Food Stamps

Submitted by Chris on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:57

I've been pretty busy the past few weeks (yes, still) but thought this was worth passing on. From The New York Times on Saturday:

More than 36 million people use inconspicuous plastic cards for staples like milk, bread and cheese, swiping them at counters in blighted cities and in suburbs pocked with foreclosure signs.

The united States population is estimated to be a little over 308 million, which means just shy of 11.7% of the country is using food stamps (or cards) now. And...

... the program is now expanding at a pace of about 20,000 people a day.

The article is littered with people who are embarrassed to be taking this aid. They are facing a rough time. Then I know people who sell these cards for half their value to "make money" that can be used for other things.

At more than 11% of our country, I wonder where the money is coming from. That's something else to add to my agenda when time opens up a little...