Trevor Coville Professor Bain-Conkin Writing and Rhetoric November 19, 2013

Increased dependency on Food Stamps and the deficiencies of the program

In 1929 the world was plunged into a sever depression lasting 10 years in the United States. It has been dubbed the defining Moment of the 20th century and is commonly referred to simply as The Great Depression. Millions were unemployed around the world, half of the banks in the United States failed, and villages of the starving masses and the homeless formed outside major cities. Unemployment statistics soared to a peak of 25% in the United States (Smiley, Gene 2008). How did the government intervene to stabilize the economy and set the nation on its way to becoming the worlds premier economic powerhouse only a decade later? Hundreds of governmental aid organizations were launched, yet none proved more successful than the public works projects, which developed skills and created jobs simultaneously.

In our current day and age unemployment hovers around 7% yet, the United States food stamp program currently serves a record percentage of the population, about 18% (Bureau of Labor Statistics). That number is eerily similar to the numbers produced during the Great Depression. Comparing the state of the nation

during the Great Depression and present day it can only be concluded that the economy is much stronger at present, thus this high percentage of reliance seems to be a product not of general economic conditions but of the deficiencies in the food stamp program itself.

Throughout this paper I will show that the United States food stamp program is hurting not only the population it serves but also the economy and ideals of the nation as a whole. The main criteria used in the evaluation of the food stamp program will be whether or not the program is benefiting those it serves, and if this benefit is merely short term, or useful in allowing its population to one day provide for themselves.

This paper will first examine the increase in reliance on the food stamp program, and how this dependency represents a failure of the program. Secondly the way in which the food stamp program along with other governmental aid programs deters re-entry into the work force will be discussed. The negative mental and physical effects of the program will be considered and used to evaluate the programs impact on society. In a final evaluation of the program economic effects will be considered and evaluated as either beneficial or detrimental to society. Criticisms to the use of food stamps as an aid to the work force will be introduced and rebutted, and a series of potential corrective steps that could be instituted to improve the program will be stated. Finally a statement of conclusion will detail the

final conclusion on the program and any possible augmentations that could improve it.

Since the beginning the modern food stamp program in the 1970s, the amount of people reliant on the program for aid has soared, almost increasing year after year. In 1970 the program served approximately 4,340,000 people and over the years between 1970 and 2012 that number has skyrocketed to 46,609,000 people served (SNAP 2013). When the programs population pool is examined as a percentage of the total United States population the numbers show just how large the increase was. 2.1% of the United States population was receiving aid from the food stamp program in 1970, while in 2012 14.8% of the population was enrolled in the program (Population Estimates). Assuming the program was contributing to reentre into the workforce then the national unemployment statics should also show a year over year rise, which would be congruent with the influx of people into the food stamp program. However, the national unemployment has been varied between 1970 and 2012, even showing significant decrease between 2010 and 2012 while the food stamp programs participation reached all time highs over the period (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This continual increase in the enrolment of the food stamp program regardless of the unemployment level indicates that those who enter the food stamp program are not being facilitated into rejoining the workforce, or are entering into such low paying jobs that they must still rely on governmental assistance. Thus the food stamp program is failing to facilitate people getting back on their feet and is only amassing a huge dependent population.

The food stamp program also plays a direct role in preventing people from joining the workforce. The program is one of many programs that the government employs to combat poverty and strengthen the workforce, but in some cases the benefits from participation in these programs can eliminate the incentive for working by providing an acceptable level of livelihood for the unemployed. This is best illustrated buy examining the fact that in Rhode Island a mother with two children who gets seven governmental benefits can get aid worth almost $39,000 a year. (All Things Considered) In this scenario it would be illogical for the woman to seek employment, as even if she found an average paying job, such as a secretary or a teacher, she would simply be earning the same amount as she was already getting freely from the government.

This situation of a person who wants to work, logically choosing not to, highlights the second point at which the governmental aid actively turns people away from work. When a person receiving these governmental benefits does find a job opportunity they must weigh the added income of taking the job against the lost income from no longer being aided by the government (All Things Considered). As a result of the multitude of aid programs offered by the government and the low pay for entry-level jobs the many people favor government aid over work.

The mental and physical repercussions to the food stamp program also merit consideration. The majority of food stamp aid, 71%, goes to families with young

children, which places children into an environment where they see their needs provided for not by hard work, but by government aid (Paul. R Gregory 2013). America was built on the ideals of self-reliance, but the ever-increasing amount of governmental aid provided is a statement to many that self-reliance is a thing of the past. The food stamp program has even enacted a plan in which they offer incentives to those how work to counter individuals pride or self-reliance in an attempt to increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.(Caroline 2012) A recent example of this program was the awarding of a commendation to a state based program, which increased the use of food stamp in its region by 10% (Caroline 2012). Thus, the food stamp program is actively promoting the ideas of relying on others over the ideals of self-reliance.

