Data just released by the World Bank shows that 44 million more people in developing countries have been pushed into extreme poverty in the 8 months since June 2010. They say that food commodity prices have hit 'dangerous' levels.
Reasons why global food prices are heading out of control.
Droughts, storms and fires - These have impacted on rising food prices. However, these events happen every year and are not responsible for the current spikes in commodity prices.
Emerging markets - Rapidly developing central Asian countries are seeing phenomenal economic growth activity. Corporations are exploiting their rising disposable incomes and these countries are now sucking in a diversification of 'en vogue' agricultural products. These are being sourced on the world commodity exchanges and driving prices higher.
Bio fuels - Developed countries, particularly those who have signed up for multinational climate change mitigation agreements, are chasing every megawatt from every possible area. Vast tracts of land have been turned over to produce bio crops. This leaves a significant reduction in the available acreage required to produce sugar and cereals in these cash crop producing regions. Lack of supply pushes prices higher.
Commodity speculation - Investment bankers have switched their strategies in light of the financial crisis and the post crisis equity fear expeienced in dealing rooms around the world. Commodities and complex commodity derivatives are now being transacted with the fury once reserved for stocks, shares, options and futures. With all of these new middle men taking their cut, offloading prices have soared.
Globalisation - This has facilitated a tsunami of commodity exchange possibilities. These new 'panaceas' will realise themselves as speculative bubbles followed by spectacular and chaotic collapses.
Currency wars - Because of the financial crisis and the subsequent debt hangover and austerity programs, Governments around the world are doing their damnedest to reduce the value of their fiat currencies in order to inflate away their structural sovereign debts. This only facilitates a race to the bottom. The result of low currency values is higher import prices.
Crude oil price - For a whole raft of reasons previously discussed, crude oil prices will only be heading in one direction and that is not down. Many pesticides, animal feeds and crop fertilisers are derived from oil based products. Most commodities also attract vast fuel miles and transportation costs.
The Tunisian, Egyptian and future middle eastern, central Asian and African stories all have rising food prices as a catalysing process. In the short term a welcome regime change may come. However it is unlikely that regime changes will curtail the longer term future of escalating food prices.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
MASTERS & SERVANTS - Say goodbye to hope
Our cabinet ministers and their totally humble beginnings:
David Cameron - Private education at Eton , PPE at Oxford. He is a direct descendent of William IV and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is married to the daughter of the 8th Baronet of Sheffield.
Nick Clegg - Private education at Westminster School, Social anthropology at Cambridge. He is a direct descendent of the Imperial Russian Baronecy.
William Hague - Studied PPE at Oxford. President of the Oxford Union.
Ken Clarke - Studied law at Cambridge.
Theresa May - Studied Gegraphy at Oxford.
Liam Fox - Studied medicine at Glasgow.
Vince Cable - Studied natural scieces and economics at Cambridge.
Chris Huhne - Privately educated at Westminster school. Studied French at La Sorbonne and PPE at Oxford.
Andrew Lansley - Privately educated at Brentwood. Studied politics at Exeter.
Michael Gove - Studied English at Oxford.
Philip Hammond - Privately educated at Brentwood. Studied PPE at Oxford.
Andrew Mitchell - Privately educated at Rugby. Studied history at Cambridge.
Owen Paterson - Privately educated at Radley. Married to the daughter of the $th Viscount Ridley.
Michael Moore - Privately educated at Strathallan. Studied politiocs and history at Edinburgh.
Cheryl Gillan - Privately educated at Cheltenham ladies college.
Jeremy Hunt - Privately educated at Charterhouse. Studied PPE at Oxford.
Danny Alexander - Studied PPE at Oxford.
Francis Maude - Privately educated at Abingdon School. Studied law at Cambridge.
Oliver Letwin - Privately educated at Eton. Studied at Cambridge and London Business school.
David Willetts - Privately educated at King Edwards. Studied PPE at Oxford.
George Young - Privately educated at Eton. Studied PPE at Oxford. He is the 6th Baronet.
Dominic Grieve - Privately educated at Westminster School. Studied modern history at Oxford.
David Cameron - Private education at Eton , PPE at Oxford. He is a direct descendent of William IV and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is married to the daughter of the 8th Baronet of Sheffield.
