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Jackson,

The example you give is unfortunately the kind that is too often given when the issue of hunger and food stamps are discussed from the perspective of government handouts. On the other hand, there are MANY charitable organizations and individuals who do privately donate food to those in need. Have you ever eaten their food? It is subsistence level not usually nutritionally based.

I am guessing you have NO idea what cutting $40 from a monthly food stamp budget means to an individual or family that truly deserve and need the option of finding some health supportive food. In these cases, where special diets needs to be followed and private food pantry consumables will not support those needs, what happens costs much more than the $40 you believe will be saved. Serious illness can result followed by huge medical costs.

I agree with you about there being very little government oversight. In fact, staff as well as food stamps have been cut dramatically. Ours went from $367/month to $16/month. What can you buy for $16/month for two people. On the other hand, the government doles out money hand over fist for programs that would make your skin crawl. I do not have the statistics. If you do, please let us know. But I suspect that the attention that gets put on food stamp misappropriations is just a smokescreen for outrageous government expenses elsewhere that dwarf the food stamp issue.

We are touching on the tip of the iceberg of a much more serious set of issues related to food and expenses resulted from inadequate food, poor diet, etc. I think we need to keep our attention on the big picture. I do not know if the responsibility lies with the government or private industry. But if you look at major for profit food producing corporations and pharmaceutical companies, there are major signs of greed, no care for feeding the country healthy or healing illness. It is a totally money making business.

Clearly, you have picked a good place to start the discuss. But believe me, you have only opened the bucket of worms. We have not baited our hooks or gone fishing. There is much to be explored and revealed that can put your unfortunate example of social services exploitation in perspective.

From: Hunger is all around us, yet it doesn't have to be

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