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This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, friends or associates who may visit this blog or post their own opinions. In addition, my thoughts and opinions change from time to time…I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind and student of experience. This weblog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and manifestation of the various memes running around my brain, and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed within out-of-date posts may not the same, nor even similar, to those I may hold today. I consider the human race to be an evolving entity. Our views and standings in life are equally subject to our experiences, future knowledge, readings, and associations with other members of the human race. We should be allowed to be human and to be as the Creator intended, a free-will and independent entity who will err from time to time. Enjoy a trip around my brain.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Food for LIFE!

Jersey Mayor Cory Booker is planning on living on food stamps for a year after being challenged by a Twitter follower. Sounds crazy doesn't it? Reminds me of the political stunt orchestrated by then Mayor Jane Burn to live in Cabrini Green to prove it was safe. Despite the political motivations of Booker or anyone else, the larger issue, in my mind, is the complicated issue of hunger and poverty which affects millions of Americans in the richest nation on the planet.

This challenge between the NJ Mayor and the unknown Twitter Follower "TwitWit" began when "TwitWit" comment that "nutrition is not the responsibility of the government" before the conversation evolved into food stamps and "TwitWit" tweeted; "why is there a family today that is too poor to afford breakfast? Are they not already receiving food stamps?" This aimless comment prompted the challenge by the NJ Mayor. "lets you and I try to live on food stamps in New Jersey and feed a family for a week or month. U game?" "Sure, Mayor. I'm game," TwitWit responded and there the challenge was born.

This is a very interesting challenge to me because as we all know, NJ has a relatively high cost of living and it has been said that the food stamp total the Mayor and TwitWit will be using amounts to approximately $133.26 (US Department of Agriculture for NJ 2011). My math suggests that averages to approximately $1.43/meal just barely enough to purchase ONE item on the McDonald's dollar menu. I don't think any of us would thin we could feed a family on this amount.

To add insult to injury Andrea Tantaros, a Fox Television pundit when asked about the challenge stated living on a $133/monthly food allowance would make her look "fabulous....I should try it because do you know how fabulous I'd look? I'd be so skinny. I mean, the camera adds ten pounds, it really does. I'd be looking great." This comment about the harsh reality which affects about 50 million people is insensitive and callous. According the to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), households have a monthly income of about $731 and over 75% include a child or elderly or disabled person. WithOUT SNAP, I would guess millions of more Americans would go hungry.

Tantaros' uneducated response to an everyday issue is unfortunate especially when she has access to such a powerful venue like Fox News. What Tantaros and TwitWit don't realize is food stamps and other assistance programs is not a lot. It helps somewhat and can probably keep them from taking up the "sport" of dumpster diving and eating garbage but it is at the end of the day a very low budget for food and to feed a family. So, what comes with having a low food budget? Well, in my experience it means the food choices are very limited and the recipients normally fill up on high carbs and high fat food choices which are normally high in sugars and low in vegetables and nutrition. This leads to obesity and other abnormalities like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes which lead to strokes, heart attacks and early death or long term hospital care.

Fox News is a far leaning right wing channel and most of the pundits and commentaries who are on the channel seem to speak from a very high horse. Remember, this is the same network where Sean Hannity has a show. Hannity you recall tried to weigh in on his view of SNAP recipients when he barked they should shun SNAP and eat more rice and beans because they are inexpensive and could be bought in large amounts for "negligible amounts of money." It's remarks like Tantaros, Hannity and TwitWit which resemble, more recently, those of Romney's 47%. These guys say they understand what's good for Americans but their words clearing reflect their hearts. They are speaking from afar and not hands on. They don't have experience in the everyday struggles of most Americans. Simple things like food and nutrition and health care are taken for granted by this group and because it's commonplace for them and mostly everyone they know. It's expected and anyone who is outside of their bubble is a slacker looking for "gifts" and "handouts" from the government. What they miss is what they take for granted, 50 million Americans are struggling to get just to stay alive.

It's time for those who sit on those high horses while they throw their stones to be knocked down a peg or two where they can see how the rest of us "low lifes" live.