George Osborne - Real name Gideon George Osborne. Private education and studied modern history at Oxford. He is the sole heir to the title and estates of the 17th Baronet of the Irish Ascendancy. Married to the daughter of Lord Howell of Guildford.
Nick Clegg - Private education at Westminster School, Social anthropology at Cambridge. He is a direct descendent of the Imperial Russian Baronecy.
William Hague - Studied PPE at Oxford. President of the Oxford Union.
Ken Clarke - Studied law at Cambridge.
Theresa May - Studied Gegraphy at Oxford.
Liam Fox - Studied medicine at Glasgow.
Vince Cable - Studied natural scieces and economics at Cambridge.
Chris Huhne - Privately educated at Westminster school. Studied French at La Sorbonne and PPE at Oxford.
Andrew Lansley - Privately educated at Brentwood. Studied politics at Exeter.
Michael Gove - Studied English at Oxford.
Philip Hammond - Privately educated at Brentwood. Studied PPE at Oxford.
Andrew Mitchell - Privately educated at Rugby. Studied history at Cambridge.
Owen Paterson - Privately educated at Radley. Married to the daughter of the $th Viscount Ridley.
Michael Moore - Privately educated at Strathallan. Studied politiocs and history at Edinburgh.
Cheryl Gillan - Privately educated at Cheltenham ladies college.
Jeremy Hunt - Privately educated at Charterhouse. Studied PPE at Oxford.
Danny Alexander - Studied PPE at Oxford.
Francis Maude - Privately educated at Abingdon School. Studied law at Cambridge.
Oliver Letwin - Privately educated at Eton. Studied at Cambridge and London Business school.
David Willetts - Privately educated at King Edwards. Studied PPE at Oxford.
George Young - Privately educated at Eton. Studied PPE at Oxford. He is the 6th Baronet.
Dominic Grieve - Privately educated at Westminster School. Studied modern history at Oxford.
These people are clearly able to empathise with thier electorate.
SECOND DARK AGE - Reasons to be fearful Part 3
They're closing in at a phenomenal pace now.
Dogma fueled and ideologically regressive, the class and connections based elite ruling class are back in town and it's only taken 6 months or so to get to where we are now.
It is beginning to look like the last 20 years never happened.
All of those little victories culminating in a more understanding if maybe dumbed-down society now being slashed and burned through an 'oxymoron process' of stealth based shock and awe.
Smoke and mirrors. It hasn't taken long to remove the heat from the bankers and financial centres hangers-on to be forgiven or should that be forgotten.
The new demon is the old demon. Blaming previous administrations for ALL of the WORLDS ills. Spinning a web of confusion as the beast lurches from its slumber towards its sociopathic destiny, our social predestination. And all of this occurring while we sleepwalk into our futures of serfdom and systematic bondage.
We have crossed the rubicon without any knowledge of its identity or existence.
What will the resistance look like this time around? Will it even come?
More fearful than 1984, we look backward and see our futures writ large with capital Cs.
Like an intern in a national stargazey pie, we stare expresionless at death and decay in equal measure, caught at the margins of a Venn diagram, squeezed by the perpetual machine, into the void, into the vast expanse that is the 2nd dark age.
Dogma fueled and ideologically regressive, the class and connections based elite ruling class are back in town and it's only taken 6 months or so to get to where we are now.
It is beginning to look like the last 20 years never happened.
All of those little victories culminating in a more understanding if maybe dumbed-down society now being slashed and burned through an 'oxymoron process' of stealth based shock and awe.
Smoke and mirrors. It hasn't taken long to remove the heat from the bankers and financial centres hangers-on to be forgiven or should that be forgotten.
The new demon is the old demon. Blaming previous administrations for ALL of the WORLDS ills. Spinning a web of confusion as the beast lurches from its slumber towards its sociopathic destiny, our social predestination. And all of this occurring while we sleepwalk into our futures of serfdom and systematic bondage.
We have crossed the rubicon without any knowledge of its identity or existence.
What will the resistance look like this time around? Will it even come?
More fearful than 1984, we look backward and see our futures writ large with capital Cs.
