1. http://nyti.ms/1a79pds (from iphone)
2. Category of problem/issue identified in article: Environment, Funding
3. Level of problem/issue: National Level
4. A potential
policy that is being considered to help a problem/issue that
individuals/families face, especially Americans utilizing food stamps.
5. Why this is
important to individuals/families OR How does this affect individuals/families? This affects individuals and families that are using food stamps each month. The conservative congress members want to cut the amount we spend on food stamps by $40 billion within the next ten years.
6. What are your views on the issue/policy? I see both sides of it but I disagree. There are $48 million Americans on food stamps and right now we're spending $80 billion for this aide. But for many Americans, their monthly food allowance with the food stamps, isn't even enough to feed their families. And now Republicans want to reduce the funds. I understand that some people "mooch off the system" but you can't punish a group of people who really need that aide because some people aren't using it righteously. They're also trying to have certain types of testing like drug testing and making sure whoever's on it has a job. I don't agree with this either because first, what do drugs and food assistance have to do with each other and second, it's hard to find a job in this economy. I know we need to cut back because our country is in a lot of debt but we can't ignore our growing poverty stricken people. We need to prioritize.
This is a hard debate. Coming from South Texas, I see so many people mooch off the system or sell their food stamps for money. It is a tough decision because if we cut down on aid for the whole group of people who get food stamps, those in need will suffer. It isn't fair for them to suffer because of others doing wrong. It is sad that we have become this way. I've seen people in South Texas abuse their food stamps, and I've seen others barely make it with what they are given. I really don't think that we should cut down on this aid. So many people depend on it. Sometimes they can't help that they don't have a job. Some people who are poor don't have jobs because they don't want to. Others may not have jobs even though they are trying, and those people do not deserve to get their food stamps lowered because of others. I've heard people in my high school classes talk about how their parents sell their food stamps for money to spend on clothes or wants of some sort, and their not ashamed to say it either. It makes me so angry. I come from a middle class. My mom is a nurse at the Health Department and half the people that go there and say that they don't have the money to pay for their shots or blood labs but their children have gold chains and designer clothing. I remember seeing a lady saying she didn't have money to pay for her kids shots, and the health department cannot refuse people so she left without paying. Not to mention that this lady's two year old son had a gold necklace with his name on it and took off in her Escalade. My mom works hard so that we can have health insurance, a roof over our head, and food on the table. It's sad to see so many people take advantage and have to see those that don't, suffer.
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