The Food Stamp Program now referred to as SNAP has played an important role in lifting Americans out of poverty, supplying children and others with much needed nutrition. You can read a short history of the Food Stamp Program at the following link.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap
There are numerous reasons why people collect SNAP Benefits. Some are totally out of work yet still require food for their families. Many work but make wages so low that they can not make ends meet. Some are elderly or disabled and unable to work. It is a misnomer however that most people who collect such benefits are simply 'moochers' on the system. The vast majority of Food Stamps are collected by those legitimately in need. If you look at who collects Food Stamps you might be surprised at the answers. The top 10 states for SNAP usage are primarily in the South. Considering the opinions of the Conservative Right on this subject how do they explain away the fact that it is primarily their own constituents. The latter link is especially good.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/10-states-with-the-greatest-food-stamps_n_860233.html
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/11/the-food-stamp-belt-race-politics-and-poverty-in-the-south.html
Is it because wages are so much lower in the Southern States? Or that their medical care is poor? Or that their educational standards are often not as good making upward mobility more difficult. The second article states that the three states with the highest SNAP usage by whites are West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. The third will come into play again later in the posting.
The Right continues to villainize the disadvantaged in a totally cynical manner. The Tea Partiers want to cut spending and taxes so badly they will label their own voters as system abusers. The irony of that is beyond the understanding of reasonable people.
The continual efforts on their part to cut SNAP benefits is an embarrassment to our nation. Especially in these still not prosperous economic times there should be no cuts. Small children and the elderly will go without food resources. The following articles show that Food Stamps lifted millions from poverty and reduced the hardship of numerous others.
http://www.offthechartsblog.org/census-snap-lifted-4-million-people-out-of-poverty-in-2012-and-reduced-hardship-for-millions-more/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharon-parrott/census-snap-lifted-4-mill_b_3941379.html
A physicians' group states that cutting Food Stamps could cause far more harm than good, eventually increasing medical costs and hurting children's development. The physician part of this is also pertinent to this discussion.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/doctors-cutting-food-stamps-backfire-21484890
One of the most rabid critics of the SNAP program and those who receive them is Gregory Brannon. Brannon is running for United States Senate from North Carolina, attempting to unseat Democrat Kay Hagan. Brannon is a Tea Partier with extreme opinions. He in fact has spoken at a radical secessionist group called The League Of The South. His candidacy is endorsed by Rand Paul and Anne Coulter.
It is his statements about the poor and the Food Stamp Program which are the most reprehensible. Because Gregory Brannon is Dr. Brannon an OB/GYN. He knows and understands fully the dire consequences of malnutrition. But to him, that does not matter. He would bring children into the world (He's also a pro lifer) then not object to them starving. How full of compassion he is for a physician. (*Cough....cough) The other ironic piece is that Rand Paul represents the State of Kentucky, one of the three states with the most FS usage by white people. Does Paul want to see the children of his supporters go hungry?
Brannon's most horrible statements however are where he compares SNAP Benefits and those who need them to slavery. His rhetoric is almost breathtakingly stunning and unbelievable.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/greg-brannon-food-stamps_n_4596208.html
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/01/greg-brannon-north-carolina-senate-food-stamps-slavery
Dr. Brannon is a classic example of compassionless people who spend their time 'blaming the victim'. He doesn't care about his fellow citizens or the hardships they face. His comparison of the SNAP Program to slavery is nauseating. To compare a government program which helps our fellow Americans to a completely abominable institution is insane. An institution where people were dragged from their homelands, beaten, starved, hung at the will of owners, forced to do hard labor and numerous other atrocities. It shows the mindless abandon with which Dr. Brannon practices his principles. I would not want him for either my physician, or my US Senator. We of SU hope the people of North Carolina continue to support Kay Hagan. She is a far better choice to represent their interests than Brannon with his apparent fanaticism.
So again we post.
Name: Dr. Gregory Brannon
Associated: Candidate for US Senate, Tea Party extremist, connected to the League of the South, radical zealot
Address: 108 Trident Court
Cary, NC 27518
Previous: 115 Greymist Lane
Cary, NC 27518
Business: 530 New Waverly Place, Suite 301
Cary, NC 27511
Telephone: (919) 387-8468, (919) 851-3480 (Business)
EMail: greg.brannon@earthlink.net
Relatives: Jody Brannon, Judy Brannon, Rita Kaiser, Anthony Brannon, Peter Brannon, Tlar Brannon, Grady Watkins
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