would mean babies and elderly former store clerks with no pensions or savings and whose SS check is only $750/mo.

How many of those are people driving Cadillacs or Hummers who make $50K a year dealing drugs or hooking?

[Rebelbase]

Zero’s 43 million strong civilian army.

[Lancey Howard]

Heh, I recommend to everybody to steal back every last dime you can from the scumbag politicians who stole it from you in the first place. Grab everything you can before the parasites and the rest of the Democrat party "base" eat it all up and then shake you down for more. Food stamps? Okay... Where do I sign up?

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[Gabrial]

The graph is the article is frightening. In 1971 (when I bought my first car) less than 2% of the US population was on food stamps. Now the number is 13%. This is out of control.

[Gaffer]

In my state, if you see some fat biatch with a cart full of trash groceries, two-three lil future societal dependents in tow, and welfare grandma along for good measure, you can be she gots a “green card with two peaches” on it....EBT card.....(BTW, welfare grandma is there to provide the cash for the cigarettes that her EBT peach card don’t cover!)

[Realman30]

Thank you President Obama.

[nagdt]

Sad. There are a lot of folks unemployed and under employed either by fate or their choosing. The whole issue with the welfare state is that there are a bunch of moochers who could manage without government assistance ..but take advantage of it anyway.

After all, this is the land of fraud and opportunity for moochers. USA voted best place to live if you like to mooch.

Not saying there aren’t those who really need assistance - like the elderly...

What is the current income threshold for getting assistance? Anyone know?

[MrB]

It’s absolutely being done on purpose, for a number of reasons.
Living at the expense of others saps the character of the population.
The Marxists intend on crashing the system, and inflicting as much hardship as necessary so that people BEG for a strong totalitarian system in order to restore order and provide for a basic level of order and sustenance.

[Gabrial]

“Is it households or people?”

I think it is people. I think you file as a household (even if you are a household of 1), state the number of people in your household, and the amount you get is based on your income and the number of people in your household. The lower your income and the more babies you drop, the more you get.

[andy58-in-nh]

Cloward & Piven showed the way over 40 years ago. Their disciples are carrying out the plan now.

[central_va]

How many are illegals? I suspect probably over half.

[thesharkboy]

Yet another unconstitutional federal program, taking my money at the point of a gun and giving it to other people.