Zogby International survey dovetails with Department of Agriculture Survey on Hunger

November 20th, 2009

The New York Times recently reported on the results of a US Department of Agriculture study which found that 49 million Americans are now experiencing “food insecurity”.

The number, which represents the highest number since the study began tracking fourteen years ago, represents people who are considered either “struggling households with.. very low food security, meaning lack of money forced members to skip meals, cut portions or otherwise forgo food at some point in the year” or those who get enough to eat only by eating cheaper or less varied foods, relying on food stamps, or visiting food pantries and soup kitchens. The Times quotes analysts as saying the unemployment rate, possibly along with higher food prices, is largely responsible for the rise.

We’ve been paying attention to this issue, as well. In September, we asked our survey respondents whether they strongly agreed, somewhat agreed, somewhat disagreed, or strongly disagreed with the statement “I fear I will not be able to provide basic needs such as food or shelter for myself or my family in the future”.

Overall, 34% of our sample agreed with this statement, with 9% of our sample strongly agreeing and 25% somewhat agreeing. 25% somewhat disagreed and 38% strongly disagreed. Not surprisingly, those in the lowest income brackets were much more likely to strongly or somewhat agree that they feared they would be unable to provide basic needs for themselves or their family.

For those in households earning less than $25,000/year, 22% strongly agreed and 34% somewhat agreed that they feared their ability to provide basic needs. For those in households earning between $25,000 and $35,000/year, 15% strongly agreed and 28% somewhat agreed that they feared their ability to provide basic needs. Those with only a high school education were also more likely to fear their ability to provide, with 12% strongly agreeing and 27% somewhat agreeing.

source: http://www.zogby.com/blog/loader.cfm?p=/2009/11/20/going-hungry/

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Texas Among Hungriest States

KRIV FOX 7 Houston, TX Nov. 18, 2009. 09:32 PM EST

A new study ranks Texas lower than all other states but Mississippi in a key measure of hunger.

Rightardia has noted the hypocrisy of southern senators and represenatives. Most of the Southern states are recipients states of more federal revenues than taxes that they pay. We have have never understood when Southerners elect conservatives in states that have such weak infrastructures.

The food stamp rolls have expanded to record levels. Thirty six million Americans are now collecting aid, an increase of nearly 40 percent from two years ago.

Problems gaining access to food were highest in households with children headed by single mothers. About 37 percent of them reported some form of food insecurity compared with 14 percent of married households with children.

About 29 percent of Hispanic households reported food insecurity, compared with 27 percent of black households and 12 percent of white households. Serious problems were most prevalent in the South, followed equally by the West and Midwest.
 

The Bush administration had tried to deep-six this annual Agricultural department survey. But President Obama has dealt with it openly and called the danger to children especially troubling.

Some conservatives have attacked the survey’s methodology, saying it is hard to define what it measures. The 18-item questionnaire asks about skipped meals and hunger pangs, but also whether people had worries about getting food. It ranks the severity of their condition by the number of answers that indicate a problem.

“Very few of these people are hungry,” said Robert Rector, an analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation. “When they lose jobs, they constrain the kind of food they buy. That is regrettable, but it’s a far cry from a hunger crisis.”

Conservatives are sticking their heads in the sand about hunger in the US. The conservative approach is reminiscent of a famous quote from the French Revolution.  Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote that he recalled the last resort of a great princess who was told that the peasants had no bread. She responded: "Let them eat brioche (cake)."

sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/us/17hunger.html?_r=1&ref=us and Clip Syndicate

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The Republican View on Hunger

State Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-MO) provided a press release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on a summer food program.

The program provides “food during the summer for thousands of low-income Missouri children who rely on the school cafeteria for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year.”

Davis is a chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families, questioned whether the program is “warranted” and discussed the hidden benefits of child hunger:

Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. [...] Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another. [...] Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals?
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