S.N.A.P (food stamps) is a collossal failure.

[OldWiseGuy]

I just heard that 30 million Americans, mostly children, go to bed hungry each night. You would think we could craft a food program to help them.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

You can't! That's socialism!

"Thou shalt pull your own weight and not rely on the government, so sayeth the Lord!" ~Reagan 19:81

 

[Basil the Great]

I was a food stamp worker decades ago for two years. I would not say that the program is a huge failure. Obviously, it has not solved the problem of hunger in America, but things would be worse without it.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I was a food stamp worker decades ago for two years. I would not say that the program is a huge failure. Obviously, it has not solved the problem of hunger in America, but things would be worse without it.

I'm guessing that most of the 30 million mentioned are actually on food stamps or other food assistance programs. My question is why they are still hungry?

 

[Basil the Great]

I'm guessing that most of the 30 million mentioned are actually on food stamps or other food assistance programs. My question is why they are still hungry?

It is possible that the increases in food stamp (now SNAP) benefits over the years has not kept pace with the increased cost of food. There are probably other answers, but that is the one that comes to me off the top of my head anyway.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

It is possible that the increases in food stamp (now SNAP) benefits over the years has not kept pace with the increased cost of food. There are probably other answers, but that is the one that comes to me off the top of my head anyway.

I've already researched that aspect. SNAP benefits are well researched and quite generous regarding food costs.

 

[Basil the Great]

Well, I have not researched the subject since I left the food stamp program not too long after the end of the Ford recession. I can tell you that back then we only gave out $50.00 a month for a single adult to live on, if they had no income at all. How someone could have lived on $50.00 per month, even in the mid to late 1970's is beyond me.

 

[Chesterton]

Well, I have not researched the subject since I left the food stamp program not too long after the end of the Ford recession. I can tell you that back then we only gave out $50.00 a month for a single adult to live on, if they had no income at all. How someone could have lived on $50.00 per month, even in the mid to late 1970's is beyond me.

An inflation calculator tells me that $50 in 1975 is equivalent to $234.34 today. I could easily eat for a month on that.

 

[Basil the Great]

An inflation calculator tells me that $50 in 1975 is equivalent to $234.34 today. I could easily eat for a month on that.

Yes, if SNAP provides $234.34 per month for one person with no income, that should be sufficient, if one is careful. However, I would be surprised if the program is so generous.

 

[bekkilyn]

Doesn't mean that they're getting $234.34 today though. They could very well still be getting around $50. Wages haven't risen with inflation, so maybe food stamps haven't either.

 

[nanookadenord]

An inflation calculator tells me that $50 in 1975 is equivalent to $234.34 today. I could easily eat for a month on that.

I can tell you that I know someone who is on disability, gets less than $1000 with that disability check a month and has to pay rent, electric, gas, and gas for their car and they have two kids. They get $234 a month.

No, SNAP hasn't kept up with the rising cost of food at all.

 

[Hammster]

I used to work for Schwan’s in the early 2000s. I had a lot of EBT customers. Done with families would get about $1100 a month. They would spend a good portion on expensive frozen food.

So, it isn’t the program (though I’m sure that there is room for improvement). The problem is that too many people buy processed food, which is more expensive.

FWIW, my family of 7 spends less than $1000 a month on groceries.

 

[JohnC2]

Persuade me with the actual data and actual studies that your assertion about 30 million American children “going to bed hungry” means “diagnosed by a doctor as medically malnourished”.

I would expect that 100% of sixteen year old kids will always say they are “hungry” no matter how much they eat.

But that’s far far away from malnourished.

 

[Tanj]

I just heard that 30 million Americans, mostly children, go to bed hungry each night.

I've heard that is entirely incorrect. Luckily, the random person I listen too is more credible than yours.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I'm guessing that most of the 30 million mentioned are actually on food stamps or other food assistance programs. My question is why they are still hungry?

I would guess that the main reason is our welfare programs are inadequate.

 

[Robert65]

You can't! That's socialism!

"Thou shalt pull your own weight and not rely on the government, so sayeth the Lord!" ~Reagan 19:81

What about those who can't, like the disabled, like me?

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[Kentonio]

I used to work for Schwan’s in the early 2000s. I had a lot of EBT customers. Done with families would get about $1100 a month. They would spend a good portion on expensive frozen food.

So, it isn’t the program (though I’m sure that there is room for improvement). The problem is that too many people buy processed food, which is more expensive.

There's additional issues there though. If a family is living in low cost or temporary accomodation, they may not have the refridgeration/cooking facilities that most of us take for granted, and for parents working long hours lack the time for extensive food preparation. Putting a frozen meal in a microwave might be the best they can accomplish after working until late.

There's also issues of some areas not having easy access to low cost fresh foods, and of course some people lacking the education to know how to cook properly.

 

[Robert65]

It was a joke. I'm on disability too.

My apologies. Jokes do not always translate well online and I am new and yet to have a feel for the forums.

 

[Hammster]

There's additional issues there though. If a family is living in low cost or temporary accomodation, they may not have the refridgeration/cooking facilities that most of us take for granted, and for parents working long hours lack the time for extensive food preparation. Putting a frozen meal in a microwave might be the best they can accomplish after working until late.

There's also issues of some areas not having easy access to low cost fresh foods, and of course some people lacking the education to know how to cook properly.

I was in their homes. That was not the case.