Target now takes food stamps
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
So many Americans are now using food stamps that more and more chain stores have begun accepting them, rather than lose these customers to economic hardship.
Stores that have begun accepting food stamps or expanded the offer, amongst others, include Target, CVS, 7-11, Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club.
Food stamp use was up 22% in summer 2009 from that of the previous year, with more than 35million Americans now using them.
Food stamps, nowadays, come on a card identical to a debit or credit card, offering discretion and privacy for Americans self-conscious about relying on public assistance.
For businesses, Costco finds that food stamp users spend an additional $50 or so on purchases not covered by the benefit. So, despite the fact that they have to rely on food aid the recipients of this aid still spend on luxury items.
There definitely is somewhat of a message in here about economic hardship becoming mainstream and the accepted norm; becoming normal.
Expanded food stamp acceptance at more stores is one of these situational responses that becomes permanent. From the sound of it, businesses have to invest in some degree of technological or process change to accept these cards.
These are likely not upgrades that will be rolled back once the recession really lifts.
What we must be looking at now is how we can lift people and keep people out of poverty and I do not mean here, necessarily, by government interference but by other means.
During this crisis we may have to expand eligibility for food stamps so all the many million more bellies don't go hungry, but we also need to look at decent wages for a day's work and decent affordable health care, and we need to do it now.
© 2009
<>
