June 30th, 2012 
Up4Dsn 
Recently, some congressional Republicans made efforts to significantly decrease funding for food stamps. This is quite stunning when one of the largest increases in funding for the food stamps program occurred during President George W. Bush’s tenure in office. Support for food stamps should be a bipartisan issue. While I very much assent with the idea that people would rather have jobs than food stamps, until they have a sufficient job that pays them enough to purchase an adequate amount of food they still need food stamps. Regardless of our political ideologies and affiliations, we all can agree that we don’t want people to suffer from hunger in America.
In the greatest beacon of hope, freedom, and opportunity in the world, America is a place where no man, woman, boy or girl should experience starvation. Many Democrats and Republicans in Washington, D.C. are evincing that they are putting politics ahead of genuine concern for the welfare of the American people. Now, when politicians begin to diminish assuring that poor people have the necessary money to obtain adequate food, this indicates that we’ve arrived at a point in American history where we need to oust those politicians who don’t think it should be a vital economic priority of the government to provide meaningful support for the poor to have ample food.
For those politicians who are really willing to take food out of the mouths of people who cannot afford to get it on their own, you’re horrible human beings. Until you know what it feels like to suffer from hunger, you will never know just how essential food really is. Food stamps help to give individuals a needed confidence that they are not going to have to stay awake at night and wonder where their next meal is going to come from and how they are going to feed their children.
Although some people abuse food stamps, the majority of those who receive food stamps don’t abuse them and really need them. We have all heard of the outrageous abuses of food stamps, but those ridiculous abuses of food stamps should never be held against people who need them to survive. For most people who are given food stamps, they are a matter of survival for them. When food stamps are denied to people who need them, this means the government allows them to die.
Even with food stamps, I know people who legitimately don’t have enough to eat. For example, one young person told me that his mother spends their food stamps wisely and they still don’t have enough to eat. He says they have to eat egg sandwiches over and over just to make it until they get their next allotment of food stamps. For those of you who are fortunate enough to be able to eat whatever and whenever you want, how would you feel if you had to be in the situation of the previously mentioned young man?
The food stamps program is a useful governmental program that saves lives. While the food stamps program is certainly not perfect, it helps millions of individuals to have the food they need to survive and offers them a better quality of life. In America, we should encourage individual responsibility and self-sufficiency; however, when it’s not quite possible, there needs to be a pervasive understanding that government can play an important role in assisting those who cannot completely help themselves yet.
As the divisions between Republicans and Democrats grow intensely acrimonious, let’s not let politics and political differences cause us to start a war on the poor. When people are not able to purchase their own food, they are poor. They don’t need you to attack them—they need you to help feed them.
This piece is not an attack on any single party. This article strives to communicate that we all need to be more compassionate to the poor, namely when it comes to guaranteeing they have enough food to eat.
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Antonio Maurice Daniels is a Research Associate in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is working to obtain his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, specializing in Higher, Postsecondary, and Continuing Education (HPCE). His dominant research interests are the academic achievement of Black male students throughout the educational pipeline, especially Black male college student-athletes, and ecological sustainability in higher and postsecondary education. Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he plans to become a university professor at an elite research university and concentrate on Higher and Postsecondary Education.
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First let me say, AWESOME POST!!
I wonder how many people will speak up on this matter. Coming from someone who has first hand experience with this, I'm trying to figure out who society classifies as poor? Only for the mere fact that when the recession kicked in, we had people from "middle class" and "upper class" (however, not considerably rich) that were applying for food stamps. The cost of food went up, along with gas, along with the fact that no one could any longer afford the belongings that they had already had for years. WHERE the Dept. of Social Services (DSS) still told them that they could NOT receive them because they made well over enough money. My question? Says who?
Mr. Daniels, this right here was the kicker: "When food stamps are denied to people who need them, this means the government allows them to die."
My recent post Really?!
"Even with food stamps, I know people who legitimately don’t have enough to eat."
Food stamps are just like receiving a loan. The only thing a loan doesn't take into consideration is how many kids you have. However, they base this off your GROSS (LMAO!) and what bills you pay. This doesn't include gas, car maintenance, clothing, school items, or any other micellaneous "non-factor" items. No one calculates how much money they spend on food until you are given an "allotted" amount to stretch over a time span for a month. Basically, what they do is give you enough for a good 2 weeks. And they actually believe that $100 is suppose to feed one person for a whole month. I don't think anyone should have to choose between paying bills or eating. I have done it.
My recent post Really?!
I certainly agree with you that $100 is not enough to feed one person for an entire month. I also agree with you that no one should have to choose between paying the bills and eating.
My recent post The Value of Your Funk: Part One
Thank you very much. In as rich of a nation as we live in, hunger should never be a problem. Some conservatives believe that if you give people food stamps they will become dependent on them. However, I argue if you don't give people who need food stamps the food assistance they need then you let them die. I don't want my fellow Americans to die because they don't have food.
I would like to say firstly, that I believe that people that need assistance through food programs should be provided ample government assistance until they are able to provide for themselves and their families. However, this is now a political issue, because the MYTH that most people on food assistance are BLACK is being touted as truth. We now have a Black president, and what was not an issue under George W. Bush, has become a secret code word among racially polarized politicians with only one purpose: to defeat President Obama in November at any cost and that is saying it nicely. At the cost of the poor, children, elderly, middle-class, immigrants and our countries stability. So these Jim Crow and KKK members now suited and booted in our political system are still using divide, conqueror and destroy as a means. These heartless politicians are willing to allow anyone or specific segment of society to become collateral damage. We need to change the policymakers and then the policies that effect the most forgotten and overlooked can be effectively corrected.
When you have individual states that allow persons that win million dollar jackpots, continue to get food assistance benefits and have no way of detecting these frauds immediately, you have a system in which those that need help are frequently denied. So, we need to improve how these government programs are regulated and monitored. The same politicians that are crying about fiscal responsibility are the same ones protecting the rich and gutting the poor. Keep striving for TRUTH !
It's reckless politics when people will try to win at all costs. The largest percentage of food stamp recipients is White people (34%). The government can certainly do a better job of regulating and monitoring the food stamps program. The government should also look for ways to make the program more efficient without decreasing the amount of food that ends up on folks' tables. I very much appreciate you for reading and posting your insightful response.
My recent post The Value of Your Funk: Part One
I enjoyed this post, food stamps do help those who really need them. I used to get food stamps when I was on assistance and it helped a great deal. I never worried about out food situation. I miss them much…food prices have went up and like someone said before, they never factor in what we have to pay each month for things…and its a struggle but you have to do what is best. Food, before bills.
Excellent post!
My recent post Day 2: Where you’d like to be in 10 years.
Thank you very much! We need more commonsense politicians in Washington, D.C. who can relate to regular Americans who have to balance budgets and find ways to pay for the necessities of life. When politicians try to declare war on food stamp recipients, they only add to the struggles those people have to face. Thank you for reading and your response.
My recent post The Value of Your Funk: Part One