MYTHS AND GRANDSTANDING

THE FOUR IN CONGRESS "TRYING TO PUT FOOD STAMPS WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE," ARE MISLEAD AND MISINFORMED. MEMBERSHIP ON A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE'S HUNGER CAUCUS DOES NOT QUALIFY THEM TO FOOL US CITIZENS. THEY CLAIM THEY INTEND TO LIVE FOR A MONTH ON THE AVERAGE FOOD-STAMP RECIPIENT’S BUDGET OF $21.00 A WEEK. CHECKING THE FOOD STAMP WEBSITE I FIND THAT A RECIPIENT WITH NO INCOME, ACTUALLY GETS $32.00 A WEEK. THAT MEANS THE RECIPIENT RECEIVING ONLY $21.00 HAS OTHER INCOME THAT ALSO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FOOD BUDGET. TO DISSEMINATE THIS FIGURE IS DISINGENUOUS. THIS AMOUNT IS AN AVERAGE. SUBSIDIES ARE PRORATED AS THESE POLITICIANS WELL KNOW. ALSO, THE WASHINGTON POST'S REPORT OF THIS 'STAGED EVENT" LOADS THE ISSUE WITH POLITICAL CORRECTNESS BY MENTIONING THAT A RECIPIENT, A MOTHER OF THREE, SUGGESTS SPAGHETTI AND THE FATTIEST HAMBURGER MEAT FOR PURCHASES. CHECKING A WEBSITE I LEARNED THAT A PARENT WITH 2 KIDS OR 2 PARENTS WITH 1 CHILD WOULD GET $400 A MONTH OF FOOD STAMPS IF THEY HAD NO OTHER INCOME. THIS OVERLY GENEROUS SUBSIDY NO WAY MANDATES PASTA AND BEEF EACH NIGHT, BEEF WHICH CAN BE FREED OF ITS FAT SIMPLY BY FRYING IT OFF. OBESITY, BY THE WAY, RESULTS NOT FROM CONSUMING FAT, BUT FROM CONSUMING TOO MUCH OF IT. SENIOR CITIZENS SUCH AS MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND WOULD - IF QUALIFIED - RECEIVED $280 A MONTH IN FOOD STAMPS. THAT EQUATES WITH $9.00 A DAY, $64. A WEEK FOR US BOTH. FOR MORE YEARS THAN I WILL REVEAL, WE HAVE LIVED ON A BALANCED DIET FOR APPROXIMATELY $6.00 A DAY, $42.00 A WEEK. THIS REFLECTS THE ENJOYMENT OF 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS, WINE AND ZERO DEPRIVATION. IT CAN BE DONE, BUT NO ONE WE HAVE MET IN OUR LIFETIME IS DOING IT. WE HAVE BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH RECIPIENTS OF FOOD STAMPS AND WELFARE AS A RESULT OF OUR RETAIL CAREERS. WE RESIDE NEAR THE FAST FOOD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. THOUGH WE RARELY PARTAKE OF RESTAURANT FOODS OURSELVES, WE ARE AWARE OF MULTITUDINOUS OTHERS WHO CONSISTENTLY DO. IN AMERICA, MONEY - FOR FOOD, DRINK, THE LOTTERY, RENT-TO-OWN MERCHANDISE, CREDIT CARD PURCHASES, CARS, CLOTHES, CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS, I PODS, DIGITAL CAMERAS, PLAY STATIONS, VACATIONS, MORTGAGES, PAYROLL ADVANCES, GAS, VOTES FOR THE AMERICAN IDOL, ENTERTAINMENT, DRUGS, GUNS, YOU NAME IT - FLOWS. AMERICA IS AWASH IN SELF-GRATIFICATION. FOR MOST IT ADDS UP TO MORE THAN $6.00 OR $9.00 A DAY. CONGRESS SHOULD GO FIGURE AND NOT 'GO EAT' LIKE THE FICTITIOUS MASSES.