Daily Thought Pad: More Americans Will Use Food Stamps For Thanksgiving This Year Than Ever Before and TANSTAAFL Is About To Become A Common Term

More Americans Will Use Food Stamps For Thanksgiving This Year Than Ever Before

By Elizabeth Flock - November 20, 2012 RSS Feed Print

More Americans will use food stamps to buy their Thanksgiving dinner this year than ever before, according to a new report from the nonprofit government watchdog group The Sunlight Foundation.

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The Food Stamp Challenge, which challenges higher-income families to live as if they are on food stamps, estimates that a person on food stamps has a budget of about $1.25 per meal. In other words, a family on food stamps must buy an entire meal per person for less than the cost of an average cup of coffee.

Usage of food stamps among low and no-income families has spiked since the collapse of the U.S. financial system four years ago. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, average participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp program, has increased 70 percent since 2007. And economists have warned that usage of food stamps won't go down until unemployment improves.

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This Thanksgiving, 42.2 million Americans will be on food stamps, according to the Economic Policy Institute. This is roughly the size of the populations of California and Connecticut combined.

Not surprisingly, feeding millions of Americans isn't cheap. The cost of the SNAP program last year reached $72 billion, the highest to date, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

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Those costs are a source of major contention in Congress, which stalled on a bundle of legislation known as the farm bill this summer because it could not agree how much money should be spent on food stamps. The farm bill, which directs the nation's food policy, devotes about 80 percent of its budget to the food stamp program.

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TANSTAAFL Is About To Become A Common Term

The disintegration of an economy and a society can take two courses. One course is like rust. It is slow and barely perceptible. The other is a sudden collapse. The first course, if left untended, eventually turns into the second.

The US economy is now rusting away. Arguably it has been for decades. For anyone interested in looking, the signs are there. They will soon become unavoidable for even the most disinterested of our citizens.

Dan Amos correctly described what is happening as a result of Washington’s overbearing involvement in the economy:

All government-directed economic activity grows at the expense of the private sector. And the election suggests that government coercion will drive even more U.S. economic activity in the future. This is a shame, because freely adjusting prices, competition, and innovation elevate living standards. Mandates, price controls, and subsidies — coercive actions — depress living standards. Quality falls. Shortages develop and persist.

Mr. Amos is correct but does not forcefully convey the reality of a dying economy. These effects are beginning to appear.

Many businessmen hung on, hoping for a change in the madness that passes for economic leadership and policy. These hopes were dashed with the re-election of the ideologue driving the madness. Obama won the electoral college, but not the confidence of business. They are just beginning to cast their votes and it does not bode well for the future. Here is a partial list of the business reactions to the outcome of the election:

LAYOFFS ANNOUNCED SINCE ELECTION:

Abbott Labs 700
Activision 30
Adventist Health 48
Airlines SAS 6000
AMD 400
American Cotton Growers 110
ArcelorMittal 20
American Independence Museum 4
Ameridose 790
American Airlines 4400 + 800 leaving voluntarily
American Coal 54
Atlantic Lottery Corporation 16
Assc Milk Producers 130
Aveo Oncology 45
ATI 172
Bankia 5000
Bechtel Power Corp 277
Bigpoint Games 47
Boston Scientific 1200
Brake Parts LLC 75
Brattleboro Retreat 31
Bristol Myers 500
Career Education 900 + Closing 23 Campuses
Cigna 1300
Citigroup 100
Commerzbank 6000
Consol Energy in W.V. 145
Covidien 595
Crouse Hospital Syracuse NY 70
Cummins 150
CVPH 27
DEP in Tallahassee FL 15
DuPont, Co. 64
Eagle-Tribune, Andover 21
Emanuel Medical Cente 24
Energizer Holdings 1500
Ericsson 1550
Exide Tech, Laureldale 150
City of Findlay, OH 39
First Energy 400
Gameforge Berlin 20
Gamesa Energy 92
GenOn Energy Inc 33
Glen Falls Hospital 29
Groupon 80
GT Advanced Tech 165
Harris’ Broadcast 17
Hawker Beechcraft 400 + Facilities closing
Hill Rom 200
Hills Holdings 300
HMX Group 567
Hostess 627
Iberia Airlines 4500
ICM of Colwich 25
ING 2350
Judson University 21
Juniper Networks 500
Kaiser Permanente 84
Kinetic Concepts 427
Kratos Defense Security 125
Lackawanna County PA 11
Lightyear Network Solutions 12+
Lonza 500
Majestic Star Casino/hotel 80
Major Wind Company 3000
Martha Stewart Living 70
Medtronic 1000
Mills Manufacturing NC 68
Momentive, Inc. 150
Monitor Group 235
Montco Behavioral Health/Dev 58
NBC 500
Nebraska Medical Center 38
Neovia Logistics Services 52
New Energy 40
Ormet 200
Panasonic 10000
PayPal 320
Penn Refrigeration 40
Penske Logistics 50
Pepsi 4000
Philips Electronics 218
Pierce Mfg 325
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne 100
Research in Motion 200
Rheem Manufacturing 50
Sentry Foods 70
Shaw’s Supermarket 700
Shawano foundry WI 90
Smith & Nephew 770
Smithfield Packing Co. 125
Solel Solar Systems 140
Southeastern Container 15
SpaceX 100
SRA Intl Inc 222
St. Jude Medical 300
Stryker 1170
Sulake 60
Sun Media 500
TE Connectivity 620
TECO Coal Corporation 90
Texas Instruments 1700
The Providence Journal Co 23
TMX Group Ltd. 100
Turbocare 220
Turkey Point Nuclear Plant 277
Oce North America, Inc. 135
Turbocare OCE 220
UBS 10000
US Cellular 980
UtahAmerican Energy Inc 102
Volvo Trucks Pulaski County 300
Wake Forest Baptist Medical 950
Welch Allyn 275
West Ridge Mine 102
Westinghouse 50
World Media Enterprises Inc 105
WPS Health Insurance 600
Wright Patterson AFB 115
Wyodak Coal Mine 11
Xerox 2500
Yakima Reg Med Ctr Washington 10+

