The number of people struggling with hunger in the United States fell in 2005, the first such decline in six years, the Agriculture Department said Wednesday.

Last year, 35 million people suffered food insecurity, meaning they didn't have enough money or resources to get food. The number was 38 million in 2004.

The department had waited until after Election Day to issue the annual report, prompting accusations from Democrats that the Bush administration was playing politics with hunger.

Despite the positive news, the report is still drawing criticism, this time because analysts decided not to use the word "hunger" to describe how hungry people are.
*****

The politically correct nazis have upgraded hunger to Food Insecurity (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/15/national/main2186457.shtml). Isn't that just peachy?

:rant:

The politically correct nazis have upgraded hunger to Food Insecurity (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/15/national/main2186457.shtml). Isn't that just peachy?

:rant:

Probably because they were sick of people like me saying "if they're hungry, why are they so fat?"

Hunger a problem in the US? Bullshit - ablsolute bullshit. You can buy a 50 lbs bag of rice for 10 bucks. Panhandling gets you at least a couple dollars a day - plus there are homeless shelters where they give you food for free.

If there is a hunger problem, it's because these people aren't spending money on food.

Hunger a problem in the US? Bullshit - ablsolute bullshit. You can buy a 50 lbs bag of rice for 10 bucks. Panhandling gets you at least a couple dollars a day - plus there are homeless shelters where they give you food for free. read the post again. Shelters and Pan handling do not count. This is a measure of how self sufficient people can be money wise.

If there is a hunger problem, it's because these people aren't spending money on food. Yup. There is a big problem with families for budgeting in the industrialized world. Part of the blame goes to Corporations and the media always hounding people with ads and one-up-man-ship the other part belongs on the people themselves for being mindless drones.

Tat being said though there is a vast disparity between the haves and the have nots in America that is inexcusable. Of course the same could be said about America v the world.

Yup. There is a big problem with families for budgeting in the industrialized world. Part of the blame goes to Corporations and the media always hounding people with ads and one-up-man-ship the other part belongs on the people themselves for being mindless drones.
I'd place blame on the people for not realizing that they need to eat when their hungry. If they can' figure out that much on their own, they probably shouldn't be reproducing anyways.

Tat being said though there is a vast disparity between the haves and the have nots in America that is inexcusable. Of course the same could be said about America v the world.
Why is that a bad thing?

Why is that a bad thing? Because for people to die of starvations while others throw food away is a goddamn travesty.

Because for people to die of starvations while others throw food away is a goddamn travesty.

When it gets that bad it is a bad thing, why is it bad when they are simply poor (yet have enough to eat).

Also, an sane person is capable of getting food for themselves in the US. I do not feel pity for those who would rather buy drugs or alcohol than feed themselves and their families.

It's fine to bash people for not handling their money well. However many of those going hungry are children. That's why there are so many breakfast programs. Canada has the same problem.

We have many adoption programs, food banks, welfare programs and other programs avaliable to those who ask for help. I understand that with children it's a different issue and that they need the help more than the others, but most people are willing to extend more of a helping hand to homeless kids than to homeless adults.

We have many adoption programs, food banks, welfare programs and other programs avaliable to those who ask for help. I understand that with children it's a different issue and that they need the help more than the others, but most people are willing to extend more of a helping hand to homeless kids than to homeless adults.
But the kids aren't homeless they are kids with abusive or addicted parents. They fall through the cracks. Help them now or pay for their welfare for the rest of their lives. Kids can't concentrate when hungry. Thus they do poorly in school and the cycle repeats itself. The west has so much money to waste yet people go hungry. THAT is truly ashame.

That is a shame, and it is too bad that we cannot spot these abusive situations more easily. I would hope that teachers would do that, but often they don't because it means a lot of work for them, and no benefit.

However many of those going hungry are children.

The only kids going hungry in this country (or your country) are the ones purposefully being starved by their parents.

That's why there are so many breakfast programs. Canada has the same problem.

Yeah, they've even got summertime free lunch programs in the U.S. And pretty much no one shows up for them, so obviously it's not a big issue.

I worked at a restaurant in Downtown Cleveland.. i'd leave work at 11pm-1am and walk down Prospect Ave in Cleveland. I'd pass by at least 3-7 people asking me for money PER DAY... and i never gave it to them. Why? Because a few times i'd leave work with a bunch of boxes full of food in a bag from leftovers from a party i had worked earlier that evening... and when people said "hey man, you got some money for me i havnt eaten in 3 days!".. id call their bluff and say "hey, i dont have money, but i have some food for ya!".. they'd immediately turn away and say "naw man i'm allergic"... without even knowing what it is... most people downtown who "starve" are drug ADDICTS to the extreme degree. The drugs control their lives, they don't want to be educated, they don't want a job, they don't want to move up in the world.. they only want their next drug high.. its that sad.