Like an intern in a national stargazey pie, we stare expresionless at death and decay in equal measure, caught at the margins of a Venn diagram, squeezed by the perpetual machine, into the void, into the vast expanse that is the 2nd dark age.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
FOOD DEMAND = FOOD PRICES = FOOD RIOTS = CHAOS
Food prices and other commodity values have been rising considerably during the last few years and particularly since the 2008 global financial crisis.
There are several structural reasons for this which have been discussed in earlier blogs.
While in the West, we find these inflationary food prices annoying or worrying or stressful (depending on which social level you exist), it is becoming a far more desperate story for others around the world.
Here in the UK, an individuals food budget is not too significant, and we can always cut down on other things, shop around, find offers and bargains etc.
When food begins to take significant proportions of a family's budget, people begin to attach a political dimension to their concerns and this may result in protests, riots and even regime change.
Here is a list of 25 countries that like Egypt and Tunisia are finding that their food budget is getting out of control. The list shows the percentage of household income that is spent on food:
Venezuela 32.6 %
Lebanon 34.1 %
Latvia 34.3 %
Tunisia 36.0 %
Libya 37.2 %
Dominican Republic 38.3 %
Sri Lanka 39.6 %
China 39.8 %
Romania 45.4 %
Philippines 45.6 %
Kenya 45.8 %
Angola 46.1 %
Pakistan 47.6 %
Egypt 48.1 %
India 49.5 %
Bulgaria 49.5 %
Vietnam 50.7 %
Sudan 52.9 %
Algeria 53.0 %
Bangladesh 53.8%
Azerbaijan 60.2 %
Ukraine 61.0 %
Morocco 63.0 %
Nigeria 73.0 %
It's not just armies that march on their stomachs.
There are several structural reasons for this which have been discussed in earlier blogs.
While in the West, we find these inflationary food prices annoying or worrying or stressful (depending on which social level you exist), it is becoming a far more desperate story for others around the world.
Here in the UK, an individuals food budget is not too significant, and we can always cut down on other things, shop around, find offers and bargains etc.
When food begins to take significant proportions of a family's budget, people begin to attach a political dimension to their concerns and this may result in protests, riots and even regime change.
Here is a list of 25 countries that like Egypt and Tunisia are finding that their food budget is getting out of control. The list shows the percentage of household income that is spent on food:
Venezuela 32.6 %
Lebanon 34.1 %
Latvia 34.3 %
Tunisia 36.0 %
Libya 37.2 %
Dominican Republic 38.3 %
Sri Lanka 39.6 %
China 39.8 %
Romania 45.4 %
Philippines 45.6 %
Kenya 45.8 %
Angola 46.1 %
Pakistan 47.6 %
Egypt 48.1 %
India 49.5 %
Bulgaria 49.5 %
Vietnam 50.7 %
Sudan 52.9 %
Algeria 53.0 %
Bangladesh 53.8%
Azerbaijan 60.2 %
Ukraine 61.0 %
Morocco 63.0 %
Nigeria 73.0 %
It's not just armies that march on their stomachs.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
UK TODAY - Where is the good news?
Unemployment rising :
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
Inflation rising:
means reduced economic activity.
means risks to businesses.
means unemployment.
Taxes rising:
VAT at its highest ever level at 20%. It never comes down.
National insurance rising in April.
means reduced economic activity.
Vicious Circle = Vicious Government
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
Inflation rising:
means reduced economic activity.
means risks to businesses.
means unemployment.
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
Taxes rising:
VAT at its highest ever level at 20%. It never comes down.
National insurance rising in April.
means reduced economic activity.
means risks to businesses.
means unemployment.
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
Public Services being cut:
means less services.
means unemployment.
Public Services being cut:
means less services.
means unemployment.
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
.
Rising education costs:
means high debt for young adults.
means less graduates.
means less skilled workforce.
means lower wages.
means less tax revenue to the exchequer.
means rising social security benefit bill for the exchequer.
means larger budget deficit.
means social decay / disorder.
Vicious Circle = Vicious Government
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
99ers SET TO TAKE OFF !
In the United States, unemployment benefits are only paid for a maximum of 99 weeks or just less than 2 years.
After that period, that's it. You're on your own.
After the banking crisis of Autumn 2008, unemployment began to soar. Every week the number of unemployed rose. These job losses continued for 55 weeks at a weekly increase of between 50,000 and 200,000 per week.
