Food stamps: More Americans Keep Signing Up

Christian Science Monitor ^ | January 12, 2011 | By SoldAtTheTop

[Son House]

Food stamps went to an additional 290,000 recipients in October, a federal survey shows.
As a logical consequence of the prolonged economic downturn it appears that participation in the federal food stamp program is continuing to rise.

In fact, household participation has been climbing so steadily that it has far surpassed the last peak set as a result of the immediate fallout following hurricane Katrina.

The latest data released by the Department of Agriculture shows that in October, an additional 289,737 new recipients were added to the food stamps program, an increase of 14.67% on a year-over-year basis, while household participation increased 16.98%.

Individual participation as a ratio of the overall civilian non-institutional population has increased 13.72% over the same period.

These results confirm that participation is continuing it's explosive climb, likely as a result of the jump in total unemployment, driving the nominal benefit costs up an lofty 13.95% on a year-over-year basis to $5,778,387,682 for the month.

[Son House]

the large numbers signing up for the program just prove that the economy is NOT improving at the fundamental level and demonstrates what the LEFT desire anyway - and that is to create dependents of everyone

Spot on, and qualifies for Free Republic post of the day.

[Son House]

They fill carts full of the most expensive, brand-name, foods- along with the more “prime” cuts of meat instead of the less expensive varieties - thus spending more, and feeding less...

Spot on, and qualifies for Free Republic post of the day too. Had to know today was going to be a good for drilling home good points.

[from occupied ga]

I believe that tobacco and alcohol purchases are already prohibited. Unfortunately, when you free up the food money by having someone else pay then the recipients cash goes for fripperies. You can tell and EBT person if they’ve split their groceries into a pile of food type items (and only the best of cuts) and then have a giant bag of dog food, and a couple of twelve packs of beer in a separate pile. Not everyone using an EBT card does this, but almost everyone who does this has an EBT card. Personally I think that if someone is mooching off my money then they damn well should not have a pet or drink beer.

[Patriotic1]

The pissiness on this thread is shocking! We’re not talking about the people who are forever on food stamps, but many people who have never been on them before. We’re in a serious recession (some might call it a depression). The TOTUS has declared a war on business, thus jobs. I’m pretty sure that many of the new recipients are people shocked to find themselves in need of such help.

[Son House]

Yes, not to mention they won’t appreciate it if they haven’t worked for it; or that the hand-out steals their future value and self worth.

[Son House]

Didn’t I see that at a gas station too? We Accept...

[from occupied ga]

We’re not talking about the people who are forever on food stamps, but many people who have never been on them before

Even worse. The welfare roles are growing, and with every dollar handed out without having any labor exchanged for it, the incentive of the "unemployed" to actually look for work lessens. Why work when you can get what you want without working?

Atlanta got a batch of Katrina people, and 24 months after the storm there were still 70,000 families (mostly singly mother famblies) from New Orleans still in taxpayer funded housing.

[MrB]

I wouldn’t doubt it.
You can probably buy a super slurpee, a 100 mile dog, and a bag of chips on your EBT.

[PGR88]

The TOTUS has declared a war on business, thus jobs. I’m pretty sure that many of the new recipients are people shocked to find themselves in need of such help.

You make a good point. But on the other hand, the trajectory of spending on all entitlement programs is UP. The demand for free stuff is always unlimited. I would bet you $100 that Food Stamp spending does not decline much, or at all, when recovery comes.

[jwalsh07]

The naivete’ on this thread is shocking.

[Son House]

Well do make your point good. How many folks did spend and mortgage and second mortgage and credit card way beyond what would have been reasonably within their budgets?

[bigredkitty1]

I know. It’s one thing to buy the elderly a loaf of bread, a jug of milk and a few cans of stuff to keep them from going hungry. It’s quite different to see multiple shopping carts filled to overflowing with high end foodstuffs for individuals who could stand to lose a pound or fifty.

[from occupied ga]

Never seen anyone with an EBT card do this,

I know. It’s one thing to buy the elderly a loaf of bread, a jug of milk and a few cans of stuff to keep them from going hungry.

but, I see this all the time.

see multiple shopping carts filled to overflowing with high end foodstuffs for individuals who could stand to lose a pound or fifty

Also see one cart for the food and another for the beer (usually a couple of twelve packs or a couple of cases) and dog food (always the biggest bag).

[madamemayhem]

The year was 1997. My son was 2 yrs old, my first husband was 30 and dying of lung cancer. He was unable to work and we were financially wrung out and getting by on disability payments from his employer. I was a stay at home mom who took care of the boy, the hubby, and everything else. We needed help and our families could not subsidize our household. I got qualified for WIC vouchers for our son. Great thing, made it a whole lot easier to buy nutritious food for the child. One problem, the vouchers required, seriously REQUIRED, us to purchase the more expensive name brand items. The list of brands was printed right on the voucher. I could have gotten 3 times as much of the same product if I had been allowed to get the generic. I suspect that food stamp programs might impose similar restrictions in some cases. That does not excuse the people who are abusing the system, and it says a lot about the system itself.

[publana]

I am ashamed to say I felt much as they before this family spent a year of sheer hell due to being unemployed. We were lucky and came out of it, but the majority have not. The hateful posters simply have no idea what it is like. “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:24

[bigredkitty1]

When you work for something, you take care of it better and hold on to it more tightly. For example: my first new car is my current 11 yr old Toyota. I was and am quite proud of it. I also take exceptional pride in the fact I have worked since I was 18 and have yet to resort to any form of assistance. I am currently(cough, cough 42).

[Cyber Liberty]

Where do I get mine? I can’t wait to give Peej the business about my FREE stuff! And I don’t have to shop at Walgreen’s for bread!

[bigredkitty1]

Sadly, you are correct.

[semantic]

Both sides of the political spectrum have more than their fair share of 'useful idiots'.

Those on the left believe in the efficacy of socialism, and consider prior failures as evidence merely of improper implementation.

Then we have those on the right who, if you can believe this, apparently think government programs are perhaps merely mismanaged. Like Charlie Brown, they keep stepping up to kick the football, never suspecting that there never has been, and never will be, any intention other than gaming the system.

Kabar, I'm talking to you buddy. Your bleetings about the GOP agreeing to raise the debt ceiling, subject to 'certain reasonable conditions', is why financial traders keep rolling in the dough. Just bet on the sucker (in this case, the US citizen) losing every time.

[familyop]

"They can’t. I can tell just by looking in their full carts they are gonna pay with an ebt card. Noone else shops the way food stamp people do nor are their carts as full."

Interesting. I'm not on any kind of welfare while getting huge amounts of groceries during shopping excursions. ...saves money on fuel, etc., and time. But we have noticed welfare recipients (unemployed corporate/government women, guessing from their dress, mannerisms and vehicles) buying small amounts of convenience items.