Detroit food stamp recipients speak

http://wsws.org/articles/2011/may2011/food-m07.shtml

Earlier this week, the US Department of Agriculture issued a report saying that a record number of Americans are receiving government-paid food stamps to help them feed their families. According to the report, one in seven US residents—or more than 44 million—are receiving federal food assistance due to high levels of unemployment, including long-term joblessness, and the growth of poverty resulting from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. (See “One in seven Americans receiving federal food assistance.”)

In Michigan, 860,000 jobs have been wiped out over the last decade. There are over 2 million food recipients in the state, roughly one in five. Earlier this year, the state tightened eligibility requirements to throw 20,000 college students off the program.

Detroit has been the hardest hit, losing half of its population since 2000, due to the decades-long shrinking of the auto industry, which culminated with the bankruptcy and restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler in 2009. While the auto companies are making record profits—and paying top executives multi-million-dollar salaries, residents in the Motor City face conditions of destitution akin to the Third World.

By 2013, one out of four people in the region won’t know where two of their daily meals will come from, according to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. In 2009, there were 706,000 people hungry in Metro Detroit; by 2013, 952,000 people could be in need.

More at the link --

and gut the social programs that would help these people regain their footing.

It makes me sick.