50 Million Americans On Food Stamps

It's a good bet that you or someone you know gets food stamps.

One out of every six Americans now depends on this federal assistance program, New York Times reporter Jason DeParle told National Public Radio in a recent show about poverty.

The question is whether this is a new type of federal handout or a proper response to recession, foreclosures and joblessness.

DeParle tells NPR:

"Some people would say it is bad because dependency is on the rise because people are on food stamps . . . I think there's also a strong case to be made in the opposite direction, that this is a safety net program that has responded to the worst economy since the Great Depression."

What do you think? Vote in a Patch poll and comment below.

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