With respect to the physical repercussions of the food stamp program a study has shown a link between obesity and food stamp enrolment. Many consumers who use food stamps are forced to gravitate toward cheaper and more quickly prepared products, however these products are often not as high in nutrients. The food stamp program has been shown to contribute to obesity and in some age groups can increase the chances of obesity by up to 5.9%. (Thomas, Carloine 2012) Thus whereas the program does counter hunger it also contributes to obesity which is the cause of many other debilitating sicknesses. The program is weakening the American workforce through sickness and is hurting its own participants.

The economic effects of the food stamp program must also be examined before it can be determined if the program is of net benefit or loss to the public. The program is an effective vehicle for economic stimulus and it is estimated that every dollar increase in SNAP benefits generates about $1.70 in economic activity.(Paul. R Gregory 2013) However, while the food stamps are stimulating the economy the stimulus is largely useless to those enrolled in the food stamp program. The influx in government provided aid goes directly to the food producers not the impoverished. The aid for the food stamp program is provided by increasing the United States financial deficit (Paul. R Gregory 2013). While increasing the deficit is not immediately detrimental to the economy, a large deficit will lead to future financial problems, perhaps even putting the operation of the food stamp program at risk.

The monthly cycle of food stamp distribution also wreaks havoc on small economies and small intestines across the country. An odd phenomenon has developed in small towns whose populations rely heavily on food stamp aid. The towns spring into action on the first of every month as food stamp beneficiaries once again have income to spend, and by the end of the day most people have spent all their allotted aid. The city of Woonsocket, Rhode Island is an example of this type of economic activity and its residents receive and spend nearly $2 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on the first of each month (Saslow, Eli 2013).

The stores in the town of Woonsocket go from depleted and barely stocked towards the end of the month to jam-packed on the first, unfortunately this same cycle takes place in the stomachs of the consumers as well. The cycle of going from rationing your intake of food to suddenly having a bounty of food, and consuming it, is harmful to the human digestive process and can lead to long-term health problems (Thomas, Carloine 2012).

Some would assert that the food stamp program was never intended to facilitate the re-entre of its participants into the workforce; that its main goal is simply to serve as a safety net for the hungry. Yet, even considered through that restricted lens the program is still a detriment to its users. The program would function successfully as a means to feed the poor if it did not become a facture in preventing people from choosing to work, or contribute mental and physical detriments to society. As the program stands currently the benefit of feeding those who would go without food or skip meals without the program, between 2% and a fraction of 1%, is simply not worth the multiple costs to society (Paul. R Gregory 2013).

So what should be done with the food stamp program? As stated above there is a percentage of the population that truly would not eat if the program were simply abolished, but that percentage is 2% at a maximum, much less than the 16% of the population that is currently served by the program. I would suggest significant cuts to the program along with the addition of much steeper regulation

concerning entry into the program. This would limit the availability of the program to those who truly needed it while at the same time reducing the massive debt that the program incurs. Furthermore, to avoid dependency on the program mandatory job training should put into effect for those who are unemployed and receiving food stamps. The reinstitution of public works projects would serve to help all those who are currently benefiting from food stamps but would be expelled from the program under the new system. Thus the new system would avoid simply providing handouts and would place an emphasis on teaching skills that would allow participants to one-day care for themselves. This method incorporates the methods that were used to counter act the Great Depression and emphasizes American values such as self-reliance (3 Smiley, Gene 2008).

The food stamp program is negatively impacting society in the Unites States as it has created an ever increasing dependency in the population, disrupted the economies of many regional markets, played a role in the erosion of traditional American values, and played a part in the creation of life long health problems such as obesity and digestion problems. The system as it stands is a failure, however it cannot simply be done away with as over the years a large percentage of the population has become dependent on it. A new system must be put in place with a focus on the training of the unemployed, and people must be encouraged to work for their livelihood rather than to simply expect the government to provide for them.

Works Cited Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Seas) Unemployment Rate. LNS14000000 Vol. Bureau of Labor StatisticsPrint. . "Is Welfare 'A Rational Alternative To Work'?" All Things Considered 10 Oct. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. May, Caroline. "USDA combats mountain pride, self-reliance to boost food stamp rolls ." 07/03/2012 2012.Web. <http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/03/usda-combatsmountain-pride-self-reliance-to-boost-food-stamp-rolls/>. "Monthly Intercensal Resident Population Estimates for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010." Print.

Palmer, Scott. "Welfare." Encyclopedia of World Poverty. Ed. M. Odekon. Vol. 3. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, 2006. 1162-1165. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

Paul. R Gregory. "The Problem Is Obesity Not Hunger (Thoughts On The Food Stamps Debate)." 9/23/2013 2013.Web. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2013/09/23/theproblem-is-obesity-not-hunger-thoughts-on-the-food-stamps-debate/>.

Saslow, Eli. "Food stamps put Rhode Island town on monthly boom-and-bust cycle." The Washington Post. March 16 2013 2013.Web. <http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-16/national/37768635_1_foodstamps-woonsocket-mother-s-day>. Smiley, Gene. "Great Depression." Concise Encylopedia of Economics (2008)Print. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation and Costs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 2013. Print. Thomas, Carloine. "Does the Food Stamp Program Cause Obesity." Healthy and Functional Dairy (2012)Print. "USDA Outreach." 2013.Web. <http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/about-outreachtoolkits>.