Right now, there are over 45 million Americans on food stamps. The economy is supposed to be "recovering", but the number of Americans on food stamps has grown by 70% percent in the past 5 years.
According to the Wall Street Journal, nearly 15 percent of all Americans are now on food stamps. That means that approximately one out of every seven Americans is dependent on the federal government for food.
A lot of people actually think that the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible. But it isn't. It probably comes from right-wing politicians who feel the government should cut these programs for the poor and the elderly and leave it up to corporations to create jobs. Maybe a good idea in theory, but unfortunately the weakly regulated corporations prefer to use their government tax incentives to create jobs in low-cost countries to make more profit for their shareholders.
Sadly, even more of Americans may be joining the ranks of the poor soon. The layoff figures just keep on coming in. For example, it was just announced that all 46 Syms and Filene's Basement stores are closing. Also, Gap recently announced plans to close its 189 stores in the United States.
Free Trade has turned out not being Fair Trade, and mainly resulted in moving capital and local jobs to so-called "low cost" countries. By embracing globalization without putting any effective safeguards in place the industrialized nations will continue to experience the loss loss of jobs . Unfortunately the result will eventually be the destruction of the middle class. The US is the prime example of this trend as it is being de-industrialized at a very fast pace with not nearly enough jobs to go around as before. Consequently poverty is exploding all over the US with millions of families losing their homes to foreclosure.
It's all about basic economics. When evaluating the health of a nations economy, it is important not only to look at the short-term numbers. Rather, the key is to look at the long-term trends and, most important, the balance sheet numbers. By relying mainly on credit to fuel an economy might initially create a lot of economic activity... and yes, in the US this debt did fuel an unprecedented boom of prosperity for the last 30 years, but now that the credit and prosperity is drying up.
Coming to think of it, this wild spending in the US has caused it to accumulate up to 15 trillion dollars of debt and a debt which is growing by more than 2 million dollars every single minute.
Is there a solution? Of course there is. Who is to blame? Both political parties are to be questioned for the mess the US is in. Budget deficits exploded during Republican administrations, just like they did under the Democrats. Both political parties are also to blame for the fact the US is now sadly ruled by a corrupt and perverted collusion of banks, politicians and special interest groups. But the buck does not stop there.
The buck really stops with the American voter. They are the only ones able to change the mess they are in by questioning the people they elected and to ask them to produce transparent results of their contribution to the quality of life in America, and most important their relationship with special interest groups. If they can't, or only produce empty words, get rid of them. Select people who will make a difference. American voters, the problems are urgent. Its time you get off your couch and go on the street.
EU-Digest
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