Valley Girl - Food and Politics, and "tax relief"

Valley Girl

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Food and Politics, and "tax relief"

Two articles on food and politics:

How We Eat (Harvey Ussery on his TheModernHomestead.us site)

No More Food Stamps--You've Eaten Enough (Andrew Leonard in salon.com, 25 January 2008)

Andrew Leonard points out that the Bush stimulus plan left out any increase in unemployment benefits or food stamps. So, this plan offers no long-term changes that would help struggling families -- just some cash that the administration hopes will get spent - quickly.

Some things to consider doing with the "short-term tax loan:"
-put it in a savings account (especially if your saving rate is low)
-pay down any debt you have
-donate it to your area food bank
-use it as seed money, literally: start a community garden
-use it as micro-loan funds: help a teen you know to start a business

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Friday, February 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by homesteadinthemaking

Food stamps do not help struggling families they only enable them.
Trixi

• Permanent Link

Saturday, February 16, 2008 - Food stamps

Posted by campergal

Hi Trixi - Thanks for posting! I disagree with you on the food stamps, though. We've never (thank G-d!) had to use them, but we did apply for, and receive, unemployment benefits while DH searched for a job (who knew that it would take 18 months to find an IT job, even with 20 years experience???). It made the difference between keeping our home and losing it. If we hadn't had some reserves, the food stamps might have played a similar role. For us, that sure doesn't feel like "enabling."

• Permanent Link

About Me