We have many people living in poverty here in northern Minnesota.
Some people live in poverty because they have no job; workers without jobs are going to be poor.
Some people live in poverty because they have no job; workers without jobs are going to be poor.
We all know that most wages paid by employers in our area are poverty wages. Workers paid poverty wages are going to be poor.
Poor people require food stamps in order to feed their families. Food stamps are miserly to begin with and they have been cut.
I am under the impression that one of the primary goals of government is to improve the living standards of the people. Yet here we are with a government doing this at a time when people need this help to get through this economic crisis; a mess which they had no part in making...
On November 1 of this year, the country's food stamp program (referred to as "SNAP," which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) took a big hit when its funding was cut by $5 billion or roughly 7% a person. This occurred when part of the 2009 economic stimulus package, which included a 13% boost for SNAP, expired.
Wall Street got its profits from the stimulus packages and now the people hurt have their standard of living cut; this is neither fair nor just.
There are many ways to fund increases in food stamps:
Cut the military budget.
Tax the rich.
Tax corporate profits.
Tax Wall Street transactions.
On November 1 of this year, the country's food stamp program (referred to as "SNAP," which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) took a big hit when its funding was cut by $5 billion or roughly 7% a person. This occurred when part of the 2009 economic stimulus package, which included a 13% boost for SNAP, expired.
Wall Street got its profits from the stimulus packages and now the people hurt have their standard of living cut; this is neither fair nor just.
There are many ways to fund increases in food stamps:
Cut the military budget.
Tax the rich.
Tax corporate profits.
Tax Wall Street transactions.
Cut subsidies to big-agribusiness.
Cut the pay of politicians.
Cut the pay of politicians.
And here is a novel idea--- roll back, and freeze, food prices.
Increase the Minimum Wage to a real living wage based on all cost-of-living factors and pay those without jobs a real living income for the duration of their unemployment.
Fixing this Food Stamp problem is a very simple issue; if these politicians in Washington can't solve a problem like this, how can we expect them to solve any problems working people are experiencing?
Increase the Minimum Wage to a real living wage based on all cost-of-living factors and pay those without jobs a real living income for the duration of their unemployment.
Fixing this Food Stamp problem is a very simple issue; if these politicians in Washington can't solve a problem like this, how can we expect them to solve any problems working people are experiencing?
Here we are living in one of the most productive agricultural regions of the world and kids are going to bed hungry because we have a government in Washington with twisted priorities.
Perhaps our two U.S. Senators whose staff members tell me they read the Northern Watch would like to respond.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
