I usually make an attempt to not just re-post liberal biased republican bashing pieces from thinkprogress, but because food is something I really care about I guess this one can slide. So here you go:
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/12/07/383788/santorum-we-dont-need-food-stamps-because-obesity-rates-are-so-high/
Santorum doesn't like the way our food assistant program is rapidly growing. I am with him here. Maybe there are other options I am open to hear about. I am always for enabling people to help themselves over doing something for them - you know teach a man to fish kind of thing. There isn't, however, a conspiracy to shell out food stamps to any and everyone. The facts are that more people are in poverty and out of jobs, and the food assistance program is for times exactly like these.
The ignorance of Santorum on this issue is mind boggling. Here is his logic on why he wants to reduce federal funding for food assistance from a recent speech in Iowa.
“If hunger is a problem in America, then why do we have an obesity problem among the people who we say have a hunger program?” Santorum asked.
That's right Rick, people are only food insecure when they look like starving children in Africa. The fact is that it is nearly impossible to eat healthy when on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). There is even a SNAP challenge now and I encourage Santorum to try it out. $4 a day is what SNAP provides to people for food. McDonald's dollar menu, ramen, and mac and cheese are about your only options here.
It's not that we can't make SNAP better by attempting to provide people with healthier food more efficiently. I think everyone in Washington would be on board with this mission. It is just the willful ignorance of this guy that gets to me.
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