The news appears to be a constant juxtaposition between starvation and obesity – both of which intersect at our nation’s rising food costs and decreased employment. As Congress approved a bill last week supporting agricultural subsidies and agribusiness, they failed to pass the increases to the food stamp (SNAP) program. While our production of food will continue to grow (thank you, Congress) the plates on our tables will remain empty.
The number of individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) has increased dramatically since the recession hit in 2008. Moreover, in the past 12 months in NJ, the applications for the program in NJ have increase 7.8%. Contrary to the conservative stereotypes of unmotivated state dependents mooching of the SNAP program, the majority of SNAP enrollees are working families – working families who due to COLA freezes can no longer afford to put a meal on the table. While Congress increases the supply of food, the demand for food falters at the hand of the average bimonthly paycheck.
Equally, as we use the agribusiness bill to keep the prices of our food staples low (read: corn, soy) why is it still unaffordable for our nation’s hungriest? Crops that grow like weeds in our fertile land are being subsidized, but not for the benefit of the poor. Minorities, uneducated, homeless and people with disabilities who have been disenfranchised by our society’s policies are now food insecure.
We must not continue to let Congress isolate the working poor and other minority groups in their path to deficit reduction. Food and shelter are the basic needs of all beings, and as the United States we should be ashamed to wag our finger at developing nations such as China, while we willingly cut programs that people depend on. Physical and mental health, education and opportunity are tied to the food security of our citizens. Obesity, mental illness, ability to focus in school is all tied to our diets. Individuals that worry about where their next meals are coming lose their ability to focus on anything else – continuing and extending the benefits of the SNAP program grants food insecure families the ability to work harder and feel comforted knowing their children and loved ones’ basic needs are met. A message to Congress: you cannot let our citizens go hungry.
Our culture is food-centered. We take shameless pride in the availability of our hamburgers and our rotund reputation, yet beneath the façade of adipose tissue; there is growing population of hungry, working poor. Rather than let them starve, join us in urging your representative to support the SNAP program.