I am here to discuss the recent
cuts to the Food Stamp program. When president Obama took office he vowed to
increase equality, but these food stamp cuts reverse any glimpse of that
promise. His actions are barbaric and the rest of the government deserves as
much accountability as he does.
Lets look at the savings. 850,000
are expected to lose $90 a month in food stamp funds. That works out to 76.5
million per month or 918 million per year, a sizeable savings. If the
government were fiscally responsible in all arenas of the budget then I would
say this might be a more agreeable cut. Make people earn what they need to
survive. I, however, realize what a joke the federal budget is. The wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq have cost the US citizens 6 trillion dollars (enough to
fund the Food stamp cuts for 6000 years) or the fact that we spend 10's of
billions of dollars a year to upgrade weapons. Lets not forget the numerous
defense systems which we spill money into which are located in areas which we
will most likely never use. I'd be all for this if our budget was endless, but
when we decide that its time for our citizens to starve its time to re-allocate
resources.
Lets not
forget the outlay of the food stamp program. 45-50 percent of food stamp
recipients are children (under 18) and 10 percent are elderly (60 or older).
Additionally, 40 percent of those receiving food stamps are in households with
incomes. Reports are surfacing nationwide of food pantries now running low on
food due to the food stamp cuts and teachers are reporting children hungrier
than usual.
Its time to
reverse these cuts and find budget cuts elsewhere.
--Averell Luedecker
