Comment: W-w-w-w-wait....

Government programs are 100% responsible for food stamps/poverty?

It's a little more complex than that. Wouldn't we say a globalizing labour force is having as much or more to do with wage deflation?

Further, Peter equates purchasing power with stuff-consumer items when the greatest challenge to anyone in poverty is to gain ownership of productive resources: land, buildings, businesses, investment capitol. With growing population AND wealth disparity we have a growing gap between those who own the resources and those who don't. Wealth is becoming more hereditary not less and this effect is compounded by corporatism.

The inflationary effects of bailout and monetizing debt are well known to all of us as is the "supercaste" of people who literally get to print their own free money.

Given present circumstances I see no way but to continue and even increase food subsidies for the general masses. Even if people started feverishly gardening every lawn and alley today, peak results would still be 5 years out. The alternatives is witness mass starvation along with attendant crimes/lawlessness.

"The poor are lazy" ain't the easy blow-off it used to be.