When food stamps were first expanded nationally in the 1970s, just 1 in 50 Americans participated; today the figure is almost 1 in 7.
The program has doubled in size since 2008 and quadrupled since 2001.
Food stamps are one of nearly 80 means-tested federal welfare programs, including 17 for nutritional support. Collectively, these programs cost $700 billion annually, plus $200 billion in state contributions.
From 2001 to 2006 the food stamp budget doubled, even as unemployment remained around five percent.
Food stamps make up 80 percent of the current farm bill, costing $770 billion over the next 10 years.
Food stamp spending is projected to remain permanently and significantly above pre-recession levels.
Were food stamp spending returned to pre-recession (2007) levels, and increased at the rate of inflation, it would produce 10-year savings of $340 billion. The current farm bill calls for only $4 billion in savings.
The rapid increase in assistance is remarkably similar to the rapid decrease in the ratio of workers to Social Security/Medicare recipients, and it’s just as unsustainable. It’s also a demonstration of how absurd the program has become. We are the wealthiest nation on Earth, and yet 1 in 7 Americans have to get food assistance? More than 40% of us don’t pay federal income taxes, which means the burden of these costs fall on fewer and fewer Americans as well — about 4 in 7, if that. That kind of ratio will lead us to the same entitlement crunch we’re already barreling toward with Social Security and Medicare
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link to hotair.com]
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So we have $770 billion dollars in food stamp programs alone, that's upwards of a trillion dollars in that one program alone.
It's unsustainable. No way around that.
Recipients have DOUBLED in size since Obama took office.
Well, here we go for another 4 years. Will it double again?