"There are no dirt poor Americans any more" - True or False?

[Susita 175]

Sure one could argue that well they should of had a savings account but I think that we have take into account people are not perfect and make sure as a collective not to treat everybody as perfect and help them in times like this.

It's true but we also have to take into account that some people have very low paying jobs and live paycheck to paycheck with very little or no savings.

In any case, abuse of any government program is wrong but ultimately, it's the government who allows the abuse. People wouldn't abuse the system if it wasn't possible to do so. No matter what in any society, people will take advantage where they can. It sucks that people like this exist but they do.

[_Simpson_ 250]

It's true but we also have to take into account that some people have very low paying jobs and live paycheck to paycheck with very little or no savings.

In any case, abuse of any government program is wrong but ultimately, it's the government who allows the abuse. People wouldn't abuse the system if it wasn't possible to do so. No matter what in any society, people will take advantage where they can. It sucks that people like this exist but they do.

Yes that is why conservatives argue for small government. You cant expect one to give money to a organization and have them spend it as it was there own hard earned money. Less government less abuse

[ScooterMac 2]

False. Some housing I've seen in parts of Appalachia are definately comparable to some of the housing I've seen in Guatemala. The family we went to work with in Kentucky two years ago had 4 kids and 2 adults in a 1.5 bedroom house (the second bedroom was more like a large closet). The husband was unable to work (PTSD) and the wife gathered roots and herbs in the mountains to take into town to sell when she could get a ride. The three younger children (elementary/middle school age) were bussed to a school about 20 minutes away, and the older boy (I think he was maybe 15) had dropped out because the high school was 3-4 miles away and wouldn't send the bus into the mountains to get him there. If I remember, he chopped wood and did farm work for a family down the road. The family had little food, unreliable electricity, bad water and little in the way of clothing. They were "doing well" for the area, since they had 4 solid walls and a roof. Some of their neighbors weren't so lucky.

And while most of America doesn't see that kind of poverty, there are a lot of working-poor adults, and a lot of hungry kids. I run a youth center that's often visited by "at-risk" or "low-income" kids. The local churches donate bread, peanut butter, and jelly (sometimes other snacks) so that kids can have something to eat after school (most kids are there from 2:30-6 or 7pm). When I tell the kids that it's time to clean up a few of them run to the back and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our cafe area to take home because there's no food at home. And these kids don't have big screen TVs, cell phones, etc. either. While poverty might not be as bad in the US as in other countries, there are still some families who are really struggling.

[Danno 1,228]

False. Some housing I've seen in parts of Appalachia are definately comparable to some of the housing I've seen in Guatemala. The family we went to work with in Kentucky two years ago had 4 kids and 2 adults in a 1.5 bedroom house (the second bedroom was more like a large closet). The husband was unable to work (PTSD) and the wife gathered roots and herbs in the mountains to take into town to sell when she could get a ride. The three younger children (elementary/middle school age) were bussed to a school about 20 minutes away, and the older boy (I think he was maybe 15) had dropped out because the high school was 3-4 miles away and wouldn't send the bus into the mountains to get him there. If I remember, he chopped wood and did farm work for a family down the road. The family had little food, unreliable electricity, bad water and little in the way of clothing. They were "doing well" for the area, since they had 4 solid walls and a roof. Some of their neighbors weren't so lucky.

And while most of America doesn't see that kind of poverty, there are a lot of working-poor adults, and a lot of hungry kids. I run a youth center that's often visited by "at-risk" or "low-income" kids. The local churches donate bread, peanut butter, and jelly (sometimes other snacks) so that kids can have something to eat after school (most kids are there from 2:30-6 or 7pm). When I tell the kids that it's time to clean up a few of them run to the back and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our cafe area to take home because there's no food at home. And these kids don't have big screen TVs, cell phones, etc. either. While poverty might not be as bad in the US as in other countries, there are still some families who are really struggling.

With these reports of hunger are we to assume these people are to proud to take food stamps?

If a family of 3 gets $526 per month in food stamps this family of 6 would be drawing $800- a Grand.

I too have been to some very poor places in Appalachia and it's true some of the homes are quite run down but the last time I went with a group to give out food clothes and Christmas gifts... we couldn't find enough takers and ended up dropping off a fair amount at a local food bank type place.

To be honest most people who did come, had fairly late model cars and name brand clothes... except one family in this crappy minivan.

In fact on that same weekend I was up there in Gary WV, I was approached by two church groups inviting me to come get stuff they were giving away when I was out walking around the area.

They evidently thought I was from there.

[ScooterMac 2]

With these reports of hunger are we to assume these people are to proud to take food stamps?

If a family of 3 gets $526 per month in food stamps this family of 6 would be drawing $800- a Grand.

I too have been to some very poor places in Appalachia and it's true some of the homes are quite run down but the last time I went with a group to give out food clothes and Christmas gifts... we couldn't find enough takers and ended up dropping off a fair amount at a local food bank type place.

To be honest most people who did come, had fairly late model cars and name brand clothes... except one family in this crappy minivan.

In fact on that same weekend I was up there in Gary WV, I was approached by two church groups inviting me to come get stuff they were giving away when I was out walking around the area.