The worst period was from November 2008 to October 2009. But even since October 2009, the number of new jobs created has never exceeded 50,000 per week.
The net effect of all of the above statistics is that from December 2010 there are likely to be around 50,000 people losing their benefits every week. This figure will get significantly worse up tom around April 2011 when around 200,000 people will lose their benefits every single week.
It remains to be seen what such large numbers of disenfranchised people will do about this over the coming months.
Keep 'em peeled!
After that period, that's it. You're on your own.
After the banking crisis of Autumn 2008, unemployment began to soar. Every week the number of unemployed rose. These job losses continued for 55 weeks at a weekly increase of between 50,000 and 200,000 per week.
The worst period was from November 2008 to October 2009. But even since October 2009, the number of new jobs created has never exceeded 50,000 per week.
The net effect of all of the above statistics is that from December 2010 there are likely to be around 50,000 people losing their benefits every week. This figure will get significantly worse up tom around April 2011 when around 200,000 people will lose their benefits every single week.
It remains to be seen what such large numbers of disenfranchised people will do about this over the coming months.
Keep 'em peeled!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Educating Slaves !
The British higher education system has been changed drastically over the last 20 years.
When I was a student, I got a full mandatory grant, a discretionary hardship grant, a book grant and heavily subsidised canteen facilities.
After a very comfortable time at college, I left higher education with a useful qualification that enabled me to be flexible in my career choice, not be tied to a corporations dictatorial mandate and I had no fear of debt.
The last 20 years has seen all the benefits that I received, systematically dismantled. These educational rights have been replaced with a system whereby students are leaving education with massive debts.
The jobs that most of these graduates will end up doing, would have been done by similar people with a couple of 'A' levels 20 years ago.
All that has happened is that the jobs market has been fixed in order that a large percentage of the new working population are being systematically enslaved by debt at the start of their careers; at the start of their adult lives; before they can even think about housing, families etc
During the next phase of this program, employers will bring down graduate wages to a median figure of less than £21,000. The feed in interest repayment taper will become a ceiling for employers to exploit.
Fancy a workforce that's too scared to answer back or question management?
Fancy a workforce enslaved by the fear of their own debts?
Then look no further. Employ a graduate today. Or even better employ a cheaper slave in 3 years time.
When I was a student, I got a full mandatory grant, a discretionary hardship grant, a book grant and heavily subsidised canteen facilities.
After a very comfortable time at college, I left higher education with a useful qualification that enabled me to be flexible in my career choice, not be tied to a corporations dictatorial mandate and I had no fear of debt.
The last 20 years has seen all the benefits that I received, systematically dismantled. These educational rights have been replaced with a system whereby students are leaving education with massive debts.
The jobs that most of these graduates will end up doing, would have been done by similar people with a couple of 'A' levels 20 years ago.
All that has happened is that the jobs market has been fixed in order that a large percentage of the new working population are being systematically enslaved by debt at the start of their careers; at the start of their adult lives; before they can even think about housing, families etc
During the next phase of this program, employers will bring down graduate wages to a median figure of less than £21,000. The feed in interest repayment taper will become a ceiling for employers to exploit.
Fancy a workforce that's too scared to answer back or question management?
Fancy a workforce enslaved by the fear of their own debts?
Then look no further. Employ a graduate today. Or even better employ a cheaper slave in 3 years time.
It's time to wake up !
It's time to take back control !
It's time to change your destiny !
Friday, 26 November 2010
GLOBALISATION - Chickens coming home to roost - ( FROM CLUCK TO FUCK! )
Globalisation has had many critics over the years.
Arguments against the concept include inequality, environmental impact, sweatshops, cultural normalisation, dumbing down through uniformity etc....
However for the majority first world perspective, it has facilitated a perceived rise in standard of living, choice, cheap food, goods and services. All this has become possible through communication advances in interconnectivity across the globe. The whole ponzi scheme is clearly based on convincing people to buy loads of tat that nobody really needs and only really want on the basis of its easy availability, brand marketing brainwashing techniques, availability of cheap credit etc.....
During the 'good times', this interconnectivity offers a dumbed down feeling of well being; an increased happiness quotient and an illusion of being able to buy freedom.
