This article is from 2014 and there is probably more updated information, however, this clearly illustrates the impact of draconian Republican policy. In this article, a study is cited as "one in seven people in the USA" rely on local aid programs.
August 17, 2014
By Andrea Stone
Dusti Ridge (click here) leans on her cane and waits patiently for her number to be called at Bread for the City, a food bank in southeast Washington, D.C. When she hears "56," she steps into the nonprofit group's pantry to find out what she'll be eating for the next week....
One in seven people equates to a little more than 14 percent. That is a significant population of Americans. That brings up a couple of realities. To begin any reduction in federal food supplemental programs equates directly to an additional burden on local social programs. In the case of HUNGER, that means there will be more people at soup kitchens and food pantries. That is a direct burden on Americans in their home towns. It is palpable. When there is this level of need that is not met, crime escalates.
Additionally, immigrants are in the numbers in the HUNGRY. They are NOT a major part of those numbers. When a judge receives Cuccinelli's administrative order it will immediately be viewed as unfair discrimination. I have no doubt the first question will be, "Why did you let these folks into the USA if they are going to starve to death?"
These folks are not causing a huge burden to the USA Treasury. They also come providing a willingness to work and earn their way as an American. That is the proud definition of the healthy Middle Class in the USA. It has status. A person goes to work, receives money and they can support themselves and in time move up in their level of quality of life. That dynamic is available to all the people, not a class of Americans. That means immigrants in the USA provide a service to the country. It is a valuable service and will be seen as a benevolent part of our country.
The USA commonly has a population of poor people, even the working poor. An immigrant has a greater chance of falling into lower income levels than Americans born in the USA and educated here. There is also a problem with a strange phenomenon that has hung on for years called "The Working Poor." Our government recognizes that hardship and provides supplements to VITAL aspects of life, especially HUNGER. It is always debatable that the federal government provides enough supplement to institutional hunger, but, when the Republicans are in majorities they are forever cutting the budget of these vital services. The amount of the supplement is not the issue, the important fact is that Americans recognize the poor and are sympathetic toward their plight. The fact is the poor, the working poor are probably members of every family in the USA, especially the young adults or the elderly.
The point is singling out a class of people to target for hunger is not only illegal but highly unethical CONSIDERING the government has not been able to end the phenomena called "The Working Poor." That means so long as so many Americans are experiencing hunger, there is no special class of people that are immune to it. Until the USA changes the circumstances of the Working Poor, the condition of hunger will exist among the entire of that economic group which includes immigrants.
Now, if immigrants were the only class of people experiencing hunger, it is still the obligation of the USA government to address it. That means the immigrants are provided supplements to curtail their hunger while the government studies their circumstances to bring about a far more humane quality of life. It may be that immigrants are unable to move out of that state of hunger because of facts beyond their control, ie: Discrimination in the workplace. That means the USA government needs to understand the discrimination and provide a method to end it. It might mean passing laws to end it by demanding the participation of the private sector engaged in the employment of Americans. It could also be a training program that SATISFIES American employers requirements has to be put in place to bring the immigrants up to speed to expose their opportunity to share in the American Dream.
When people exhibit downturns of quality of life in the USA there is a reason. That reason has to be addressed by the government and when it is not addressed the people need to get out from under the oppression of propaganda and be sure to put people in their government that cares about them and changes the law. In the circumstances of Mr. Cuccinelli, this is his problem. He has the power to change the circumstances of the poor and working poor from his office of influence in the federal government. In response, ultimately he will change the circumstances of the immigration population.
To Americans, all immigrants should know it is the custom of the USA to have people complain, demonstrate and write to their federal elected officials about ridiculous issues such as this. I wish them well, they will find many Americans willing to write and call to move this issue out of their quality of life. It is called friends.
