5 ms·

Mostly a combination of (a) that article being largely made-up BS to exaggerate the size of a problem that barely exists (i.e. by using ridiculously broad cate

by hugh3 15y ago

Mostly a combination of (a) that article being largely made-up BS to exaggerate the size of a problem that barely exists (i.e. by using ridiculously broad categories for "food insecure" and a measurement methodology which involves cajoling people into agreeing that they are indeed "food-insecure") and (b) the fact that a few people are terrible at making life decisions and somehow manage to prioritize some variety of stupid crap or another (drugs, alcohol, gambling) over feeding themselves and their families. Talking about "one seventh of households in the United States being food insecure" is a complete joke, when there's people in those orange countries that really can't get enough to eat.

VladRussian 15y ago
>that article being largely made-up BS to exaggerate the size of a problem that barely exists it is not a "problem that barely exists" for the children [or the other dependents] of these few from the (b)
- hugh3 15y ago
  Sure, problems can "barely exist" while being significant for the statistically small number of people whom they effect. Rhinoceros attacks, for instance, are "barely a problem"... unless you're one of those poor unfortunates who is suffering from one. Fun fact: wikipedia has a category http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Deaths_due_to_rhinoceros_attacks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Deaths_due_to_rhinocer...
  - VladRussian 15y ago
    >Sure, problems can "barely exist" while being significant for the statistically small number of people whom they effect. sounds like you do think that 10%+ (food insecure) or 3%+ (food insecurity with hunger) of US population is "statistically small number of people". Who'd care about 30M+ (10M+) of people who "are terrible at making life decisions and somehow manage to prioritize some variety of stupid crap or another (drugs, alcohol, gambling) over feeding themselves and their families" and their children! Or may be you just not aware about the facts? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States#Food_security http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States#Fo...
mc32 15y ago
I understand that there are people who make poor decisions. Nutrition, however, since it's so relatively cheap and one of the most basic needs, I think should have a safety net even for those who, thru their own fault, lack access to such. I know there are food programmes and soup kitchens --but those suffer from poor funding. I mean, I feel that we should make sure everyone has access to balanced nutrition (not talking gourmet --just good nutrition) regardless of why they might not be able to afford it themselves.
- hugh3 15y ago
  I know there are food programmes and soup kitchens --but those suffer from poor funding. I mean, I feel that we should make sure everyone has access to balanced nutrition (not talking gourmet --just good nutrition) regardless of why they might not be able to afford it themselves. Fair enough. Well, if that's what you believe then I wish you well in your philanthropic endeavours. How much are you thinking of donating?
- typicalrunt 15y ago
  Yes, there are food programmes and soup kitchens, just like they existed decades before. It seems that the problem isn't going away, so I have to make the assumption that maybe it's something wrong with the food programmes and soup kitchens? On a certain level, when you are babying people and doing things for them, those people learn to depend on you and not learn for themselves. Initially those programmes were setup for the hardest hit people as a /temporary/ solution, but now it seems to have become a permanent one. Just like lunch programmes at schools to feed kids. They shouldn't exist because it teaches the parents that they don't need to think about feeding their children something healthy every day of the year. It puts the onus on a school system which is usually lacking in funds, so it makes decisions not solely based on children's health. By allowing the school system to feed their child, parents have extra income to spend on...what? In the Bronx, my wife was seeing 6-7 year olds arrive to school hungry (breakfast and lunch programmes were provided) but had the latest Timberland shoes and name-brand clothes. It's sad, but people these days need to be educated about eating and parenting.

by hugh3 15y ago

VladRussian 15y ago

>that article being largely made-up BS to exaggerate the size of a problem that barely exists it is not a "problem that barely exists" for the children [or the other dependents] of these few from the (b)

hugh3 15y ago
Sure, problems can "barely exist" while being significant for the statistically small number of people whom they effect. Rhinoceros attacks, for instance, are "barely a problem"... unless you're one of those poor unfortunates who is suffering from one. Fun fact: wikipedia has a category http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Deaths_due_to_rhinoceros_attacks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Deaths_due_to_rhinocer...
- VladRussian 15y ago
  >Sure, problems can "barely exist" while being significant for the statistically small number of people whom they effect. sounds like you do think that 10%+ (food insecure) or 3%+ (food insecurity with hunger) of US population is "statistically small number of people". Who'd care about 30M+ (10M+) of people who "are terrible at making life decisions and somehow manage to prioritize some variety of stupid crap or another (drugs, alcohol, gambling) over feeding themselves and their families" and their children! Or may be you just not aware about the facts? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States#Food_security http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States#Fo...

mc32 15y ago

I understand that there are people who make poor decisions. Nutrition, however, since it's so relatively cheap and one of the most basic needs, I think should have a safety net even for those who, thru their own fault, lack access to such. I know there are food programmes and soup kitchens --but those suffer from poor funding. I mean, I feel that we should make sure everyone has access to balanced nutrition (not talking gourmet --just good nutrition) regardless of why they might not be able to afford it themselves.

hugh3 15y ago
I know there are food programmes and soup kitchens --but those suffer from poor funding. I mean, I feel that we should make sure everyone has access to balanced nutrition (not talking gourmet --just good nutrition) regardless of why they might not be able to afford it themselves. Fair enough. Well, if that's what you believe then I wish you well in your philanthropic endeavours. How much are you thinking of donating?
typicalrunt 15y ago
Yes, there are food programmes and soup kitchens, just like they existed decades before. It seems that the problem isn't going away, so I have to make the assumption that maybe it's something wrong with the food programmes and soup kitchens? On a certain level, when you are babying people and doing things for them, those people learn to depend on you and not learn for themselves. Initially those programmes were setup for the hardest hit people as a /temporary/ solution, but now it seems to have become a permanent one. Just like lunch programmes at schools to feed kids. They shouldn't exist because it teaches the parents that they don't need to think about feeding their children something healthy every day of the year. It puts the onus on a school system which is usually lacking in funds, so it makes decisions not solely based on children's health. By allowing the school system to feed their child, parents have extra income to spend on...what? In the Bronx, my wife was seeing 6-7 year olds arrive to school hungry (breakfast and lunch programmes were provided) but had the latest Timberland shoes and name-brand clothes. It's sad, but people these days need to be educated about eating and parenting.