I went down to apply for food stamps today, my money is running out and I barely have enough for a bus pass for next month. While I was there I talked to the person behind the counter regarding any changes in people filing for food assitance in the past few months. On the television news they keep giving upbeat forecasts regarding the economy, jobs, etc. Yet in my experience and those I talk to it seems the opposite.
I asked if there has been a decrease in a request for benefits, or whether it has remained pretty much the same, or has there been a substantial increase over the past few months. They said that there had been a substantial increase and that persons she had talked to were very stressed, their hours had been cut back on their jobs, they had been laid off, there were no jobs to be found, etc. There were no words of encouragement on the economy at all. In fact, based on the words of someone who sees the effects of changes in the economy much closer than most of us, it seemed like the economy was getting substantially worse, and those who were saying otherwise were in fact lying. I have not watched the television news in several months now, in fact the first time I've seen CNN in awhile was while I was sitting waiting for my food assistance appointment. Just a bunch of fluffed out press poodles. No substance.
Do yourself a favor. Kill your television. You'll be glad you did.