Another time.. i invited my brother, the youth minister, to see a concert at the place i worked at in cleveland. I told my bro i'd meet him after I was done working.. and when i arrived at "the winking lizard", my brother had brought in a homeless guy from the street. My brother is a big witness as far as God goes.. so my brother bought him a beer, a sandwich, and talked with and prayed for the guy. I was touched, my brother never ceases to amaze me. The guy came off like he was ready for a life change, because he was into drugs and kept on saying there were people outside that "wanted to kill him"... So I moronically gave the guy 20 bucks and told him i could look into a bussing or dishwashing Job at my work.. I told him to stop by Monday or Tuesday, because i'd be working, and i'd set him up with a manager.

The night ended with my brother's prayer.. the guy got done eating and asked if i'd walk with him because he might "get killed".. i declined the offer LOL... So we all left and that was that.

As for Monday and Tuesday... i never saw the guy again. Its either he DID get killed.. or used my bro and I for a beer, a sandwich, and 20 bucks... im guessing its the latter... but i cant be positive.

The only kids going hungry in this country (or your country) are the ones purposefully being starved by their parents..
Honestly Lionel, I don't know if they are the only ones starving or not. But there are a lot of people out there that shouldn't have a pet let alone a kid.

Yeah, they've even got summertime free lunch programs in the U.S. And pretty much no one shows up for them, so obviously it's not a big issue.
It could well be a huge issue...it's just that these kids are powerless when young to go by themselves. By the time they are 12 we have lost them to gangs.

The night ended with my brother's prayer.. the guy got done eating and asked if i'd walk with him because he might "get killed".. i declined the offer LOL... So we all left and that was that.

As for Monday and Tuesday... i never saw the guy again. Its either he DID get killed.. or used my bro and I for a beer, a sandwich, and 20 bucks... im guessing its the latter... but i cant be positive.
Yeah I hear ya with the giving thing. But at least you did the decent thing and if he screwed you over, well the 20 bucks means little to you and he's the fool ultimately.

Sal, the kids are wronged here, but the vast majority are not kids. They are as Decka said, drug addicts just using hunger as an excuse to get money.

Sal, the kids are wronged here, but the vast majority are not kids. They are as Decka said, drug addicts just using hunger as an excuse to get money.
Honestly, I don't know the break down on kids vs. adults. And with the food we waste (me being really guilty here, I do throw out a lot of food since I change my mind about what I prefer to eat that week) I don't mind feeding those with addiction problems especially if it helps their kids. I DO however mind feeding those between 30 and 60 who are just too lazy to work. They idle their days away, walking the malls with coffee in their hands and collect their welfare cheque at the end of the month. They live off of the food bank and who knows what else. I have an issue there.

Sal, the kids are wronged here, but the vast majority are not kids. They are as Decka said, drug addicts just using hunger as an excuse to get money.
The average age of a homeless person in Houston last I heard was 9. American cities have a problem with the helpless and it isn't always just drug addicts.

The problem is, the homeless have cried wolf too many times, and then we find out they are drug addicts. How do you know if you are giving to an actual needy and hungry person or just another bum who's looking for some money to buy his next beer and dime bag? Its sad that we DONT Know the difference, and it sucks that i have to walk by people who actually need my help...

Maybe we should take a cue from Bermuda. If parents in Bermuda ask the government for money to support their kids the government takes their kids away and tells the parents to get a job. They give the kids back only once the parents can afford to take care of them.

What an ass kicker that would be on the tax payer. How many folks do you think would dump the kids & just walk away?

What an ass kicker that would be on the tax payer. How many folks do you think would dump the kids & just walk away?
But maybe that would be best for the kids now and ultimately better for the tax payer later. These behaviors repeat for generations.. I don't mind paying for kids to be yanked out of a bad environment. It may be better for all long term.

No doubt we have the money to do it, we just don't use it correctly...

You may make them to drink a lot of bottle of water to quit drug.
They take drug because of feeling thirst.

The average age of a homeless person in Houston last I heard was 9. American cities have a problem with the helpless and it isn't always just drug addicts.

I doubt that. I live in Berkeley and pass around 30 homeless people a day, and not one of them is under 20. I just read that the national average (http://www.agrm.org/statistics/homerpt1.html)for homless is 35-55, and the next bracket is 18-34.


I read the article (http://www.thomasleavitt.org/personal/blog/archives/2004/04/06/average-age-of-a-homeless-person/)saying the average was 9, and I tried to check the source, but that link was broken. If there was a study done, I bet it was done by activists who cherrypicked their subjects. They also do not mention if that was a mean average or a median, which would help.

Maybe we should take a cue from Bermuda. If parents in Bermuda ask the government for money to support their kids the government takes their kids away and tells the parents to get a job. They give the kids back only once the parents can afford to take care of them.
I agree completely

if the administration was playing politics with hunger wouldnt they release the report about less hunger beofre the election? sometimes the democrats accusations dont make any sense, its like they just automatically say things without thinking about them.


and whats up with food insecurity? is that anything like comsumer confidence? "I think I will go buy a new TV today! oh who am I kidding, I will just fuck it up."