1 in 7 Americans now on Food Stamps - too many government handouts??

[Spark]

1 in 7 Americans rely on food stamps

A cashier in Massachusetts swipes a food stamp debit card provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The use of food stamps has increased dramatically in the U.S., as the federal government ramps up basic assistance to meet the demands of an increasingly desperate population.

The number of food stamp recipients increased 16% over last year. This means that 14% of the population is now living on food stamps. That's about 43 million people, or about one out of every seven Americans.

In some states, like Tennessee, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oregon, one in five people are receiving food stamps. Washington, D.C. leads the nation, with 21.5% of the population on food stamps.

"The high unemployment rate caused the high participation rate," said Dottie Rosenbaum from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.

But it's not just the nation's stubbornly high unemployment rate of 9.8% that's driving the increase in food stamp use. Some states are expanding their definitions of poverty to include more people.

At the same time, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act boosted annual funding to the nationwide food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, by $10 billion.

The average recipient receives $133 in food stamps per month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That amount varies from state to state; in Hawaii the average is $216, while it's $116 in Wisconsin.

But the Recovery Act funding increased the maximum food stamp benefit by 13.6%, which translates to about $20-24 dollars per person per month.

The U.S. government considers food stamps to be effective stimulus for the economy, because the recipients usually spend them right away.

Idaho saw the biggest increase in its food stamp program, with a spike of 39% compared to last year, followed by Nevada, at 29%, and New Jersey, at 27%.

New Jersey's food stamp program expanded at least in part because the state raised its poverty level in April, according to Nicole Brossoie of the state Department of Human Services. That let the state add 35,000 people to its food stamp rolls, an increase of 5%.

Also, Brossoie said that program has been made more accessible to poverty-stricken residents.

"Through newsletters, posters, counseling and other outreach, the stigma associated with food stamps has diminished and more individuals and families are seeking assistance," she said.

What happens when the jobless give up?

The government is also beefing up unemployment benefits. The unemployed will get a 13-month extension to file for additional unemployment benefits, which can last as long as 99 weeks in states hit hardest by job loss.

As the job market continues to dog the economy, the increase in food stamp funding is set to remain in place for nearly three years.

Dottie Rosenbaum said the hike in food stamp benefits is set to expire Nov. 1, 2013. Typically, food stamp funding increases every year to match inflation. But if Congress does not extend the stimulus funding beyond the 2013 cutoff, then food stamp benefits will revert to their original levels, but still be adjusted for inflation.

She said the budget office is forecasting a potential drop of $49 a month in food stamp benefits for a family of three, or $59 for a family of four, if the stimulus program is not continued.

President Obama, while signing a child nutrition bill on Dec. 13, said he was working with members of Congress to extend the food stamp funding.  

[jcheckers]

Where are the Jobs? For Many Companies, Overseas

From CBS News 12/28/10

Economic Policy Institute Says 1.4M Jobs Created Overseas by U.S. Companies, Compared to 1M Domestically

(AP) Corporate profits are up. Stock prices are up. So why isn't anyone hiring?

Actually, many American companies are just maybe not in your town. They're hiring overseas, where sales are surging and the pipeline of orders is fat.

The trend helps explain why unemployment remains high in the United States, edging up to 9.8 percent last month, even though companies are performing well: All but 4 percent of the top 500 U.S. corporations reported profits this year, and the stock market is close to its highest point since the 2008 financial meltdown.

But the jobs are going elsewhere. The Economic Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, says American companies have created 1.4 million jobs overseas this year, compared with less than 1 million in the U.S. The additional 1.4 million jobs would have lowered the U.S. unemployment rate to 8.9 percent, says Robert Scott, the institute's senior international economist.

"There's a huge difference between what is good for American companies versus what is good for the American economy," says Scott.

Like I always say.....Assholes!

[BettorsChat]

$133 a month for food? shit that's a lot of Raman noodles

[vols fan]

$133 a month for food? shit that's a lot of Raman noodles

Most of them that are on food stamps spend more than $133 on lotto tickets a month. I see it everyday in Atlanta. They drive a clunker and walk in with holes all in their clothes but drop $30 on the cash 3 drawing every night. It's sickening.

[buddyluv1968]

Most of them that are on food stamps spend more than $133 on lotto tickets a month. I see it everyday in Atlanta. They drive a clunker and walk in with holes all in their clothes but drop $30 on the cash 3 drawing every night. It's sickening.

I love you to death Vols but the lotto is a tax on the poor. Yes it is sickening but so is sports wagering. I go to the local riverboat alot and all you need to ask the dealers on what they see. They will be the first ones telling you about the people that gamble who cannot afford to but they do.....

[vols fan]

I love you to death Vols but the lotto is a tax on the poor. Yes it is sickening but so is sports wagering. I go to the local riverboat alot and all you need to ask the dealers on what they see. They will be the first ones telling you about the people that gamble who cannot afford to but they do.....

I'm sure your right about the dealers but I stand in line and the kids ask for stuff and it's no we don't have the money.But then when they get up front it's give me a 747 straight box and give me two of the $20 scratch offs. Just pisses me off. And you know what? What you say makes alot of since about the tax on the poor.Government knows the ones with the least are goint to waste all the money going after the easy life.That makes it even more sickening.

[harold_bush]

can't regulate stupid, and unfortuantely we have way too much stupid in this country.

[harold_bush]

From CBS News 12/28/10

Economic Policy Institute Says 1.4M Jobs Created Overseas by U.S. Companies, Compared to 1M Domestically

(AP) Corporate profits are up. Stock prices are up. So why isn't anyone hiring?

