***Green highlights are copied excepts, black is my verbiage
Food Stamp money easily turns to Wasteful Expenditures that go to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, candy, caffeinated pop, and snacks...which lead to direct death or obesity, which allows mental/physical failures, which allows health costs and death- which allow universal sadnesses~all of which allow a declining and hollow civilization.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THE DECLINE OF HEALTH
Well, let us touch on the first point in this section and get it out of the way, shall we? Many of you thought, "How can giving food stamps lead to the purchasing of alcohol, drugs, and smokes?" The easy answer: Firstly, there are no rules which require one to show their identity when purchasing food with your food stamp card. Secondly, I have first hand account that many people trade their food stamp monies at half their value just to be able to turn around and get alcohol or drugs. Granted, some do use the money to buy diapers and similar necessities. Without showing statistics here, most of us regular day folks universally know that diseases caused by the alcohol and drug "economy" cost much in the way of both mental and physical health.
Now, on to the second point: How does this government acually miss, in all their importantly professionally
calculated numbers...the allowance of purchasing candy, caffeinated soda pop, and other malnourishing snacks? Considering that they currently designate particulars like: hot, ready to eat chickens ARE NOT allowable, but cold deli salad is, and toilet paper products-a necessity- ARE NOT allowable, but 10 chocolate candy bars are... My guess is that they don't just "accidentally" miss these figures.
And they don't "accidentally" miss the non-requirement of identification upon purchases either.
It is obvious to me, that "certain" folks allow these allowances for reasons of their own. But that would be another future story. The Agenda "whys" of a crime must come after the realization that there is a crime taking place.
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Here, I will link the alarming statistics of increasing rates of Americans' intake of "innocent" sugary snacks to increasing numbers of major bodily traumas/deaths:
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke, other vascular diseases, and their risk factors and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. Here are excerpts from their online reports.
Sticking to the point of the story, I am specifically zoning in on obesity charting, which parallels with increasing incidences of diabetes mellitus, CVD end points (including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure), and numerous other health conditions, including asthma, cancer, degenerative joint disease, and many others
The 2011 Update Expands Data Coverage of the Obesity Epidemic and Its Antecedents and Consequences
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The estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity in US adults (≥20 years of age) is 149 300 000, which represents 67.3% of this group in 2008. Fully 33.7% of US adults are obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2). Men and women of all race/ethnic groups in the population are affected by the epidemic of overweight and obesity (Table 15-1).
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Among children 2 to 19 years of age, 31.9% are overweight and obese (which represents 23 500 000 children), and 16.3% are obese (12 000 000 children). Mexican American boys and girls and African American girls are disproportionately affected. Over the past 3 decades, the prevalence of obesity in children 6 to 11 years of age has increased from ≈4% to more than 20%. I can't help but wonder if their cultural eating effects this. In the Mexican culture, greasy beans and lard practically each night can't be too good for the heart.
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Obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) is associated with marked excess mortality in the US population. Even more notable is the excess morbidity associated with overweight and obesity in terms of risk factor development and incidence of diabetes mellitus, CVD end points (including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure), and numerous other health conditions, including asthma, cancer, degenerative joint disease, and many others.
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The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing dramatically over time, in parallel with the increases in prevalence of overweight and obesity.
On the basis of NHANES 2003–2006 data-
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The proportion of youth (≤18 years of age) who report engaging in no regular physical activity is high, and the proportion increases with age. In 2007, among adolescents in grades 9 through 12, 29.9% of girls and 17.0% of boys reported that they had not engaged in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, defined as any activity that increased heart rate or breathing rate, even once in the previous 7 days, despite recommendations that children engage in such activity ≥5 days per week.
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Thirty-six percent of adults reported engaging in no vigorous activity (activity that causes heavy sweating and a large increase in breathing or heart rate).
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Data from NHANES indicate that between 1971 and 2004, average total (food) energy consumption among US adults increased by 22% in women (from 1542 to 1886 kcal/d) and by 10% in men (from 2450 to 2693 kcal/d; see Chart 19-1).
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The increases in calories consumed during this time period are attributable primarily to greater average carbohydrate intake, in particular, of starches, refined grains, and sugars. Other specific changes related to increased caloric intake in the United States include larger portion sizes, greater food quantity and calories per meal, and increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, snacks, commercially prepared (especially fast food) meals, and higher energy-density foods.
In other words, folks are eating way
more than the portioned amounts per person, but to boot, they are getting in, unhealthy versions of "food". Combine this with the major increasing
laziness, for lack of a better word...and what you get is greasy
fingered TV watchers and video gamers that are headed for the morgue!
INCREASED OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES
- Véronique L. Roger, MD, MPH, FAHA;
- Melanie B. Turner, MPH On behalf of the American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Writing Group
Cardiovascular Procedure Utilization and Costs- Cardiovascular operations increase 27% between 1997-2007
Chapter 21 provides data on
trends and current usage of cardiovascular surgical and invasive
procedures. For example, the
total number of inpatient cardiovascular
operations and procedures increased 27%, from 5 382 000 in 1997 to 6 846
000 in 2007
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
computation based on National Center for Health Statistics annual
data).
INCREASED HEALTH COSTS
Chapter 22: The total direct and indirect cost of CVD and stroke in the United States for
2007 is estimated to be $286 billion.
INCREASES HEALTH INSURANCE RATES
With the items I have listed- allowance of misuse of the card for drugs/alcohol, candy, caffeinated pop, and unhealthy snacks purchases, this leads me to point out health insurance cost increases...without the need for stats. If you really need them, you can easily find them. There are various factors calculated in these rising money digits within the insurance rates- but one of them, for sure, is in this story-based on the nation's declining health with increased obesity.
