tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8887344564846465086.post819028145292996980..comments2024-01-28T00:17:31.856-08:00Comments on On Food Stamps: Money TalksJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662585487729662758noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8887344564846465086.post-27942640198439843382009-07-15T08:31:49.352-07:002009-07-15T08:31:49.352-07:00Stacy and Jasmine - Great points about leveling ht...Stacy and Jasmine - Great points about leveling hte playing field for foods in the marketplace. It is impossible for people to connect their food choices with the costs they incur within the current system of big farm subsidies. Local zucchini is never going to beat out the big corn farm, the way we have it set up right now. <br /><br />Also, the question of priorities is an interesting one. Several recent things I have read recently (including In Defense of Food) have reminded me that part of the problem is that Americans are not willig to spend money or time on food. We seem to want to "have our cake and eat it to" so to speak. We want cheap cheap food that we don't have to spend any time preparing or eating for that matter. But, we don't want that food to make us obese or give us any sort of health problem. It seems that we might need to shift our cultural priorities a bit and look at investing time and money in slightly higher quality food as an important measure to improve our health and overall quality of life.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02662585487729662758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8887344564846465086.post-58534993595828475872009-07-14T08:39:01.900-07:002009-07-14T08:39:01.900-07:00I agree with Jasmine that removing subsidies would...I agree with Jasmine that removing subsidies would be key to getting people to see what their food choices are really costing them. Until then, Wholesome Wave's Double Value program sounds like an awesome way to support people in low income situations making helathy food choices.<br /><br />We're never going to make the populace share our priorities - if they'd rather be hungry in order to own a PS2, they will. But I wish our system didn't make it so hard for people to ferret out what the consequences of their choices are.Stacy McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04402778189603431667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8887344564846465086.post-23979842103997617992009-07-14T05:25:24.484-07:002009-07-14T05:25:24.484-07:00Or, we could get rid of the subsidies for wheat, c...Or, we could get rid of the subsidies for wheat, corn, and soy and allow the unhealthy foods compete fairly with fruits and vegetables. I am not sure that farmers' markets are overpriced, I believe in a living wage for farmers but our priorities are skewed and we spend money on the wrong sort of things. As a nation, our idea of wants V needs is insane. I teach students who are on free and reduced lunch (likely food stamps as well) and yet they all have game boys, play stations and the like. All of the family members have mobile phones and they have cable or dish service. The kids think I am insane for not having a television.Jasminehttp://knitting40shadesofgreen.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.com