The Challenge Of Feeding America’s Hungry
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-12-05/challenge-feeding-america%E2%80%99s-hungry
Americans are relying on what we used to call food stamps in unprecedented numbers. According to figures released in September, more than 46 million Americans, about one in seven, are getting government assistance for food, but it’s estimated that millions more struggle with hunger. The nation’s food banks, supported by private dollars and donations, are straining to fill the gap. Federal funding for food stamps is not on the line in the current tax and spending negotiations, but some believe new limits on government food assistance programs are needed. Please join us to discuss hunger in America and what we can do about it.
Guests
Stephen Moore
member of the Wall Street Journal's editorial board.
Deborah Flateman
CEO, Maryland Food Bank.
Stacy Dean
vice president of food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Eric Olsen
senior vice president of government relations at Feeding America.
Comments
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I must've heard a different program yesterday. I thought Mr. Moore was calm, well-prepared and at times, thoughtful in his remarks. The rhetoric I've read in here shows how some of you will use any type of social topic as a platform simply to convince the rest of us how liberal and compassionate you are. The intellectual dishonesty used by some of you is impressive. It's a good thing I am not easily "offended"
ridovem wrote:
"I think George W. Bush has a degree from Yale, and has flown a jet plane."
Yes. But he doesn't have a degree in economics and years of experience as an economist. That's what made Moore appropriate for this program.
"Stephen Moore wants to "break that cycle of poverty" in the cities from which capital has fled to Asia, and left behind the work force that made America great. He has no 'solutions' beyond "people should have to work for any government benefits".
Correct. And I agree with him. You could ask yourself why those companies left, but that is another topic entirely. The idea that people should work for benefits was not a "solution". He even said, "even if it is some kind of make-work". Read my earlier post on this topic.
"In short, he's a "know-nothing" and a hypocrite (whatever his 'qualifications' may be)".
You still have not demonstrated that he's either a "know-nothing" or a "hypocrite". He's just presented different ideas than you have. That makes him neither of those.
And, btw, if you still don't think he's qualified, blame Diane and her producers, not Stephen Moore. They asked him on the show. All he did was say "yes".
Given that SNAP looks and acts like a debit card how would have known if this person was on assistance.
Also even if you knew they were, which I doubt, having a cell phone is not a crime nor is it something people who are on assistance should be without. How do you know it was a Smart phone? My phone looks like one but is not. This person could have lost their job and might have had a better lifestyle before. The other comment about cable TV is also suspicious. I doubt you're telling the truth here.
The largest issue I have with your comment, much like Stephen Moore' is that it's just somehow does not pass the smell test. It seems made up, and it sounds like the stories one here's on the right. But lets say it is true. That this one person is somehow abusing the system. It's one out of millions.
You sound self-righteous and on top of that just plane nasty.
Here's a stat for you: 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 are living in poverty in one the wealthiest nation on the planet.
Free handouts indeed.
Aristide2 wrote:
"In defense of the individual buying crab legs with food stamps: Things may not always be as they seem. We bring our self-righteous judgement based on our own reality and experience. Imagine a different reality, if you will... It could be that man had an ailing wife at home, it was her birthday or their anniversary, he knew it was their last meal together. Crab legs were her favorite food, it was what they ate the night he proposed, or maybe it was her last request before she was put on her hospice IV. OR... maybe he was short-listed for a writing assignment with a food or local culture magazine, interested in seeing his creative writing skills, where he would receive a commission for his work., in hopes of getting off food stamps. Or... I could dream up any number of possible scenarios."
Yeah. Or maybe he was just gaming the system and you are an easy mark. Thanks for the chuckle though, that was really funny! I get that you want to feel "compassion and empathy" but remember that you are buying that compassion and empathy with OPM.
"And in response to Steven's outburst, " Well, I suppose you think our taxpayers ought to be buying him lobster!" I say, why shouldn't he be "allowed " to eat lobster, crab legs or anything he chooses?!"
