Food stamp usage is rising nationwide. The figures are becoming unprecedented and they speak volumes of President Obama's food policy. The usage of food stamps in the United States has reached an all time high after a continuous growth that has seen up to one in every five Americans enrolled on the program.
Food stamps are ideally meant for those making 130% of the poverty line. As it stands, it amounts to $2552 for a month for a family of four, and up to $189 a month for a single person. The benefit money that is issued on a debit style card is different from the initial amounts which were given through stamp coupons.
The growth in number of Americans on the food stamp program has gone largely unreported as the media goes on to paint President Barrack Obama in a good way, even though, by the president's own admission, most of his policies are on the test this year. More than 46 million Americans have been on the program for 35 straight months. Official data from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that the food stamp program known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) grew unprecedentally in terms of both enrollment and spending, from the time Obama took office. The official figure stands at 46 million Americans receiving $76.1 billion yearly. In 2010, the number was at 44 million. In 2009, nearly 39 million people were on the program. In 2000, the figure was 17 million.
"Thus, it's fair to hold up the increase in food stamps usage as being emblematic of the Obama administration's failed economic policies," Tad DeHaven of Cato Institute stated.
The analyst claims that though the Republicans did their part in growing the program through their expansion of the program in 2002, the program was supercharged by a "Pelosi Congress" and again by Obama's stimulus bill.
As the number of Americans on food stamps becomes more and more worrying, we await to see what policy changes the government will kick start to remedy the situation.
