Stamping on Nutrition: Government funds vs.

Human Need

By, William T. Crawley Prepared for: Rebecca McCarthy, English 102 South Seattle Community Collage December 2, 2012

Trying to feed America is a big job, with millions of hungry mouths to feed we find ourselves feeding the hungry and yet nutrition seems to be taking the backseat. Currently America spends eighty million dollars a year in food stamps, while the underprivileged are not necessarily going hungry; somehow they are malnourished (Rosiak). The problem is truly best described as a big brother, little brother problem. In this situation, big brother is the U.S. government and little brother is our underprivileged and hungry. Financial monthly allotments supplied by the government are nowhere near enough money for hungry Americans to meet their nutritional needs; if the underprivileged want to fill their bellies they are forced to buy cheap processed foods. The backlash to this problem is seen later as malnourished people line up outside our hospitals with health problems related to poor nutrition. Part one of this paper will review the history of food stamps, the USDAs part in Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), an over view nutritional shopping on a stamp budget, and health problems related to poor nutrition. Part two of this paper will discuss how little brother could change the situation through community, communication, and education. These are topics that must be considered by every American regardless of wealth. By grossly underfunding the amount of money needed to hit nutritional standards we are losing even more money as we medicate our malnourished. Part I The food stamp program was born to support both struggling families and farmers. In 1939 the Roosevelt administration took the first step in building the food support program by purchasing large quantize of farmed goods from American farmers and giving it to families in need (Berry, pg21). The original hope was that families would supplement their diets with the free food, but continue to buy from the farmers. When poor Americans utilized only the free

foods and did not buy more foods from the farmers, the government saw its first problem. This attempt at a food program ended in 1943 once the affects of the great depression were wearing off (Berry pg42). In 1961, the government started up with a food program once again, this time looking only towards the need of the hungry, by 1964, president Johnson passed the Food Stamp Act (Berry pg. 67). However, food stamps were more like coupons that required those who received income to buy them in order to make the shopping budget go further. It was not until 1977, that people were given food stamps without having to buy them first (Potash, DVD). For many years Americas food program was known strictly as food stamps. While in this new day and age most still refer to this supplemental help as stamps, but the agency that controls the money is now referred to as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or (SNAP) (USDA). In most states, SNAP offers an Electronic Benefit Transfer card more commonly called an (EBT) card. This card replaced the coupons that were once used and offers food stamp users privacy when shopping; the EBT swipes just like a credit card (USDA). Big brother can be thanked for offering the new EBT cards, but the real problems within the system still exist. The poor are not receiving enough money to buy healthy food and the food they can afford is processed and lacks proper nutrients. In this case healthy foods are the words to focus on. Here are the facts: in 2011, 27.9 million people in the U.S. were using food stamps to feed themselves and their families (Potash, DVD). In America today, one in eight people live below the poverty line (Potash, DVD). A family receiving supplemental support gets roughly $1.00 per meal, per person (USDA). Now try to imagine an average family of four trying to create a healthy balanced meal on only $4.00 per meal. But this is

not the worst part, currently food prices have risen to an all time high; healthy food like vegetables and fruits are costing 20% more this year than they did last year (Potash, DVD). At the same time junk foods loaded with sugars, soy, white flower, processed corn, and rice are 2% less expensive than they were last year (Potash, DVD). Why is this you might ask? The answer is simple; big brother government is putting their money into the wrong kind of farming. Farming? But food stamps and farming have had nothing to do with each other since the Roosevelt days, right? Well that is kind of right, but heres how they enter connect now. The government spends 300billion dollars every year in subsidies that go towards farmers who grow corn, wheat, cotton, soy, and rice (Potash, DVD). They do not give big money to farms growing broccoli, carrots, kale, beets, or any other healthy fruit or veggie. These subsidizes encourage farmers to grow food that are not as healthy. In turn because the farmers are being paid more by the government they are able to sale for less to. These subsidized low nutrient foods are then bought by companies that turn these ingredients into cheep processed, preserved, ready to eat, filler foods. Because they are filled with other ingredients that artificially make them tasty, most American dont think twice about the nutritional value of these processed wonders. However, for people living on food stamps, these processed foods are often the only choice when it comes to fighting hunger. And why does the government subsidize bad for you foods like corn, wheat, and soy? According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) corn, wheat, and soy are big money here in the U.S. and food is currently one of Americas biggest money makers. Big business food corporations help with funding for campaigning congressmen and women, later the elected officials return the favor by supporting the right causes. EWG pointed out