This model is so new that it has never been tested during the bad times.
What could happen if things went bad in the Global Village ? :
Firstly the connectedness of world financial markets means that if an economic boom or bubble emerged, the whole connected world would feed this bubble. This bubble would become bigger than any bubble experienced in the post industrial revolution period.
This bubble could for instance be cheap credit.
The banks may push the envelope by lending to riskier borrowers. They might even lend large sums to people who would have no means to repay.
The bubble might only stretch so far due to finite limits.
A nervousness might set in.
Banks might feel twitchy about the amounts on the wrong side of their balance sheets.
As if by magic the debt has moved from personal loans to private company debt.
They might stop lending to each other.
Credit availability may stall.
Some banks might fail.
Governments might have to rescue banks using hundreds of billions of taxpayers monies. Government might be forced to nationalise banks. In other words Governments would be nationalising debt and privatising profit.
As if by magic the debt has been moved again. From private companies to the public purse.
This might be called sovereign debt.
Interest rates may have to be slashed.
This could cause cash flow problems further down the food chain.
Businesses, large and small, could fail because their creditors refuse to supply goods and services on existing credit length terms.
Unemployment could rise.
Government spending could rise due to increases in benefits, lower taxation revenues, bank bail-outs.
Banks could restrict mortgage lending.
House prices could fall.
Economic growth might fall.
There could be a recession.
Entire countries could get nervous. They might feel that other countries may default on their debts.
They might buy the debt in form of government bonds at higher interest rates.
Their debt to earnings ratios might rise.
Their bond yield spreads might rise.
They might have to print more money.
Their currency may have to be devalued if it has its own fiat currency.
Other countries may drive down the value of their own currencies in order to maintain an export trade advantage.
A currency war could cause uncertainty in equity markets.
Financiers might switch to gold, looking for a perceived safe haven.
A secondary gold market may emerge. There could be high street gold buying shops. There may even be TV ad campaigns asking people to send their jewellery in the post in exchange for cash.
Gold prices could rise five fold or ten fold or ......
A secondary commodities bubble could emerge.
Agricultural commodities could get caught up in this speculative market. As could fossil fuel commodities.
Food and energy prices could be driven higher.
Governments may feel pressurised to accept rescue monies from other countries. There may be strings attached.
Those strings might be an austerity program.
That program may be painful to everyone living in that country.
They may have to take pay cuts.
They may have to cut millions of jobs in the economy.
Arguments against the concept include inequality, environmental impact, sweatshops, cultural normalisation, dumbing down through uniformity etc....
However for the majority first world perspective, it has facilitated a perceived rise in standard of living, choice, cheap food, goods and services. All this has become possible through communication advances in interconnectivity across the globe. The whole ponzi scheme is clearly based on convincing people to buy loads of tat that nobody really needs and only really want on the basis of its easy availability, brand marketing brainwashing techniques, availability of cheap credit etc.....
During the 'good times', this interconnectivity offers a dumbed down feeling of well being; an increased happiness quotient and an illusion of being able to buy freedom.
This model is so new that it has never been tested during the bad times.
What could happen if things went bad in the Global Village ? :
Firstly the connectedness of world financial markets means that if an economic boom or bubble emerged, the whole connected world would feed this bubble. This bubble would become bigger than any bubble experienced in the post industrial revolution period.
This bubble could for instance be cheap credit.
The banks may push the envelope by lending to riskier borrowers. They might even lend large sums to people who would have no means to repay.
The bubble might only stretch so far due to finite limits.
A nervousness might set in.
Banks might feel twitchy about the amounts on the wrong side of their balance sheets.
As if by magic the debt has moved from personal loans to private company debt.
They might stop lending to each other.
Credit availability may stall.
Some banks might fail.
Governments might have to rescue banks using hundreds of billions of taxpayers monies. Government might be forced to nationalise banks. In other words Governments would be nationalising debt and privatising profit.
As if by magic the debt has been moved again. From private companies to the public purse.
This might be called sovereign debt.
Interest rates may have to be slashed.
This could cause cash flow problems further down the food chain.
Businesses, large and small, could fail because their creditors refuse to supply goods and services on existing credit length terms.
