Quote from: bitserve on November 18, 2020, 11:24:50 PM

Quote from: xhomerx10 on November 17, 2020, 02:56:30 PM

Quote from: Paashaas on November 17, 2020, 12:17:31 PM

Quote

Thousands of cars lined up to collect food in Dallas, Texas, over the weekend, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Poor Americans are forced using their cars (on credit) to stand in a food line for hours and the crazy thing is they actually believe they live in the best country in the world.

https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1328370997125410817

In which other country can poor people line up at a food bank while sitting in an air-conditioned, luxury vehicle, listening to music on a factory-installed, 200+ W, 6 speaker, sound system surfing the internet on their iPhone 11 max pro?? It doesnt get any better than this; not even close. This makes 'Best country in the world' seem like a gross understatement.

What I would like to know is if that is also part of the stupidity of society (the same that think credit is for spending, when it is the other way around). I mean, food for "surviving" is cheap as fuck. As in probably cheaper than the gas used to go collect it. So, unless they are also giving "luxury food" in those food banks I really don't understand it. How does it work? How much food and what "quality" do they give? I was thinking that maybe they give a few months worth of food for one trip... but that wouldn't probably fit into the trunk of a single vehicle.

I really feel like I am missing something here.

You are missing something.

Those people are not in need of survival rations yet; just a little help. In fact, 40% of the people in that line of cars were looking for help for the first-time. Many people lost their jobs due to the lock-downs and other restrictions implemented due to Covid-19 have run out of unemployment benefits, likely much of the savings they may have had. Since the second stimulus bill has been stalled for months, Americans are not getting the second promised $1200 relief check either. One thing that you don't see by looking at the picture is that many people in that line of cars also received a turkey - which is essential for a proper "Thanksgiving" dinner. This particular image isn't about survival food, this is food that has been donated by people (and companies) who 'have' trying to make sure that people who are a little low on funds will still be able to have a proper Thanksgiving dinner with family - which is a luxury. Americans are generous people - in fact, they are ~~likely~~ among the most generous people you will find.

There is a program in the USA called SNAP which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food (or a food-purchasing card) for individuals and families in need. It varies by state but generally a family of 4 can still have an income of >$3000 per month and still qualify for the benefit. Americans are far from destitute.