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The Growth of the Food Stamp Program
I have difficulty in wrapping my mind around a billion dollars, but a story in the local morning paper drew my eyes to a more eyebrow-raising figure: 100-BILLION DOLLARS. This is the projected cost of a new five year farm bill. Legislators who voted for it say it represents some major cuts; less subsidies to farmers not to grow crops and a bit more money to fight fraud.
The item that most gained my attention had to do with "Food Stamps," the popular name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), under the aegis of our Department of Agriculture. I was shocked to learn that nearly all of the money in the so-called "Farm Bill," goes to SNAP, and not to give assistance, deserved or otherwise, to farmers.
I know of no one who would deny assistance to the many needy who suffer from hunger, especially children. Let's define hunger as being the compelling need for nutritious food. In an effort to understand this anomaly in the richest nation on earth, I could not keep from looking up some numbers about Food Stamps, or SNAP, if you prefer. These statistics are furnished by the Federal Budget Office.
In 1969, there were 2 million, 878 thousand people in America who were on Food Stamps. Last year (2013), this number had exploded to 47,636-million people. That means that about one out of every seven Americans got food stamps last year. Certainly not a SNAP to capitalize (If it's true). One Out of Every Seven Americans is Unable to Purchase a Sufficient Amount of Food to Sustain Themselves, and/or their Dependants.
Imagine that you are at a football stadium and one out of every seven persons is holding a flag identifying themselves as a Monthly Food Stamp recipient. The other taxpayers are footing the bill, to fund, not only the food, but the cost of administration of this mammoth program.
Forgive me if I sound incredulous, but there's more...
Even people already getting Federal benefits such as "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" are also automatically eligible for the full allotment of Food Stamps.
From 2007 through 2011, the Food Stamp program balooned by 135%. Economists blame most of this on a weak economy. Another factor has to be the inexorable increase in the price of food. (Back when I studied Economics 101, prices were supposed to go down when buyers had less money. What's going on with that?)
I can't help wondering if some part of this Food Stamp Black Hole can be blamed on envy, and perhaps a tiny bit on greed. The old "If the family down the block can go to Las Vegas (or enjoy some other frivolity) and still qualify for Food Stamps, why not us" syndrome kicks in.
It's a sad commentary, but I think that investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice for fraud needs to be greatly enhanced, beginning with retailers and others who traffic in Food Stamps and offenders who do not deserve them. I believe that would be a good investment.
-Phil Richardson, Storyteller and Observer of the Human Condition.
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