Going Hungry
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.
Within other demographics – gender, age group, ideology, party ID, and whether one lives in a large city, small city, suburb or rural area – the responses largely mirrored the responses of the overall group.
What do you make of the rise in hunger and food insecurity in the U.S? Do you believe the number of those in need of food or food-related assistance is likely to stay high in the next few years? Do you fear your own ability to put food on the table for yourself or your family?
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The economy is not coming back, we are too far along in ecological collapse for the powers that be to just crank up the growth machine again. Therefore the way to prosperity and to end hunger insecurity is to get everyone growing their own food. There should be a community garden on every block. And we need to turn all of the food waste we now throw away into compost so that we can build soil fertility. Do not panic, farm organic.
Well, the update from here is that even if inflation is not so much an issue now, prices have not returned to where they were the last time I got a raise. We certainly have enough to eat – the question is what are we eating. Dried beans and peanut butter are the primary protein sources, with anything else a distant second. We cook Everything from scratch, and we did grow some things in the backyard the last two years. Because health is a big issue, there is nothing bought which has empty calories – everything is bought with purpose.
Of course, if we fixed the roof, or the car, or bought clothes – then it would be a different matter.
I consider us luckier than most however, because we have taken it as a culinary challenge. Since most countries would regard our weekly purchases bountiful, we cook many Asian, Indian and African dishes. Unless you ate with us on a daily basis, the money part would not be immediately obvious. So this is definitely not a PB & J lifestyle. Besides, when you make yogurt by the gallon, there is enough for labaneh and raita.
John, we have become a nation of mashed potatoes in a bag and polenta in a tube in the dairy case. A pull back from that would not be so bad. So it is hard for me to judge from my little corner whether the middle class is moaning that they can no longer afford to buy frozen pancakes, or they are down at bottom living on a 10 pound sack of potatoes. Just watch any recent news video clip of the shopper with their cart making purchase decisions. Someone needs to send them to an old fashioned Home Economics class. I do feel for families without food, but I also think we are a nation without skills.
As for the shelter. Most of the attention has been on mortgage defaults. There is a whole other category that you may want to consider. We have paid off the mortgage but now face very major repair costs that have no solution. In this economy, the repairs we need make our house unsaleable without drastically discounting it. Then where would we live? Our annual income has not kept up with the cost of rental units. I am very, very sure there are people in houses in worse condition than ours, from first hand observation. Since tighter credit is a whole other issue, I have to think we are in an era where decreased expectations might be reasonable.
Public TV did a story on this story. The pictures they showed of people in food banks . . . a majority appeared to be at least 50 pounds over weight.
Maybe things have changed but 20 years ago in Seattle one could go to the tav nearest the food bank and buy cheap food. What do these people buy with their food stamp money? Buy T-bone?
I would like to add that I live in a state that always ranks in the bottom decile for per capita income and I shop in the “low rent” stores. I do the shopping, so I watch people fill up their carts with empty, high calorie foods.
Meantime, you need to know that I am working on some useful “Santa” things for 8 children out in a rural county. That, my friends is real poverty. Judging from their small bodies, I would say there is no excess food in their homes.