Maurice Wilder, a real estate developer who once farmed and made good money turning all his crops into corn. He is now worth roughly $500 million dollars and still receives $1 million dollars a year from government subsidies on the farm land he still owns (EWG). So what are these cheep processed food really doing to us? Currently over 2/3 of America is overweight or obese (National Institutes of Health). This fact has almost nothing to do with how much we sit behind desks; it is all about our food. The processed foods made available for a low price by the government are actually killing us. George Orwell wrote the book 1984, the story depicts a very strong image of big brother v. little brother. It painted picture of a controlling government who controlled its people through suppression and manipulation. In some way, controlling the food farmed and served to the majority of feels like a scary adaptation of Orwells frightening fictional world. To add to this though journalist Rich Lowry wrote an article entitled: The Rise of Food-Stamp Nation where he stated: The bottom line is that government at all levels actively wants people on the program (Lowry). If this point of view is at all true it implies the need for control from the government. It almost exposes the fact that the people are easier to control when they are sick and weak. When the human body obtains adequate nutrition it balances and weight is normally not an issue. However, the saturated fats, high calorie counts, and processed corn sweeteners and oils are extremely taxing on the human body to process. There are so few real nutrients in these foods that they can really only be considered fillers.

Percentage of healthy, overweight, and obese adults in the United States Age 20> yrs Healthy weight BMI 18.5 Overweight BMI 25.0 Obese BMI 30 and to 24.9 29.9 above

Age 20> yrs All Adults Women Men

Healthy weight BMI 18.5 Overweight BMI 25.0 Obese BMI 30 and to 24.9 29.9 above 32.9% 35.4% 30.4% 34.1% 28.6% 39.7% 32.2% 34.6% 31.1%

SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Many people have tried health conscience shopping on a food stamp budget and while it is worth a try it is not totally possible. While taking a nutrition class a few semesters back I tried shopping for a week on the average allotment for a single adult in Washington State which is roughly $32.00 a week. Writing a menu that carefully considered nutrition and cross utilized many ingredients, I thought this task would be simple, but simple it was not. By the time all the shopping was done, the original menu had transformed from a light meat eating diet to a completely vegetarian diet. Dried beans, lentils, and brown rice were an everyday supplement from protein, peanut butter could only be served by the tablespoon and fruits and vegetables were cut in half to last the week. As a 6 foot 5 inch male weighing roughly 240lb. I am supposed to consume 2300 calories a day. After stretching my budget to the max, I was almost 1000 calories to low, I was receiving only half the amount of fruits and veggies I need and the protein received from the beans and rice were nowhere near meeting the nutritional guidelines set by the USDA. This is the original menu I had created and was unable to use due to lack of money. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Breakfast 2 eggs 1 piece of toast Lunch

Dinner

Cereal with milk and a banana Apple Apple and a and a deli meat Peanut and butter cheese and Jelly sandwich sandwich with with chips chips Black Spaghetti bean with burritos meat sauce

2 eggs 1 piece of toast Apple and a deli meat and cheese sandwich with chips

Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich with chips

Roasted chicken, rice, spinach

Chicken Tacos

Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a deli meat and cheese sandwich with chips Frozen Pizza with salad

2 eggs 1 piece of toast Apple and a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich with chips

Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a deli meat and cheese sandwich with chips

Homemade Hamburger Soup carrots, celery, onion, noodles

This is my original shopping list and prices for each item. Original Shopping List Not Used 1 can black beans $0.99 Salsa $1.75 Tortilla $1.79 Cheese $2.00 Canned tomatoes $1.69 Garlic $0.49 Basil $3.39 2 lbs ground beef $6.89 Roasted chicken $5.99 Potatoes $0.59 per lb Pizza $1.25 Lettuce $3.99 Carrots $0.99 Celery $0.99 Onions $0.82 Noodles $0.99 Hamburger buns $1.09 Yogurt X5 $0.99 Apples $3.39 Strawberries $2.50 Grapes $2.56 Eggs $1.09 Milk $2.09 Cereal $1.99

Juice $5.00 Bread $1.09 Lunch meats $3.00 Peanut butter $2.09

Jelly $2.29 Chips $2.00 Total: 58.32

Bellow is the menu I had to use, as you can see I had to leave the meat behind and revise with lentils and beans for protein. Monday Breakfast 2 eggs 1 piece of toast and bananas Apple Lunch and a cheese sandwich Dinner Lentils with brown rice steamed carrots and onions Tuesday Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a Peanut butter sandwich Lentils with brown rice steamed carrots and onions Wednesday 2 eggs 1 piece of toast and bananas Apple and a cheese sandwich Thursday Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a Peanut butter sandwich Red beans and brown rice with greens Kale and carrots Friday Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a cheese sandwich Red beans and brown rice with greens Kale and carrots Saturday 2 eggs 1 piece of toast and bananas Apple and a Peanut butter sandwich Baked potatoes with broccoli and steamed carrots Sunday Cereal with milk and a banana Apple and a cheese sandwich Pasta with red sauce And carrot sticks

Frozen supreme pizza with meat and veggies With raw carrot sticks

This is my revised shopping list.

