It’s no secret that America has been hit with hard economic times recently. These hard economic times have increased the number of American households suffering from food insecurity to rise from 36 million in 2008 to 49 million in 2012 (USDA). These Americans are forced to skip meals, always wondering when they will be able to eat again, and have no choice but to buy less expensive, but less nutritious foods at the supermarket. Skipping meals and eating less healthy meals has been shown to be the root cause of severe malnutrition which results in obesity. Cheaper processed foods that families below the poverty line rely on is low in vitamins, minerals and overall nutrition and is a key contributing factor to America’s increasing obesity rate (Rosenbaum, Dean, Greenstein). Poor families are statistically more likely to suffer from malnutrition and obesity because these families cannot afford to purchase more nutritious foods (Sherter). Families that needed and received food stamps were more likely to visit the doctor’s office when sick, instead of staying home in order to pay for food, housing and other basic needs (Sherter). Obesity is a growing problem in America, with close to 30% of the population being obese (Rosenbaum, Dean, Greenstein). A dangerous cycle is happening, and as the policymakers in the capital continue to slash funding to SNAP, obesity rates have continued to climb.
This is empirically proven in the higher obesity rates of the South due to higher quality control standards and lower levels of funding. Obesity is a danger to America and the American people: It creates massive health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and premature death. These health problems create a huge drag on the economy, as America is forced to pay for these nutrition related ailments and it creates a whole generation of unhealthy workers. Higher medical costs and lower worker productivity have the ability to gut the American economy, creating a double dip recession and creates a vicious cycle of poverty, disease and poor economic performance. Increasing funding and access to SNAP’s benefits is crucial to ending the cycle and create high economic yields and a healthier population. SNAP allocates funding to families in need, allowing them to be able to afford healthier options, and relieves dependency on cheap and innutritious food (Results). The benefits of SNAP are so great that every dollar invested in the program has been shown to yield two dollars back (Results). According to a cost benefit analysis, the benefits of SNAP greatly exceed the costs.
Considering 1 in 4 American children live in households that depend of food stamps, and 1 in 5 families with children don’t make a high enough income to eat dinner every night, SNAP is also crucial to fighting child poverty (Sherter). In 2011 alone, SNAP raised 48% of all families living below the poverty line out of poverty, and 50% of families living in extreme poverty, which is classified by the United Nations as families earning less than $2’s a day (Sherter). Families only need to qualify to receive SNAP’s benefits which take into account income, family size, ability, and age. SNAP is able to immediately respond to families that don’t make enough money to adequately feed themselves, and assist them until assistance is no longer needed.
SNAP helps families get back on their feet, spending less on food, worrying less about the future so they can improve their circumstances now. In 2011, SNAP raised 4.7 million families out of poverty, almost all of them with children. Families nationwide rely on SNAP to feed themselves (USDA). SNAP, unlike food banks and other charitable organizations can guarantee food to families that qualify for the program. Most families on SNAP have jobs, and the money saved from worrying about when the family is going to eat again contributes to improving living standards: buying children presents during the holidays, investing in higher education, hiring tutors, buying children’s clothes, toiletries and gaining access to better modes of transportation and opportunities. Increasing investment in SNAP is the best and fastest way to ensure children don’t go to bed hungry.
Despite numerous benefits, the SNAP program isn’t immune to waste and budget cuts. House Republicans recently approved a Farm Bill that cuts funding to SNAP by 25% (Results). This will lead to massive hardships for families below the poverty line, who even with SNAP’s benefits still struggle to provide for themselves. On top of that, strict conservative imposed quality control standards sets the bar for benefits too high, not every family that is in need of assistance and suffers from food insecurity is able to get SNAP’s help. To increase the efficiency and get the most out of SNAP, I would suggest that we increase SNAPS funding by 50%, and remove the quality control standards so that anybody that needs help is able to receive it. Undocumented citizens, struggling families with an income slightly above the poverty line, and single parent households are often barred from receiving the life giving benefits of the SNAP program. I believe that nobody should be turned away from bettering their lives and feeding their families. The best way for America to ensure a bright and prosperous future is to invest in what make America such a great nation: the people.
