USA 2008: The Great Depression

[mia]

Source: The Independent

We knew things were bad on Wall Street, but on Main Street it may be worse. Startling official statistics show that as a new economic recession stalks the United States, a record number of Americans will shortly be depending on food stamps just to feed themselves and their families.


Dismal projections by the Congressional Budget Office in Washington suggest that in the fiscal year starting in October, 28 million people in the US will be using government food stamps to buy essential groceries, the highest level since the food assistance programme was introduced in the 1960s.

The increase – from 26.5 million in 2007 – is due partly to recent efforts to increase public awareness of the programme and also a switch from paper coupons to electronic debit cards. But above all it is the pressures being exerted on ordinary Americans by an economy that is suddenly beset by troubles. Housing foreclosures, accelerating jobs losses and fast-rising prices all add to the squeeze.

Emblematic of the downturn until now has been the parades of houses seized in foreclosure all across the country, and myriad families separated from their homes. But now the crisis is starting to hit the country in its gut. Getting food on the table is a challenge many Americans are finding harder to meet. As a barometer of the country's economic health, food stamp usage may not be perfect, but can certainly tell a story.


Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/usa-2008-the-great-depression-803095.html

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. More tax cuts for the wealthy! And make 'em permanent! That'll fix EVERYTHING!

:sarcasm:

[SpiralHawk]

2. Yup, that's the republicon solution in a nutshell

What a bunch of nitwit, destructive perverts they have proved to be.

Republicons have trashed America's economy, environment & military - a freaking republcion trifecta.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Yeah...and continue the fuckin war for another few decades...dumb asses

[redqueen]

4. Well they have to ensure their war profiteering buddies

are all set for the hard times ahead. Not to mention their big oil buddies.

:thumbsup:

[StarryNite]

8. Yeah but don't ya know

that all their wealth will trickle down to the rest of us. :eyes:

[Virginia Dare]

13. Reaganomics was trickle down..

Bushonomics is gush up.

[BadgerKid]

16. Bushonomics is trickle on. n/t

[StarryNite]

17. Same circus,

different clowns.

[Virginia Dare]

12. No, not EVERYTHING..

we still have the $600 checks coming to fix the rest...:sarcasm: :banghead:

[fascisthunter]

5. This News Makes Me Feel Very Violent

..... time to take a walk.

[Hydra]

9. Relax

This actually helps in the fight against the fascists.

People that have something to lose will fight to keep the status quo, no matter how bad. People who can't eat will be more amenable to the far better alternatives available.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. So, you're rooting for a recession?

:shrug:

[Virginia Dare]

14. No shit, the thought of families living out of cardboard boxes..

doesn't put me in the mood to relax.

[Hydra]

19. So what about the ones who are already there?

And have been for years?

You know what I was told about a year ago when I pointed this out to someone?

"I sure hope this group of people don't decide to fight back- I like eating regularly."

I'd like to think that is a minority opinion...but it's not even a minority opinion on DU.

If all of you have to join me at the bottom to see how bad things really are, then I hope to see all of you here, soon.

[Hydra]

18. I am, actually

Because people are dying and have been dying for some time now...and the people who are doing ok don't care.

If it requires us to have a great depression 2.0 for people to wake up, then that's what it takes.

[lunatica]

6. This is why Bush was smiking while they booed him in the baseball stadium

He's implementing his scorched earth policy. When he leaves he'll be quite comfortably wealthy and us, the ones who have booed him will be in tent cities. How can he help but feel smug?

They are called the gated community for a reason. It's to keep the rabble out. That's us. Blackwater will see to it that their privacy is enforced.

[Virginia Dare]

15. He thinks he's Abraham Lincoln..

making unpopular decisions which history will later deem brilliant...:eyes:

[H8fascistcons]

7. Hey America!!!!!

Help out your fellow Americans, run out and buy some cheap junk from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, ensuring no American was employed by your purchase. Is this sinking in? Let Bill Gates made in China X-Box and Steve Jobs made in China I_Phone and I-Pod "ROT" on the shelf!!!! By purchasing these products you are helping the George Bush Fascist republicans!!!!!! THINK, THINK, THINK...

[Psephos]

11. You could visit Redmond or Cupertino and get a different opinion n/t