ANNOUNCED BUSINESS CLOSURES SINCE ELECTION:

Bakers Footwear closing 150 stores nationwide, including 21 in California
The SCA plant in Barton – Plans Staff Reductions
Handy Hardware to close its 2-year-old Meridian, Miss. warehouse
Caterpillar Inc. will close its plant in Owatonna Minn.
Waltz Pharmacy in Waldoboro Maine
Zac’s Place in Hinsdale IL
Lone Star Steakhouse at 70th and O streets and Ruby Tuesday at 56th Street in
Lincoln NE
Career Education Corp – Closing 23 Campuses – 900 Jobs Lost
Handy Hardware to close its 2-year-old Meridian, Miss. warehouse
Shamrock Bar at Payne City’s Rose Avenue. in GA
Monitor Company Group LP
ThinkEquity LLC
Homer City Funding LLC
Caterpillar Inc. will close its plant in Owatonna Minn.
Mount Pleasant’s Albrecht Sentry Foods
The Target store at Manassas Mall Va.
Millennium Academy in Wake Forest NC
Target Closing Kissimmee FL Location
Calgary’s iconic Rideau Music store ( International )
The Andover Gift Shop in Andover MA
Grand Union Family Markets Closing Storrs Location CT
Movie Scene Milford Location NH
Update: TE Connectivity Closing Greensboro Plant – 620 Layoffs Expected
Gomer’s Fried Chicken in South Kansas City
Kmart in Homer Glen
Fresh Market on Pine Street in Burlington
AGC Glass North America to permanently close its Blue Ridge Plant in Kingsport Tenn.
The Target store at Platte and Academy in Colorado Springs
Island Colors – A Carolina Beach Clothing Store
The Roses store on Reynold Road in Winston-Salem NC
Meanders Kitchen losing its West Seattle location at 6032 California Ave
Bost Harley-Davidson at 46th Avenue North and Delaware Ave. in West Nashville TN
Townsend Booksellers in Oakland
The Kmart store in Parkway Plaza off University Drive in Durham NC – 79 Jobs Lost
Guarantee Shoe Store in Beaumont Texas
Associated Milk Producers Inc. Closing manufacturing facility in Dawson Minn. – 130
Jobs Lost
FacadeTek Inc Closes Whitestown Facility – 72 Jobs Lost
Comet Market in Punxsutawney Pa.
JC Penney store in Miracle City Mall Titusville FL
TurboCare Inc Closing Manchester CT Facility – 88
The United Colors of Benetton store on Armitage Avenue IL
Update: Bicycle shop Ten 27 Cycles 1027 Davis St. in Evanston IL
Two Sears Product Rebuild Centers in The Woodlands Texas
FesslerUSA Clothing Maker Closing in PA
Ralph Lauren’s plans to close its 14 stand-alone Rugby locations
Nashville Sash & Door Co. Inc Tenn.
First Portuguese church in North America in Bedford Mass Closing?
International Fashions in Carbondale’s University Mall IL
Harper’s Old Army Surplus Store in West Monroe La
Nova Financial Holdings
The Party Warehouse in West Springfield Mass.
TLC Wine and Liquor at 1205 W. Main St in Kent Ohio?
The HAPPY Place 1042 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
Air Carrier Accessory Services – Chapter 7
SOW Inc. shelter on South Broad Street GA?
Systemax Inc., Closing Miami County Ohio Computer Plant – 120 Jobs Lost
Textbook publisher McGraw-Hill Cos. Closing 2 Distribution Centers – 166 Layoffs
First Place Financial Corp
Nash Finch Closing Cedar Rapids Iowa Food Distribution Center
Johnnie’s Foodmaster MA Closing all 10 Locations
Rainbow Foods will be closing its Forest Lake location MN – 59 Layoffs
Berry’s Camera Shop Inc. in Downtown Lafayette
Schreiber Foods to close their food packaging plant in Ravenna – 70 Jobs Lost
Kmart store at 5300 Salem Ave. Trotwood Ohio
Mr.Christie plant in Toronto ( International ) 2013 – 550 Jobs Lost
Coffee with T cafe in Stevenson Village business MD
Minas Basin Pulp and Power are closing a mill in Hantsport ( International ) – 135

