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Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2052
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 10:17 am: | 
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Lawmakers Find $21 a Week Doesn't Buy a Lot of Groceries
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) stood before the refrigerated section of the Safeway on Capitol Hill yesterday and looked longingly at the eggs.
At $1.29 for a half-dozen, he couldn't afford them.
Ryan and three other members of Congress have pledged to live for one week on $21 worth of food, the amount the average food stamp recipient receives in federal assistance. That's $3 a day or $1 a meal. They started yesterday.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), co-chairmen of the House Hunger Caucus, called on lawmakers to take the "Food Stamp Challenge" to raise awareness of hunger and what they say are inadequate benefits for food stamp recipients. Only two others, Ryan and Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), took them up on it.
"All of us in Congress live pretty good lives," said McGovern, who ate a single banana for breakfast yesterday and was going through caffeine withdrawal by midday. "We don't have to wake up worrying about the next meal. But there are a lot of Americans who do. I think it's wrong. I think it's immoral that in the U.S., the richest country in the world, people are hungry."
McGovern and Emerson have introduced legislation that would add $4 billion to the annual federal food stamp budget, which was $33 billion last year and covered 26 million Americans. The proposal could be incorporated by Congress into the new farm bill.
"We're trying to get this debate going," McGovern said. "There are more working people today getting food stamps than six years ago. . . . There's not a member of Congress that doesn't have hunger in their district."
According to the rules of the challenge, the four House members cannot eat anything beside their $21 worth of groceries. That means no food at the many receptions, dinners and fundraisers that fill a lawmaker's week.
At yesterday's weekly lunch meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, McGovern was mesmerized by an attractive roast beef sandwich with cheese. He noted the potato chips came in two flavors: sour cream and plain. But his own lunch consisted of some lentils he cooked for himself and brought to work in a plastic container.
This morning McGovern is hosting a fundraising breakfast for his reelection at Bistro Bis, the restaurant in the Hotel George. The catering charge is $20 per person for the breakfast -- nearly McGovern's entire food budget for this week -- but he won't be eating any of it.
And tonight he is to attend a fundraising dinner for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) thrown at the Georgetown mansion of oil heir Smith Bagley. "I guess I'll just drink tap water," McGovern said.
McGovern and his wife, Lisa, did their food shopping for the week with help from Toinette Wilson, a D.C. resident and mother of three who relies on food stamps. Wilson gave him some tips, but it was still a struggle, he said.
"No organic foods, no fresh vegetables, we were looking for the cheapest of everything," McGovern said. "We got spaghetti and hamburger meat that was high in fat -- the fattiest meat on the shelf. I have high cholesterol and always try to get the leanest, but it's expensive. It's almost impossible to make healthy choices on a food stamp diet."
The McGoverns have exempted their two children, ages 5 and 9, from the challenge. "I'm lucky when they eat anything," McGovern said.
At the Safeway, Ryan seemed to grow depressed as he realized the limits of his budget. "It's unbelievable," he said, filling his small grocery basket with peanut butter, jelly and bread. He bought a big bag of cornmeal that he says he'll try to fashion into grits for breakfast and polenta for dinner. And he grabbed some canned tomato sauce and pasta on sale. No money for meat, milk, juice, fresh fruit or vegetables, save for a single head of 32-cent garlic to flavor the tomato sauce.
"I don't know if this is going to make it," said the third-term Democrat, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. "By the end of the week, I'm going to be eating cornmeal and strawberry preserves."
Both lawmakers will keep blogs about the experience, McGovern at http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com and Ryan at http://timryan.house.gov.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501957. html#
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 427
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 11:15 am: |
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Y'know, I think the gov't should reform the Food Stamp program and bar people from using food stamps to buy chips, soda, ice cream, and other junk food.
I think they should allow people to buy necessities such as soap, toilet paper, diapers, and toothpaste with food stamps.
It's so appalling to me when I go to supermarkets in inner city neighborhoods and I see mothers using their benefit cards to buy junk food for their kids. Those same $3 she's spending on a bag of Doritos, she could spend on a bag of apples. I think our country would be much healthier if she (and others who receive food stamps) couldn't purchase junk with them, but had to stick with real foods that offer nutrients and vitamins without the empty high calories, saturated fat, high sodium, and cholesterol.
That's the trouble, poor people eat poorly. Some of it has to do with economics, but some of it also has to do with bad food choices. So, if the gov't eliminates the opportunity for them to make bad food choices...less obesity, less heart disease, less hypertension, less high cholesterol, less Type 2 diabetes, less asthma, less arthritis, less cancer, etc. Better overall health, better teeth, better skin, better vision, better hearing, better breathing, better concentration, better grades in school, better chance of longevity, better chance to improve the quality of their lives so they won't need food stamps. But I guess this makes too much sense, so it'll never happen.
I also think it would help those who need food stamps if they could use them to buy the essentials mentioned above, instead of having to spend cash (or illegally trade in their food stamps) to be able to purchase something as necessary as soap.
