Hunger on the Increase in the USA

One of the biggest myths about the USA is that it's a land of plenty enjoyed by all. But last year 36 million Americans went hungry without access to food. Many of them were children. Yet during the last 7 years the wealthiest among us knew enormous economic growth.

Those who thought that the Lord of the manor was disposed to throw the remains of the meal to the serfs were kidding themselves. When possible they will consume every last morsel.

Trickle down economics is a mere talking point when the spigot is mostly turned off.

clipped from www.newsnet5.com New government figures show that almost 700,000 children went hungry in the United States at some point in 2007, up more than 50 percent from the year before to mark the highest point since 1998. And that's even before this year's sharp economic downtown, the Agriculture Department reported Monday. The department's annual report on food security showed that during 2007 the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006 and the largest figure since 716,000 in 1998. Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. That was 12.2 percent of Americans who didn't have the money or assistance to get enough food to maintain active, healthy lives. Among other findings: The families with the highest rates of food insecurity were headed by single mothers (30.2 percent), black households (22.2 percent), Hispanic households (20.1 percent), and households with incomes below the official poverty line (37.7 percent). States with families reporting the highest prevalence of food insecurity during 2005-2007 were Mississippi (17.4 percent), New Mexico (15 percent), Texas (14.8 percent) and Arkansas (14.4 percent). The highest growth in food insecurity over the last 9 years came in Alaska and Iowa, both of which saw a 3.7 percent increase in families who struggled to eat adequately or had substantial food disruptions. Ninety-three percent reported eating less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food. Sixty-five percent of respondents reported that they had been hungry but did not eat because they could not afford enough food. Forty-five percent of respondents reported having lost weight because they did not have enough money for food.

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