Food Stamp Recipients Set Record–Again

The trend of more and more Americans receiving food stamps is alarming as this report comes to light this week:

Some 42.9 million people collected food stamps last month, up 1.2% from the prior month and 16.2% higher than the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Nationwide 14% of the population relied on food stamps as of September but in some states the percentage was much higher. In Washington, D.C., Mississippi and Tennessee – the states with the largest share of citizens receiving benefits – more than a fifth of the population in each was collecting food stamps.

The numbers just keep growing and with unemployment hovering around 10 percent, the outlook for decreasing food stamp rolls is bleak. What’s more significant is the confirmation these numbers give to President Obama, the Democrats, and their failed Keynesian economic policies and the disasterous effects these policies have on the US economy and working families that the Democrats fight for so much.

With each report from the USDA we see an increase in the numbers–setting a new record each time–with the largest jump ever–during the Obama administration from 33.5 million people in 2009 to 42.9 million people through October 2010. Remarkable indeed.

Is this the new normal for Americans or just the effects of progressive leftist policies put in place by Obama and the Democrats? And can they be reversed by the GOP? Additionally, with the Democrats refusing to bring the extension of the tax cuts to the House floor, more people can be expected to enroll in the food stamp program as their taxes will be increased come January 2010–including the lowest brackets getting hit as well.