Shopping list 8 oz Cheese $2.00 Frozen Pizza $1.25 Pasta 1 bag $0.99 Spaghetti sauce $1.25 Eggs $1.09 Milk gal $2.09

Cereal $1.99 Bread $1.09 Peanut Butter $2.99 Brown Rice 2lb. $3.69 Dry Red Beans 16oz bag $1.69 Dry Lentils 16 oz bag $1.69 Kale Greens $1.29

Broccoli $1.59 Bag of Apples $1.39 2lb Bananas $1.38 1 lb Carrots $0.99 1 Onion $0.82 2 lg Baked Potato $1.18 Total $30.36

In a documentary called Food Stamped, directed and produced by Shira Potash, Potash and her boy friend do the same experiment, attempting to stretch a food stamp budget out for a week. They had $50.00 for the week between the two of them. During this film the two of them shop, cook, and experience what life on food stamps is really like. They too attempted a nutritious and balanced menu. They mentioned feeling hungry after meals, and wishing for more. After the week they saw a nutritionist who was impressed with how well they had balanced there menu, but because of low calorie intake she suggested that if this diet were to become long term, weight loss would become a problem to the already fit couple (Potash, DVD). Potash interview several people from congress who had taken part in a week long food stamp study as well. Hearing that members of congress cared enough to try living on a food stamp budget for a week is refreshing information. During his interview Congressman Jim McGovern a democrat for Massachusetts stated: Hunger is a political condition, we have all the resources, we have all the knowledge, we have all the info structure; everything we need to solve it, we dont have the political will. (Potash, DVD) Congresswoman Barbra Lee a democrat for California said that she was working for the appropriation committee during the week long study. She mentioned having a hard time focusing; she felt she could not think straight enough to crunch numbers. That was after just a few days of living on food stamp funds. Imagine how lack of nutrition might affect ones mind and body after years. Serious health problems are caused on both sides of this issue. People eating too few calories suffer from undernourishment which is caused by either not eating enough food, or filling up on empty calories. In cases weight loss, fatigue, and can occur, if the body goes without proper nourishment for too long it can cause organ failure, digestive problems, and

death (Benard). In cases where the body is taking in too many empty calories and weight gain occurs, problems with blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cholesterol plague the victims of poor nutrition (Benard).

(http://yedies.blogspot.com/2010/10/idepression-20.html) This is an image of a welfare line during the Great Depression. Notice that people in need were thin, hungry looking even

(Naples News)

Look at us now, waiting in the same line, only now we dont look so hungry. Prof that cheep processed food is killing America. The health issues tied to food stamps has not gone completely unnoticed by congress. In a 2007 meeting regarding food stamps they discussed that issue. How is it that many of the same families who struggle to get by also seem at greatest risk of becoming overweight and developing diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes (U.S Congress)? Congress need to take a close look at this problem, because the same people who are requiring money for food stamps, later need money to seek medical help. So what can we do? According to Tom Christiano our problem lies at the very heart of our country. The problem may just be democracy itself. Christiano describes the ideals of democracy as group decision making, it is a collective path that sets forth to meet the needs of the many; in the attempts at equality for all. On his view, individual citizens and even politicians are apt not to have a sense of responsibility for the quality of legislation because no one makes a significant difference to the outcomes of decision making. As a consequence, citizens concerns are not focused on politics and politicians succeed only by making loud and manipulative appeals to citizens in order to gain more power, but all lack incentives to consider views that are genuinely for the common good. (Christiano) Perhaps Christiano is right maybe there are too many voices, but maybe its not the number of voices, but whose voices we are hearing. Does hunger really affect our politicians? Have any of them gone hungry? In most cases it is safe to assume that our politicians live the good life, they eat well and make good money every day. Part II

