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From: alonso@princeton.UUCP (Rafael Alonso)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory,net.politics
Subject: Re: Extent of hunger in America
Message-ID: <1119@princeton.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Oct-85 17:42:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: princeto.1119
Posted: Wed Oct 16 17:42:03 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Oct-85 00:40:50 EDT
References: <203@gargoyle.UUCP> <3913@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> <215@gargoyle.UUCP>
Organization: Princeton University EECS Dept
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Xref: watmath net.politics.theory:1282 net.politics:11526

Richard Carnes writes:
> 
> Jan Wasilewsky writes:
> 
> >
> > An *egg* only costs a dime; at *minimum wage*, it embodies
> >100 seconds of work; it provides enough protein for some hours
> 
> But millions of Americans *cannot* earn, beg, borrow, or steal even
> that much.  They include children, the elderly, the mentally and
> physically ill, the disabled, and the unemployed.  If they had any

According to the Mercer County (NJ) Welfare office, a qualifying family of 4
(husband, wife, 2 kids) would receive $465/month in cash from them (if
the family has no other income; the amount is decreased if they do). The max
food stamp allowance is $268/month (if family has no income); for food stamp
benefits, the $465 is counted as income, lowering the family's food stamp 
allotment to $194/month.
Assuming the family is permanently on welfare, they are supposed to use
some of their basic benefit for food, as well as the food stamps. If they
do not, they then have about $1.59 per person per day for food (194*12/365/4).
Is this adequate? It's easy to answer this question. One can define a basic
diet and determine the portion cost in local stores.

	Rafael Alonso

PS. If only egg sandwiches are eaten ( best guess: bread slice ~ 3 cents,
egg ~8 cents -> 22 cents), $1.59 seems sufficient.
PPS. Other relevant points:
    The family may also receive a shelter allowance.
    Benefits may be lower in other states.
    Ghetto stores are more expensive, (can they go elsewhere?).
    Poverty correlates with ignorance -> bad budgetting.
    Ghetto blasters cost about $100, sneakers ~$40. $140 = food for 88 days.
	Survival is not enough.
    There are charity kitchens available.