Because he's doing it on OUR DIME. That's why! The earlier post that talked about food centers that would only offer healthy foods to create balanced diets was the best comment on the board. But our current SNAP program proves that when you leave government bureaucrats to design and run a system, it's going to turn out bad.
"Given that SNAP looks and acts like a debit card how would have known if this person was on assistance."
"The other comment about cable TV is also suspicious. I doubt you're telling the truth here."
Don't know whom you are addressing but I'll respond since I'm right here. On the first point, both my sons work for our local grocery store chain. They see it DAILY.
On the cable TV, I have seen it for myself - cell phones too, paid for with our tax dollars - whether Smart phones or not.
"That this one person is somehow abusing the system. It's one out of millions."
Did you even listen to the show? Actually it's about 4%. That's 4 out of 100, not "1 in a million".
"You sound self-righteous and on top of that just plane nasty."
"Here's a stat for you: 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 are living in poverty in one the wealthiest nation on the planet. "
Then get thee to a food pantry and roll up your sleeves. As I have mentioned here, not to boast, but to point to the hypocrisy of the left, I tithe my income - not to the church - but to the POOR; to organizations that provide food, shelter, and clothing. But I'm "just plane[sic] nasty"! Why don't you put your money where your mouth is? Or if you can't afford to do that, then go work for a food pantry or a homeless shelter. Oh, but then you wouldn't be able to use OPM to have the "government" do it for you, would you?
@ Ecgberht et all: What we're missing here is simple Dignity. When you take away a person's dignity, for any reason, you remove hope and possibilities. Please reference: www.drdonnahicks.com About the Declaration of Dignity:
"The Declaration of Dignity project is designed to raise awareness of the value and vulnerability of all human beings. The goal is to help us begin shaping a world in which we are all considered invaluable, priceless and irreplaceable."
Remember, everyone has a story. Don't be so quick to judge.
Aristide2 wrote:
"Remember, everyone has a story. Don't be so quick to judge."
Judge? Who's judging? Nobody is judging anybody!
Anybody can be down in their circumstances - sometimes through no fault of their own. As a Christian, I believe it is OUR responsibility to care for our fellow man, not the government's. And, in fact, the more governments do, the less individual people tend to do. Why should they? "The gubmint will do fer them, I'll jist buy me a new flat screen".
As for Ms. Hick's Dignity Project, more power to her. I also look at that from a Christian perspective, recognizing that Christ loves every one of these people and sees every one as "priceless and irreplacable". Unfortunately, we have the whole of human history to show us that from the human point of view, life is cheap. That's a sad commentary on our species, but I don't expect it to change that much. The only thing that you or I can control is what WE, as individuals, do about it.
"foxy wrote:
It is deception of the first order to make people think we have to push out the Medicare and Social Security eligibility age because we live longer. When you look at the longevity of people in other countries, you will see that all the developed countries, which all have national health care, have a longevity of several years more than we do, BECAUSE they have all put into place programs that provide health care for ALL AGES, not just the older people.
...
December 7, 2012 - 10:48 am"
It's worse than that. The SS System is solvent for at least 20-30 Years, but the Bloodsuckers don't want to redeem the Bonds they gave us when they borrowed the Surpluses.
The reason they want to-
1) Raise the retirement age.
2) Increase Premiums.
3) Decrease Benefits by-
a) Decreasing Benefits by Fiat.
b) Decreasing Benefits by ReIndexing for Inflation, in addition to-
I) The already Gross understatement of the CPI/COLA engineered by Ms. Smirky "Let em eat cake" Stephen Moore's Bosses, Reagan/Gingrich.
, is in order to increase the Surpluses even more so they can borrow that and not pay that back either.
They are pi_sed because the Democrats wouldn't let them use SS premiums to unload their crappy Stocks on the Public before the real bottom really falls out.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com