ACTUAL LAYOFFS:

The Colonial Country Shoppe on Park Street in Adams MA
Vestas Wind Systems Closing R&D; Office in Louisville – 60 Jobs Lost
Dollar Castle in downtown Ferndale MI
Bistro One West in St Charles IL
Sun Dog Diner in Neptune Beach FL
Jim’s Builders Hardware in Wichita, Kansas
Madeleines Bakehouse in Fort Wayne Indiana
Barnes & Noble plans to close its doors in Union Station Dec. 31
The Semiahmoo Hotel in Blaine Washington
Highland Curves CA
The Salem Sport Shop in Salem Ohio
Navistar International Corp. to Close truck assembly plant in Garland, Texas – 900
Jobs Lost
Divine Mercy Catholic Books & Gifts Denton Texas
Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford IL
Garelick Farms Ends Production at Bangor Maine Facility
Fashion Tech Window Coverings in Portland?
Custom House Tavern Chicago IL.
Jim’s Builders Hardware in Delano
Lone Star Steakhouse at 1801 22nd St. in West Des Moines
Sears to Close Woodlands Product Rebuild Center – 117 Jobs Lost
Whitehead Inc Rockford Real Estate Company
Robert’s Mens Shop in Downtown New Philadelphia Ohio
Fort Tecumseh Olde Fashun Store in Ohio
Lakewood Beginnings Child Development Center in Lakewood Ohio
Green Fields Seed & Feed in Grand Junction Colo.
The Army and Navy Store in Melrose Mass.
Vitalistic Therapeutic charter school PA
Diamond Foods Inc Closing a plant in Fishers Indiana
Old Town Alehouse 5233 Ballard Ave in Seattle
Space Aliens restaurants in Minot and Grand Forks ND
DeWaay Financial Network LLC
Sears at Quail Springs Mall Oklahoma City OK.
Fashion Bug in O’Fallon MO is closing in January
Kmart Store in Oak Hill W. Va
Update: Jett & Hall men’s clothing store in Richmond KY
D.C. school List of Possible Schools Closing to Be released Later today
Dunkin’ Donuts in Holly Hill FL
Hostess Brands Inc Permanently Closing 3 Bakeries Following a Nationwide Strike
Philips Electronics subsidiary Lightolier will close its local fluorescent light
fixture manufacturing plant in Willington
Smithfield Packing Co. will close in 2013, laying off a total of 400 employees
SuperFresh outlets in Marlton and Westmont NJ
The Bagel Shoppe in Katonah NY
Ben Franklin and Homestead House Gifts in the Kimball Ridge Center in Waterloo IA
Several West Virginia Suzuki dealerships Being Forced to Close
Kowalski Cos Closing All 4 of its Metro Detroit Delis but to Continue Food
Production
Three Memphis charter schools and one in Nashville Tenn. Could Close Due to Poor
Test Scores
The Custer School District SD – Closing 2 Rural Schools
The Dressing Room, on North Lincoln Avenue IL
The Utica office of IBOPE NY

BANKRUPTCIES:

AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc
Aletheia Research & Management Inc
Omtron USA
Helmkampf Construction in Olivette
Clear Light Publishers
Monitor Company Group LP
ThinkEquity LLC
Homer City Funding LLC
US Suzuki Distributor – Chapter 11
Revolt Technology

This list should frighten every thinking American. It is a huge warning regarding what lies ahead. These changes are coming to an economy that is already unable to provide jobs or sustain living standards.

Decline is a slow process, until it becomes fast. It is not easy to see at first. It should be obvious to most that our economy is approaching a critical stage. When you have destroyed the trust and confidence of business, there will be no job creation.

Some parting words are in order for those responsible for the decisions reflected above. Shutting down and giving up is anathema to the spirit that built this country and is now only found among our entrepreneurial class. It goes against the very fiber that drives success. It is a last resort for entrepreneurs.

The decision to quit is lonely, involves guilt, self-doubt and remorse. It is the last act for someone that has tried everything to avoid it. Giving up and withdrawing is not an act of retribution. People do not willingly choose to go to Galt’s figurative gulch. They are forced there.

While the masses exult in the continuation of their food stamps, cell phones and other booty, the real story of this election is yet to be told. The nation is about to find out that policies and elections have consequences more important than free stuff.

The war against private enterprise can no longer be denied. President Obama’s re-election ensures that it will continue and likely accelerate. The makers are beginning to give up. The takers don’t have a clue. Soon the country is going to get a real-life lesson in economics. TANSTAAFL (There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch) is about to be learned.

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Stephanie S. Jasky, Founder, Director - FedUpUSA.org - h/t to Tony Caputo

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe

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