"Food Insecurity" Issue

[votivesoul]

It's priorities more than most realize. If the money isn't being smoked, snorted, gambled, or drunk, it's going toward smartphones, cable tv, internet connection, video-games, purposeless debt, and etc.

I can just about guarantee that if any average food insecure family had a walkthrough of their home, you could find lots of stuff they don't need, couldn't afford to begin with, and could sell so that the kiddoes didn't have to eat Ramen noodles for the tenth day in a row.

Now, if we're talking Liberia or Somalia, or Venezuela right now, that would be different. But in the USA and the West in general, if people cannot eat, it's more likely that their priorities are off, than it is an inability to make ends meet.

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

It's priorities more than most realize. If the money isn't being smoked, snorted, gambled, or drunk, it's going toward smartphones, cable tv, internet connection, video-games, purposeless debt, and etc.

I can just about guarantee that if any average food insecure family had a walkthrough of their home, you could find lots of stuff they don't need, couldn't afford to begin with, and could sell so that the kiddoes didn't have to eat Ramen noodles for the tenth day in a row.

Now, if we're talking Liberia or Somalia, or Venezuela right now, that would be different. But in the USA and the West in general, if people cannot eat, it's more likely that their priorities are off, than it is an inability to make ends meet.

I used to work for a convenience store, and I recall a story told to me by a coworker. A couple comes in with their kids and are buying food with EBT and beer with cash. Their EBT card didn't have enough money to pay for all the food, so rather than put the beer back and buy the food with cash, they had the kids put back the food that they couldn't afford with EBT. The beer was more important to them than food.

As for the "food insecurity" thing, about 8 years ago I was in a very precarious situation financially. I had to borrow money just to pay my rent, and was literally eating only one meal every 2-3 days (no, that's not hyperbole) for a couple months or more. I never even considered government handouts, I just found a second job overnights (that same convenience store job) and worked two jobs to pay the bills. Now I'm back to working in my chosen field and am relatively stable financially. I have a ways to go to become "secure", but at least I'm not in any danger of starving.

The problem with many in our society today, is they live for the "victim" mentality. They get to claim the victim status, so they can feel sorry for themselves instead of doing something about their situation. If more were willing to actually rectify their situation, instead of moaning and whining about it, then there'd be fewer people suffering from "food insecurity". We'd also be able to eliminate the vast majority of the welfare programs in this country.

It should go without saying (though I'll say it anyway) that obviously if people would turn to God, He will make a way for them. I spoke above of what I did to turn things around, but I most assuredly recognize that if it weren't for God, I wouldn't have made it through those tough times. Even at the worst, I actually didn't feel any hunger, despite how infrequently I ate. That could only be the work of God. And as much as I loathed working that convenience store job, I still thank God for helping me to get it, as it gave me the financial support I needed to get back on my feet.

[Esaias]

Our system rewards, supports, and sustains those who are incapable of fending for themselves. So, cut off the welfare, and a whole mess of people either figure out how to take care of themselves, or they die off.

Nobody has the brass to actually demand "if any will not work, neither shall he eat." Our easily manipulated sense of pity is what's largely to blame for the mess we're in.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Our system rewards, supports, and sustains those who are incapable of fending for themselves. So, cut off the welfare, and a whole mess of people either figure out how to take care of themselves, or they die off.

Nobody has the brass to actually demand "if any will not work, neither shall he eat." Our easily manipulated sense of pity is what's largely to blame for the mess we're in.

Before there was State Welfare there was only the church where one could find a meal. Pacific Garden Mission is one that comes to mind, and obviously the Roman Catholics. Yet, the State wanted to take over and now we can see where that got us.

[Aquila]

I've seen stories like those above, deplorable.

I've also seen other stories. I'm in a union. There is a family wherein the father was laid off. So, he got a job at Taco Bell making half what he did and is looking for work. Mom got a job, but at minimum wage. Rent for their house, utilities, car payment, student loan payments and child support (he was previously married) eat up most of what they make. They have little to no money left for food and taxable items. They survive with union help and food pantries. When he finds work in tool and dye, things will pick up again. But right now, they are struggling. If there would be a serious unexpected expense, they'd be on the edge of having to fold and seek emergency housing and government assistance.

Let's not try to convince ourselves that everyone who are "food insecure" are connected to drugs and food stamps.

[Aquila]

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should HE eat.

The onus is on able bodied men. Not abandoned or widowed women, orphans, elderly, the sick, the disabled, struggling families, etc.

Able bodied men who refuse to work, and shirk responsibility towards their families, shouldn't receive charity or welfare.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should HE eat.

The onus is on able bodied men. Not abandoned or widowed women, orphans, elderly, the sick, the disabled, struggling families, etc.

Able bodied men who refuse to work, and shirk responsibility towards their families, shouldn't receive charity or welfare.

Bernie disagrees.
https://medium.com/basic-income/on-t...e-de9162fb3b5c

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Bernie disagrees.
https://medium.com/basic-income/on-t...e-de9162fb3b5c

I don't agree with Sanders on everything. I think adjusting minimum wage is an idea to consider.

[Esaias]

Are minimum wage laws Biblical?

Matthew 20:11-15 seems to suggest an employer may pay whatever he thinks best, assuming an employee agrees to it. "Is it not lawful" the employer asks, to pay whatever he and an employee agree upon? The implied answer is "Yes, it is lawful". The man "did no wrong" according to Jesus.

So it seems that state-mandated wage controls are not in fact Lawful.

Furthermore, I can't find the article in the Constitution which grants the federal government authority to impose a minimum wage across the board on private parties?

Anyway, one of the primary causes of low and stagnant wages is cheap immigrant labour and "free trade" (cheap foreign labour). Two policies promoted and enforced by both the democrud and the republitwit parties. Libtard and conservatard policies are what is killing the nation.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Are minimum wage laws Biblical?

Matthew 20:11-15 seems to suggest an employer may pay whatever he thinks best, assuming an employee agrees to it. "Is it not lawful" the employer asks, to pay whatever he and an employee agree upon? The implied answer is "Yes, it is lawful". The man "did no wrong" according to Jesus.

So it seems that state-mandated wage controls are not in fact Lawful.

Furthermore, I can't find the article in the Constitution which grants the federal government authority to impose a minimum wage across the board on private parties?

Anyway, one of the primary causes of low and stagnant wages is cheap immigrant labour and "free trade" (cheap foreign labour). Two policies promoted and enforced by both the democrud and the republitwit parties. Libtard and conservatard policies are what is killing the nation.

Wages can be suppressed by industries that collude together to keep wages low, leaving workers needing both parents working 2 or 3 jobs just to survive. What does that do to the family? It reduces them to "wage slaves". Children rarely see mom and dad, kids always under another's care, or alone to fend for themselves. It's oppression. You seem to forget that before minimum wage, many working people lived in shanty towns, working multiple jobs for nickels and dimes, children were taken out of school and had to work in dangerous factory conditions, etc.

God hates such oppression because it crushes families.

Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

If employers were Christian and paid a living wage, there would be no need for laws like minimum wage to protect workers.