So, the reform that I'd propose would be a trade-off. You can no longer buy junk food with your food stamps, but you can buy toothpaste with them now. It'll never happen! |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4425
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 11:49 am: |
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This is America. They can eat what they want. You can't make nobody eat anything. That junk food is the only pleasure they may get. So it ain't good for them.
It ain't poison else it would kill you when you eat it.
If you drink too much water it will kill you. Everything is bad. Living is bad. Live to long and you die.
To begrudge somebody a bag of potato chips because you feel it is better for them--jeez. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 4780
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 11:51 am: |
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You're right US - Our entire society is sick because so many people don't eat right, they're dehydrated, don't get enough sleep, can't think straight, no health care and all of that contributes to an endless cycle of more poverty and dispair. The food stamp program is intended to help people on a temporary basis, not as a lifelong solution. So instead of lamenting the state of the welfare and foodstamp programs, the Congress should focus their attention on improving education, training displaced workers, and bringing industry and jobs back to the U.S.A. so that able-bodied people can sustain themselves and not be dependent on measly govt handouts.
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4428
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 11:56 am: |
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the Congress should focus their attention on improving education, training displaced workers, and bringing industry and jobs back to the U.S.A. so that able-bodied people can sustain themselves and not be dependent on measly govt handouts.
(Never happen. And ain't none of y'all gonna do nothing about it. Your move) |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 4782
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 12:10 pm: |
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Bitchaboutit to your Congressman.
http://carnahan.house.gov/contact.shtml
You're welcome.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8636
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 12:32 pm: |
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What other response could we expect from that tub of lard, chrishayden? He'd eat anything, including his own s h i t because he thinks it doesn't stink. EWU |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4431
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 04:43 pm: |
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What other response could we expect from that tub of lard, chrishayden? He'd eat anything, including his own s h i t because he thinks it doesn't stink. EWU
(I'd gladly eat sh**, yours or anybody or anything else's than eat your lousy cooking) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8648
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 11:12 am: |
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Why would you have eating my cooking as an option, you addled brained idiot?? Are you living in a fantasy world??? |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2206
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 06:50 pm: |
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Urban scribe, where do you live where apples cost 3.00 a bag? They cost 5.00 a bag here at the Wal-Mart, and that's the cheapest place to get them. Two pears are about 1.50 (I LOOOOOOVE PEARS).
Oranges and bananas are cheap.
Damn, now I want a pear. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 428
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 08:59 pm: |
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I live in NYC and here you can get a 3lb bag of small-medium apples for $3 - about a dozen apples to the bag. IIRC, Renata, you live in GA. I lived in GA for close to three years and the prices for meat and produce there are out-phukin-rageous. I never understood why; considering GA's a southern state and lots of produce actually grow there, lots of cattle is actually raised there. Whereas in NY, nothing is really grown or raised here. But then when you compare rent, mortgage, car insurance - they're much, much cheaper in GA than NY. So, in GA you can have a nice home and drive a nice car, but you'll starve to death. In NY you can eat well, but you'll be homeless. I guess that's the gov't's way of balancing it all out. GO FIGURE.
Chris, I don't have the power to begrudge anyone anything. But no one can argue that eating donuts and chips and drinking soda on a regular basis is unhealthy. I like sweets and chips too, but as an OCCASSIONAL TREAT. And if those foods could not be readily purchased with food stamps, if people had to reach in their pockets to buy a snickers bar with CASH ONLY, trust me, they'll be more inclined to choose a banana that they can purchase with food stamps. And, if the only pleasure a person has in life is filling their minds and bodies with a regular diet of junk food - they need a lot more than food stamp ASSistance.
You're usually my man, but I've noticed you've been very cranky lately, Chris. Could it be all the junk you've been eating? |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 10:26 pm: |
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Beef, goat, and lamb is really expensive. Chicken and Turkey are cheap. Fish is cheap, too (certain kinds, like whiting are, while catfish and tilapia are expensive). Fruit is expensive, but veggies are cheap...which is really odd since GA is known for peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. I can't remember the last time I bought beef, and the last time I bought goat was when I was pregnant and HAD to have it.
I HAAAAAATE soda. I don't see how the FDA could qualify that crap as fit for human consumption. Some factory created sweetener and food color...no thanks. But enough people like it, I guess.
US, my husband used to live in NY and he tells me that people there think nothing of spending 40.00 for lunch every day and people have more money for things like that because hardly anyone owns a vehicle. |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2208
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 10:28 pm: |
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MS has by far the WORST eating habits ever....mostly carbs and anything that isn't a carb gets fried, sugared, or pickled. Ick. |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2349
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 12:28 pm: |
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urban scribe....in the nyc there is a greater range of choices [unless you live in the hood], also it is an international city and a very old history of commerce, it will have a greater variety and therefore cheaper fruit, etc...NYC, Manhattan especially, there is very few land, and this is why there are so many talk business...this, of course, makes renting hyper expensive.... |
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