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YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND
We all know what we put into our minds effect our emotions. What we put into our emotions effects our bodies (crying, heart attacks). We have discussed how what we put into our bodies effects our bodies. Well, it an also effect our minds. If our greasy, sugary bodies are massively changing, so are our brains. Now bring that to full circle. Minds, emotions, bodies, mind, emotions, bodies. An endless chain of negativity or positivity.
This leads me to our declining bodies/brains producing declining "proper" thought.
These same adults and children spoken of by the American Heart Association, from all over the country, are at such levels of inactivity, slumped on the couch more often than not by the end of their days....and they are doing what? You guessed it. Playing video games all day and/or watching television.(2.7 hours t.v. accounted for 1/2 the leisure time spent for 15 yr and over-2010 report by Bureau of Labor statistics) A leader in one of America's downfall for sure. These sugared up, crazed kids(and adults) are also playing a lot of violent games. This surely contributes to the vulnerable mentalities of both adults and what we call CHILD KILLERS. Heard the phrase, "Out of site, out of mind"? Well, in site, IN mind when it comes to this travesty!
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CHILD KILLERS INCREASE: 2004-2008= 17% increase
Let's take on shootings in schools. Specifically American schools.
The murder arrest rate in 2008 was 3.8 arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10 through 17. This was 17 percent more than the 2004 low of 3.3 -Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Published by USA Today, on 12-19-2011 refers to Pediatrics' stats that same week --
"The new data show a sharp increase from a previous study that stunned the American public when it was published 44 years ago by criminologist Ron Christensen. That study found 22% of youth would be arrested by age 23. The latest study finds 30.2% of young people will be arrested by age 23.
Although Wikipedia is a gathering of information from the people, there are some many good facts that can be verified by further study. One of which is a chart I found on school shootings in America. In this page, I found charts for comparisons for other countries as well. You can verify for yourselves, the rise in incidences of school murders over such a relatively short time in our history. This is not an argument over people versus handguns. That will be another story altogether. Whether you support legal handgun use or not, one can't argue the obvious increase in childhood stressors in general.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting
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HOW CAN WE TURN IT ALL AROUND?
Now imagine that we could save the money spent on these allowable items..unimaginable figures to myself...and add that to a chink of of the 286 billion spent on these related health care "concerns"...that is a ton of money to be sure! What, indeed, would we spend it on?
These are just a few ideas off the top of my head..but the list could really go on and on:
Imagine if that money could go to positive outreaches such as:
1. Less fat Americans leads to just plain more food available for others, thereby allowing America to:
Help feed the food poor not only in America, but other countries as well...and the training of foreigners to actually learn how to grow food themselves and become sustainable for their futures....and the training of how to NOT spread highly contagious diseases AND safe sex interventions; to overturn the high sexual disease/pregnancy rates due to simple ignorance.
2. Health Food Programs within the American school system that offer healthy choices as compared to things they offer like the $3 pizza that I ate each day in school. (another story)
3. Art and Music Programs, during and after school- which would help kids get off their lazy butts each day? Not just getting these programs back into schools that omitted them, but offering free instruments across America as well.
Not only would it contribute to a healthier mindset; fulfilling their inner creativities, bringing more peace to the world with each pluck of a string or stroke of a paintbrush...But it would, in my mind, cut down on the horrific increase in both thought AND actions of gunning down your fellow students. It doesn't take a brain scientist to figure this one out! I mean, if one is busy writing a song while mom is at work til 6 pm, it really means that they don't have time to read about how to build bombs, join a gang, or get a gun, right?
Stay with me here- kids whom aren't sugared up- with kool-aid, candies, and unhealthy snacks...aren't on the couch surfing violent shows and games......and are playing more music and doing art instead...
BOOST THE ECONOMY with smarter people making smarter choices- MORE Diplomas!
To note: Schools that have music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than do those without programs (90.2% as compared to 72.9%). In addition, those that rate their programs as “excellent” or “very good” have an even higher graduation rate (90.9%). Schools that have music programs have significantly higher attendance rates than do those without programs (93.3% as compared to 84.9%). --Harris Interactive poll of high school principals conducted Spring 2006; funded by MENC and NAMM. For more info, contact info@menc2.org. These students also test much higher in English, Math, and so on.....
Found this on: National Association for Music Education http://www.nafme.org/resources/view/why-music-education-2007
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These students, would in turn go on to create smarter, more thoughtful and sustainable "things" for the world...like sun and water powered structures...natural food science...and the list goes on....
Like I said: Endless chain of negativity...or positivity.
NOTE FROM BLOG AUTHOR: Ok, well this is some good stuff to chew on...let me know what you think; any of my input, whether it be mistakes or thumbs up...I want to know. I am no professional, just thoughtful and direct. I may not have a degree in writing, but I have experience in getting the point across. Hope you enjoyed this one, "How Can We Help" on Facebook! It was because of your intrigue on my brief thoughts on these matters that provoked the fuller story!
Below is just a simple chart, showing the current Food Stamp crisis on the rise.I hate to make a story that doesn't include the "how tos" of fixing the problem and changing the rules: Requiring identity for food stamp purchases, and not allowing candy, caffeinated drinks, or unhealthy snacks in these purchases. I will do a follow-up soon on how to make steps toward that difference. L.D.
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FYI- Food stamps on the rise
The numbers of folks on food assistance almost doubled from 2007-2011; 45.8 million people.
USDA data released Oct/ Nov, 2011 shows that the number of Americans receiving food aid from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) hit another all-time high in August, just a few months before. 45.8 million -- A 31% jump since June, 2009.
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