Actually, many American companies are just maybe not in your town. They're hiring overseas, where sales are surging and the pipeline of orders is fat.

The trend helps explain why unemployment remains high in the United States, edging up to 9.8 percent last month, even though companies are performing well: All but 4 percent of the top 500 U.S. corporations reported profits this year, and the stock market is close to its highest point since the 2008 financial meltdown.

But the jobs are going elsewhere. The Economic Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, says American companies have created 1.4 million jobs overseas this year, compared with less than 1 million in the U.S. The additional 1.4 million jobs would have lowered the U.S. unemployment rate to 8.9 percent, says Robert Scott, the institute's senior international economist.

"There's a huge difference between what is good for American companies versus what is good for the American economy," says Scott.

Like I always say.....Assholes!

Assholes? Corporations? Last I checked corporations are in business to make money. See, if they don't make money then they go out of business and then they don't employ anyone. You can thank the liberal politicians out there that create a terrible business environment for the big bad corporations. They are going overseas b/c our government and unions make it too difficult to make money over here without raising prices on consumers, something else people would bitch about. This isn't a Obama Utopia where everthing is supposed to work great even though the math behind it doesn't work. To stay in business you have to make money and it is simply tougher to make money in the US for corprations b/c of the high taxes and high wages.

[harold_bush]

If you buy lottery tickets while on food stamps/welfare you should immediately have that benefit stripped. Once I'm not paying for your food they may stop buying lottery tickets. The responsible people that are on welfare/food stamps simply b/c they have fallen on hard times don't piss their money away on lottery tickets. The are embarrassed to be on it and work their butts off to get off of it. It is the career shitheads/slugs that are buying the lottery tickets.

[Spark]

Assholes? Corporations? Last I checked corporations are in business to make money. See, if they don't make money then they go out of business and then they don't employ anyone. You can thank the liberal politicians out there that create a terrible business environment for the big bad corporations. They are going overseas b/c our government and unions make it too difficult to make money over here without raising prices on consumers, something else people would bitch about. This isn't a Obama Utopia where everthing is supposed to work great even though the math behind it doesn't work. To stay in business you have to make money and it is simply tougher to make money in the US for corprations b/c of the high taxes and high wages.

If you buy lottery tickets while on food stamps/welfare you should immediately have that benefit stripped. Once I'm not paying for your food they may stop buying lottery tickets. The responsible people that are on welfare/food stamps simply b/c they have fallen on hard times don't piss their money away on lottery tickets. The are embarrassed to be on it and work their butts off to get off of it. It is the career shitheads/slugs that are buying the lottery tickets.

[BettorsChat]

Assholes? Corporations? Last I checked corporations are in business to make money. See, if they don't make money then they go out of business and then they don't employ anyone. You can thank the liberal politicians out there that create a terrible business environment for the big bad corporations. They are going overseas b/c our government and unions make it too difficult to make money over here without raising prices on consumers, something else people would bitch about. This isn't a Obama Utopia where everthing is supposed to work great even though the math behind it doesn't work. To stay in business you have to make money and it is simply tougher to make money in the US for corprations b/c of the high taxes and high wages.

Big Corps have been making boat loads of money for a long time. Then we have NAFTA enacted by Reagon and signed by George W. Bush NAFTA which lead to sending more jobs over seas so Big Corp could pay $2-$5 per hour and make more money. The primary downside of NAFTA is the fact that it enables large corporations that are only concerned with profit to appeal to the workforce and resources of neighboring countries in an effort to circumvent domestic expenses. This invariably weakens the domestic economy, resulting in lost jobs, lower wages, and the acceptance of less worker rights in exchange for job security.

Also 10 years after passing the bill to not regulate the banks look what happened. They all were sticking their hands out asking for monies. Why should they need money when they outsource almost everything? Deregulation was pure BS. Now the banks aren't loaning monies to people who need it.

Oh, and let's not forget the Supreme Court allowing Big Corps to buy elections. These companies can make money and have more of their Jobs right here in the USA. I can't tell you how sick I am of calling in for support and not being able to understand half of what these dumb asses on the phone are saying.


Public opinion
In the United States there is a strong public opinion against outsourcing (especially when combined with offshoring) because it leads to job displacement.[citation needed] However, outsourcing supporters[who?] draw on mainstream economics to argue that outsourcing should bring down prices, providing greater economic benefit to all.

[edit]Standpoint of labor
From the standpoint of labor outsourcing may represent a new threat, contributing to worker insecurity, and reflective of the general process of globalization.[32]

On June 26, 2009, Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, called for the United States to increase its manufacturing base employment to 20% of the workforce commenting that the U.S. has outsourced too much and can no longer rely on consumer spending to drive demand.[33]

A Zogby International poll conducted in August 2004 found that 71% of American voters believed that “outsourcing jobs overseas” hurt the economy while another 62% believed that the U.S. government should impose some legislative action against companies that transfer domestic jobs overseas, possibly in the form of increased taxes on companies that outsource

It is argued that lowering the corporate income tax and ending the double-taxation of foreign-derived revenue (taxed once in the nation where the revenue was raised, and once from the U.S.) will alleviate corporate outsourcing and make the U.S. more attractive to foreign companies. However, while the US has a high official tax rate, the actual taxes paid by US corporations may be considerably lower due to the use of tax loopholes, tax havens, and attempts to "game the system".[39] Rather than avoiding taxes, outsourcing may be mostly driven by the desire to lower labor costs (see standpoint of labor above). Sarbanes-Oxley has also been cited as a factor for corporate flight from U.S. jurisdiction.

Outsourcing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[BettorsChat]

And China imports I believe are 10-1 dollar wise vs. the USA exports to them which is BS.