They evidently thought I was from there.

Quite honestly, I don't know if they took food stamps or not. I was there to help put an addition onto their house so the 3 older boys had a room to sleep in. I can tell you for sure that they were proud people - the father and the two older boys were quite ashamed to have people there to help them, and it was obvious that they were uncomfortable even though they acknowledged that the work was necessary. In this area, even if they were getting food stamps, it's a couple miles to the closest store and they don't have a vehicle. This family didn't have the space in their kitchen to store $800 worth of food, and with unreliable electricity, they couldn't keep much in their fridge either. The Mother was embarassed that she didn't have food or coffee to share with us, and was more embarassed to realize that we were used to using toilet paper. We'd brought our own along, because we didn't know what to expect on-site, but she felt really badly about it.

Maybe the area you were in was a "better" area than where I was helping. These people had it rough.

As for whether or not the kids at the youth center are on food stamps....again, I couldn't tell you. I'm there to help the kids during the time I have with them, not to ask questions about their parents finances. I know a lot of the local families get food from the food bank, and I'm sure at least some of them are on food stamps....but the kids don't get to decide what their family's food stamps buy and how much is provided to them. All they know is that they're hungry and there's no food for them at home.

[mawilson 2,133]

There is a case to be made for temp help, but think of all the folks we could be helping if we weren't over doing it on food stamp dollars.

Instead of food stamps, just send them food. Preferably healthy food, like fruit and vegetables.

There will be no abuse if they can't use food stamps as payment for something other than food.

Edited January 14, 2010 by mawilson

[ScooterMac 2]

Instead of food stamps, just send them food. Preferably healthy food, like fruit and vegetables.

There will be no abuse if they can't use food stamps as payment for something other than food.

The problem with sending fruit and vegetables is that both go bad quickly (unless you mean the canned variety, which isn't quite as good as fresh, but still better than cheeze-its). We have fresh fruits and veggies out for the kids daily, along with making for PB&Js. We don't get too many complaints

[mawilson 2,133]

The problem with sending fruit and vegetables is that both go bad quickly

Yes, but not *that* quickly. Keep them refrigerated and they should be good for a week.

One shipment per week - problem solved.

[ScooterMac 2]

Yes, but not *that* quickly. Keep them refrigerated and they should be good for a week.

One shipment per week - problem solved.

Yes, but as I pointed out in the case of our family in KY, refrigeration isn't always a given in cases of extreme poverty. Neither is electricity.

[Danno 1,228]

Instead of food stamps, just send them food. Preferably healthy food, like fruit and vegetables.

There will be no abuse if they can't use food stamps as payment for something other than food.

Dude, that is a great idea!

Why are we taking money from Citizen "A" to give it to Citizen "B" to buy Cheetos and Mountain Dew?

We could offer them healthy food..... hey man, take it or leave it.

[mawilson 2,133]

Dude, that is a great idea!

Why are we taking money from Citizen "A" to give it to Citizen "B" to buy Cheetos and Mountain Dew?

We could offer them healthy food..... hey man, take it or leave it.

[ScooterMac 2]

So only the poor who have enough money to afford both steady electric payments and have access to some form of refrigeration would be able to get food from you. How generous

I don't agree with our current system, to be sure....but excluding the poorest of the poor isn't really helping them, either.

More to the point, dirt poor doesn't just mean hungry - it can also mean lack of shelter, lack of suitable clothing (I have a 6th grader who was coming in with flip flops and no jacket, and we live in the snowbelt), lack of access to sanitation facilities, lack of "necessities" (electric, heat, etc), in some cases lack of education.... There's a lot more to poverty than just being hungry.

[mawilson 2,133]

So only the poor who have enough money to afford both steady electric payments and have access to some form of refrigeration would be able to get food from you. How generous

I'm sure there's a way to give the poor food without giving them money.

How about government-run soup kitchens where they can get three free meals a day

(breakfast, lunch and dinner) if they can demonstrate hardship?

[ScooterMac 2]

I'm sure there's a way to give the poor food without giving them money.

How about government-run soup kitchens where they can get three free meals a day

(breakfast, lunch and dinner) if they can demonstrate hardship?

Sounds great...I wish it worked that way! The major issue I'd see with it is that it would only benefit the people in a certain area. For example, the poor people who live in our town wouldn't be able to get to Erie (the nearest "large" city). We get the Erie bus once a week in my town, and a lot of the people who can't afford food can't afford taxis/cars/etc. You'd have to have transportation, housing nearby, or only cater to people within a mile or two.

We have a few soup kitchens/food lines in the city, but most aren't open for 3 meals. In Columbus, where I used to live, there was a church that gave out free lunches everyday...the stuff seemed to mostly be products from vending machines (the refrigerated kind that you find in many large corporate breakrooms) that had gone a day or two past their sell-by date - sandwiches, soups, etc. They always had a huuuuge line out the door, and I don't think I ever saw anyone walk away empty-handed. That was a great program for the people who utilized it.

Edited January 14, 2010 by ScooterMac

[AlHayatZween 2]

i thought you couldn't collect food stamps if you were working? or is that a different welfare program?