"People don't eat in the long run, they eat every day." Harry Hopkins

[kentuck]

Responding to the Hoover folks back in the 1930's, when they assured him that the economy would come back and everything would be back to normal "in the long run". Hopkins said, "people don't eat in the long run, they eat every day".

These long food lines are very disturbing. It is an immediate emergency when people do not have food. Everything else must be put on another burner. People can become desperate very quickly when their families are hungry.

Somebody in government should take charge and organize these cities and states to feed those that have lost their jobs and do not have food. The food banks should be supported by all of us.

We have seen the photos of the cars backed up in traffic jams in San Antonio and Pittsburgh, attempting to get to the food bank. But there is not enough food for so many people.

This should be at the top of our agenda at this time, in my opinion.

[Laelth]

1. In addition, now is NOT the time to get stingy with SNAP benefits. n/t

-Laelth

[kentuck]

2. Absolutely!

They are talking about bailing out private equity markets and want to cut food stamps at the same time. How insane!

[riversedge]

5. As long as Donny boy gets his two scoops, I really do not think he cares. He can pretend but

he is not a good faker. His blabbering mouth ALWAYS gets him in trouble.

[live love laugh]

3. The desperation part endangers everyone. nt

[liberalmuse]

11. Not the rich in their bunkers.

So they believe. I saw pictures of the food lines last night and that was it. It’s unbearable to watch and some of us may soon join them. A lot of people are suffering right now and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I may forgo some bills and just give that money to the food banks and other orgs helping people since my creditors got just about everyone’s share in the recent and past stimulus bills (since the frippin’ 1980’s!)

[Squinch]

4. The need is so huge. Any of us who can should donate to the local food bank.

Donnie Bodybags is not going to help people out of that, and mothers and fathers are facing the prospect of hungry children.

My God. This is where we are.

But it is, so if we can, we should help.

[kentuck]

6. I think the Post Office could hire extra people to pick up food products by the mail boxes.

That way, there would not have to be any human contact. They have done this in the past. That would be an effective way to get food to the food bank, in my opinion.

[Squinch]

9. My local food bank does the buying. They know what people need and want. And they know

the best combination of food and products to get people through the week. They give out the bags every Monday and Wednesday morning. They usually aim at about 250 bags, but I am sure they need to expand that now.

So it's just a money donation, which is easy. But, of course, their link broke. I emailed them to let them know, so hopefully they'll be back up and running shortly.

[Scarsdale]

25. The grocery store I go to

in southern Wisconsin has a sign at checkouts, asking for donations of cash to the local food banks. GREAT idea, I think. They have groceries bagged in advance for Christmas donations. Anyone who can help, should help. Those long lines are heartbreaking. Next thing is the people will run out of gas, so will not be able to get into that line. What an absolutely DISGUSTING thing to have happen in this country. Desperate people needing food because the gop backed up a jackass for president, and refuses to expose his complete ineptness. Now their main concern is "What message should we use for re-election, now that the economy has tanked" They all need to be unemployed, every last gop member who voted to let HIM walk away from impeachment. Yesterday, eggs were $5.49 a doz. for large!!!

[htuttle]

7. We need to redistribute the food normally sold to restaurants and schools that's getting thrown away

The food supply chains that normally sell to commercial concerns are sitting on piles of food, (and those giant rolls of single ply toilet paper...). Dairy, eggs and other perishables normally sold to these places are getting thrown out, since it doesn't keep.

Farmers Dump Milk, Break Eggs as Coronavirus Restaurant Closings Destroy Demand
https://www.wsj.com/articles/farmers-deal-with-glut-of-food-as-coronavirus-closes-restaurants-11586439722

Remember government cheese? Giant orange blocks of yummy cheddar?

This would be a solvable problem, if this country had an administration with any actual skills at all.

[Ferrets are Cool]

17. This x One Million

[Ferrets are Cool]

18. I also remember Government Peanut Butter

it did not taste good, but when you are hungry, you will set aside your delicate palate.

[tazkcmo]

8. When people don't have

They WILL get. We, through our government and individual generosity, can either give or they will take however they can. It's our choice.

[Moostache]

10. THIS is another federal disgrace

Food being thrown away while millions are going nuts trying to figure out where their next meal or supplies will come from?

Food riots are horrifying. Yet, in this Trump shitshow, they seem almost inevitable.

My god, I can't believe it comes to this. I feel so broken and defeated and I realize that my situation is paradise compared to so many... There is not enough hate in the universe to unload on those allowing this to start on their watch...all of them.

[CrispyQ]

12. +1

Ditto to your last paragraph.

[wnylib]

21. Last sentence speaks for me

and anyone else with a conscience and a heart.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Here in the Philly area

Social service agencies, food banks, church organizations are a loose mutually supporting coalition. Yes they are reporting shortages. These efforts are beyond food stamps. They run on donations and volunteers. Trump has decimated SNAP. I can't understand a society where the billionaires rake off the profits and leave the poorest masses to fend for themselves and rely on volunteers and charity. It's a big philanthropic display on Wall Street when some employees man a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Trouble is there are 364 other days in the year, so their efforts are 99% show.

I've kind of been sensing this coming on because a local closeout food store closed at the end of the year and their selection had grown thin and prices up near the end. Others have raised prices too. The nickel discounts at European chains that harp on their low prices are a joke. Today the USA seems to me more like 1905 Czarist Russia than the country I grew up in. Those at the top don't care and are failing their citizens. It's a recipe.

[area51]

14. +1 n/t

[wnylib]

28. Or France, 1788.

Final results differed between Russia and France, but the method of change was the same.

[NickB79]

15. The one thing that will turn this pandemic violent is lack of food

Mark my words. Once parents start seeing their kids crying at night from hunger pangs on a widespread level, the rioting will start. Nothing creates social unrest faster than food shortages.

[McKim]

16. I am Writing to Our Mayor

I am writing to our mayor. We need to open those public school kitchens and feed people!

[Demsrule86]

19. Many food banks are closed and there are few donations with everyone at home.

[catrose]

20. I love Harry Hopkins. He could have been our president (& maybe Roosevelt wouldn't have had 4 terms)

but stomach cancer got him before he could run. FDR wanted to pass the baton to him.

Hopkins sent his people all over the country to see how people were living and what they needed. Not a good idea at the moment, but it shows that his programs were founded in reality.

[littlemissmartypants]

22. And...

A hungry man is an angry man.

Thanks for the post, kentuck.

❤ lmsp

[BobTheSubgenius]

23. Back when the Solidarity movement had taken hold in Poland,

I saw an interview with an alleged expert on Easter European affairs. He probably was an expert, but I don't remember his qualifications.

At any rate, the interviewer asked him why the Poles were so restive, and now heading towards violence. In answer, the academic asked the interviewer if he remembered the OPEC oil embargo. "People actually exchanging gunfire over alleged line-cutting at gas stations...and so on?"

Of course the interviewer remembered, and then the interviewee brought the hammer down.

"That was over a shortage of gasoline. Imagine if there's no food."

[packman]

24. Famous last words --- Someone better heed the past

[AwakeAtLast]

26. According to the GOP, you can eat ammunition.

That's what they're stockpiling.

[wnylib]

29. Wonder which side they will fall on

if food riots develop, since some of them will be out of jobs, money, and food, too. Local, state, and federal officials will try to bring order. Will the armed
Rs defend the rioters or turn on them and grab whatever food they can for themselves?

[snort]

27. We're giving $500 a month

to our local food bank.

[Skittles]

30. that's great

how about a few bucks for DU? thanks