Media Distortion of Food Stamp Issue

[Guest guest]

While this editorial clearly has a bias, the figures it

gives are sound - I did some checking...........Even though I was tempted

to take out a couple of sentences, so people wouldn't just discard what

it says about the food stamp issue, I decided not to do that - When

you're on one side, the other side's bias is clear. but, I've noticed,

that when you're on the other, one often isn't able to make out the bias

in what they're reading - because it agrees with one's POV.

This editorial does a pretty good job of pointing out how the media has

distorted the reality of what's going on with food stamps. So, even

though things are tough for a lot of folks, it's not as bad, or the way

the media in general is painting it. Additionally, as the use of food

stamps rises, it may be, in part to not only a change of the system and

one's qualifications, but also due to the fact that they aren't going to

give actual paper coupons any more, but plan to offer a sort of

" credit card. " that should help a couple of things - not only

the embarrassment many feel as they hand their coupons to the checker in

the grocery store, but will also stop people trading them for things like

liquor, cigarettes, and things like that. As they are now, pretty much

anyone can use them, whether they belong to them or not, or whether they

need them or not (meaning, they got them in trade at some point). The

paper coupons are often treated as cash, outside of the grocery

store, in trade for things that they're not supposed to be used

for.

Lynn

 

Scary headline in Monday's Times: " As Jobs

Vanish And Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record. " Scarier

headline in Britain's Independent: " USA 2008: The Great

Depression. "

Why didn't the Times editors just say:

" Economy In Shambles ­ It's All Bush's Fault " ? Or the

Independent condemn the president for his war on the poor?

 

 

The stories, as well as similar coverage in other publications and on the

newswire, were more subtle than that. But make no mistake ­ the message

is that the Bush-Republican economy is a calamity of epic

proportions.

As the election nears, the mainstream media, unable this time to make an

issue out of Iraq, are focusing on the economy on behalf of the

Democrats. And they're more than a bit overwrought. To see the headlines

and to read or listen uncritically to the stories, one would think the

1930s were golden years by comparison.

As usual, there's more to the story.

Take the headline " Food Stamp Use Nears Record, " which is only

partially accurate. True, the 28 million Americans who will use food

stamps in 2008 is the highest number ever. But that raw number is a poor

measure; it doesn't provide context.

What's relevant is the percentage of the population that's on food

stamps. And the worst years there are 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Yes, it was during the second Camelot presidency that the largest

portions of the population were using food stamps: 10.4% in 1993 and

1994, and 10% in 1995.

Even if 28 million Americans use food stamps in 2008 as projected ­ and

eagerly reported ­ with 303.5 million people in the country, the rate of

9.2% would still be lower than those three Clinton years.

Any discussion of food stamps should also include eligibility rules,

which have been altered through the years. At various times, it's been

harder to get food stamps. One example: the years that followed the 1996

welfare reform. At other times, the standards have been relaxed, as they

were with the 2002 farm bill.

Enlistment drives are another factor. (Where's the federal campaign to

promote self-sufficiency rather than dependence?) Washington is currently

promoting food stamps and changing the system from one of paper coupons

to electronic debit cards in hopes that removing the public humiliation

that comes with using food stamps will encourage more people to take

part.

Natural disasters also can have an impact on the number of food stamp

recipients. Floods, earthquakes, ravaging storms and wildfires can

increase the number of food stamp " clients. "

Despite the many reasons not to use food stamps to gauge economic health,

the media still do it. They're sure that many voters will make their

choices this fall based on what the press tells them.

Things will change, though, if a Democrat is elected president. Expect to

start seeing glowing reports on the economy about a year from now ­ no

matter what shape it's in.

 

 

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