The time has come; little brother needs to rise up. America needs to rise up, both rich and poor. Farmers need to rise up and grow the food that nourishes the people. There can be no pride in growing the ingredients that are hurting America. Change can only come when the people stand up tall. Three things need to happen in order to make change. First, education is the key element in any good uprising. Second, communication, the people need to connect and make some noise. Lastly, take what you have and work with it, build community and grow your own vegetables. Education does not have to come at a price, so much information can be obtained from your local library. The library offers an endless resource from books and dictations of every meeting congress has ever held. There are shelves full of books on nutrition, health, and your legal rights. In addition the library has free internet. The internet not only works as an amazing research tool, but it connects us to the world. Local food banks are a great to gather information, people working in food banks are there to help and direct individuals towards resources. Farmers markets now accept EBT cards (Potash). Meet your local farmers, get to know them and find out how amazing fresh food can be. Farmers can negotiate prices and work with you in ways that big grocery stores cant. Lets dig deeper into the ideas around an uprising and internet use. Using the internet individuals can connect with other in similar circumstances. The internet has lots of free blogging sites. Blogging offers the people an opportunity to say what they are thinking, share information, and connect with others. Before you know it you come to fine out youre not alone. The internet also has great free sites like Facebook. Groups can be formed on Facebook that bring people together. Take notice of your neighbors, find out who is using food stamps and offer opportunities to share information, get others excited about change.

Finally, the underprivileged can work to build nutrition opportunities for people in their communities. Build community gardens, open lots and unused space can become a garden in any city. Food stamps can be used to buy seeds and plant starters. By starting community, we are growing the food that will nourish from years to come. Money can be saved as plants are harvested, seeds can be collected for the next years crop saving even more money, and lastly goods can be canned to feed a community for the winter. Once the growing starts the power is no longer in the governments hands. When the people are receiving proper nutrition they can think clearly and make changes. Paul Gingrich a professor of sociology wrote an interesting article regarding the work of Max Weber and his sociological perspective. The article Power, Domination, Legitimation, and Authority describes how people tend to bend into social norms without much thought. It seems possible that the underprivileged here in the U.S have done just that. They have folded their thinking to believe that because they are taking from the government they best not complain. This has to stop. There is no reason to sit quietly, forget the social norm, and stand up! Make change America! Conclusion The problems of hunger and nutrition are great, but we can change. Big brother government has suppressed the people, by subsidizing bad food straight from the farm; by supporting big business food companies that push out unhealthy garbage day after day. Underprivileged Americans suffer from hunger, malnutrition, and food related disease. If, we the people are truly living in a democracy then it is time the majority takes a stand. We can no longer sit around wishing from better food and health, the people must rise, communicate, group, and above all make change. The poor of America do not have to eat garbage and die of obesity

and heart disease. American needs to take a stand, a stand against hunger, a stand for good health a true stand against big brother. Only through working together can the people make change.

Work Cited Atom. Consent of the Government Blog Spot. Nov. 14, 2012 Web. Nov. 14, 2012. http://yedies.blogspot.com/ Benard, Tyffani. Health Problems Associated With Undernutrition Lives Strong.Com. Mar. 28, 2011 Web. Nov. 13, 2012 Barry, Jeffery M. Feeding the Hungry: Rulemaking in the Food Stamp Program. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. 1984. Print. Christiano, Tom, "Democracy", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/democracy/ Thu Jul 27, 2006 Web. 1 Nov. 2012 Environmental Working Group. EWG Farm Subsides. United States Summery Information. Nov. 9, 2004. Web, Nov. 19, 2012. http://farm.ewg.org/region.php?fips=00000 Gingrich, Paul. Power, Domination, Legitimation, and Authority. Sociology 250 University of Regina.. http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/o12f99.htm October 7 and 12, 1999. Web. 2 Nov. 2012. Google Image. Hurricane Wilma reaped destruction on Southwest Florida Naples News. Com. http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2010/oct/10/hurricane-wilmareaped-destruction-southwest-flori/136470/ Web. Nov. 14, 2012 Lowry, Rich. The Rise of Food-Stamp Nation. Real Clear Politics. 10 July. 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2012.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/07/10/the_rise_of_foodstamp_nation_114753.html

Orwell, George. 1984. South Australia: The University of Adelaide Library eBooks@Adelaide, Friday, 2 November 2012. Rosiak, Luke. Top Secret: $80B a Year for Food Stamps, but Feds Wont Reveal Whats Purchased The Washington Times. June 24, 2012 Web. Nov. 12, 2012. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/24/top-secret-what-food-stampsbuy/?page=all Trivisonno, Matt. Food Stamp Maps and Graphs Its the Sovereignty Stupid! 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 2 Nov. 2012 http://www.trivisonno.com/food-stamps-charts U.S. Government. The Role of Federal Food Assistance Programs in Family Economic Security and Nutrition. A Hearing Before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate. 110 Congress. January 31, 2007. Print. USDA. Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Using EBT Cards at Farmers Markets. Aug. 3, 2012 Web. Nov. 11, 2012. http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institutes of Health Web. Nov. 10, 2012 http://www.nih.gov/about/almanac/organization/NIDDK.htm