Unemployment could rise.
Government spending could rise due to increases in benefits, lower taxation revenues, bank bail-outs.
Banks could restrict mortgage lending.
House prices could fall.
Economic growth might fall.
There could be a recession.
Entire countries could get nervous. They might feel that other countries may default on their debts.
They might buy the debt in form of government bonds at higher interest rates.
Their debt to earnings ratios might rise.
Their bond yield spreads might rise.
They might have to print more money.
Their currency may have to be devalued if it has its own fiat currency.
Other countries may drive down the value of their own currencies in order to maintain an export trade advantage.
A currency war could cause uncertainty in equity markets.
Financiers might switch to gold, looking for a perceived safe haven.
A secondary gold market may emerge. There could be high street gold buying shops. There may even be TV ad campaigns asking people to send their jewellery in the post in exchange for cash.
Gold prices could rise five fold or ten fold or ......
A secondary commodities bubble could emerge.
Agricultural commodities could get caught up in this speculative market. As could fossil fuel commodities.
Food and energy prices could be driven higher.
Governments may feel pressurised to accept rescue monies from other countries. There may be strings attached.
Those strings might be an austerity program.
That program may be painful to everyone living in that country.
They may have to take pay cuts.
They may have to cut millions of jobs in the economy.
There could be civil unrest, demonstrations, protests and even riots.
The government's revenues might fall again due to even lower tax revenues.
Economic growth may fall again.
Other countries may begin to falter.
The contagion could spread like a fire.
Firstly it could just be a few kindling republics and small countries.
Then maybe some larger countries may be affected due to their trading reliance with that failed country.
Recessions could turn into depressions.
And then..................................Protectionism.... Hyperinflation.........Nationalism.........War
Sound familiar ?
GLOBALISATION ! Forget the old arguments. THINGS HAVE MOVED ON !
Sunday, 14 November 2010
MORE DEBT IRELAND? Mmmm YES PLEASE !
.
With Irish Bond spreads widening, it looks like Ireland will have to go to Europe for some financial debt restructuring assistance.
They will be asking for around £70 billion in order to avert a sovereign debt default. That's another £15,000 for every man, woman and child in Ireland to add to their existing burden.
It seems incredible that the UK's debt to GDP ratio is so high and we are not seen to be nearing this default position. Or are we?
Our position is only perceived tenable if the market remains confident in our triple AAA rating from the ratings agencies.
Unfortunately ratings agencies appear not take fundamentals into account during their assessment processes. And who are the ratings agencies anyway? And who's interests do they represent?
Anyway, it's nice to see Ireland are doing the same as the UK.
Robbing their children's and grandchildre's future earnings to pay for their parent's profligate past.
With Irish Bond spreads widening, it looks like Ireland will have to go to Europe for some financial debt restructuring assistance.
They will be asking for around £70 billion in order to avert a sovereign debt default. That's another £15,000 for every man, woman and child in Ireland to add to their existing burden.
It seems incredible that the UK's debt to GDP ratio is so high and we are not seen to be nearing this default position. Or are we?
Our position is only perceived tenable if the market remains confident in our triple AAA rating from the ratings agencies.
Unfortunately ratings agencies appear not take fundamentals into account during their assessment processes. And who are the ratings agencies anyway? And who's interests do they represent?
Anyway, it's nice to see Ireland are doing the same as the UK.
Robbing their children's and grandchildre's future earnings to pay for their parent's profligate past.
Monday, 8 November 2010
FOOD STAMPS ?
Over 40 million American's are now in receipt of food stamps. Thats almost 20% of the U.S. population.
http://www.businessinsider.com/20-signs-the-american-consumer-is-completely-and-totally-tapped-out-2010-9#as-of-june-the-number-of-americans-on-food-stamps-had-set-a-new-all-time-record-for-19-months-in-a-row-17
When you consider the eligibility criteria for getting on the 'Suplemental Nutrition Assistance Program' (SNAP) that statistic is even more incedible.
Eligibility - http://ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html
When the peace time program was initiated in 1964 it was designed to help 350,000 struggling Americans. Now 40,000,000. That's progress. That's civilisation. That's the first world.
How long will it be before the Tories add food stamps to their proposed 'work fare' program in the UK?
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