Can you live on $4.50 of food per day?

Clearly the answer is yes.

The question is being asked in response to on-going talks in the congress over plans by Republican lawmakers to cut the $20 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts would lower the amount of money provided to someone receiving assistance(Food Stamps)to just $4.50 per day. Well several Democrats in the House, in an attempt to show the difficulty of surviving on $31.00 per week, tried to make it on the $4.50 per day budget, and they claimed that it was very challenging. However, Donny Ferguson a communications director, for Republican Representative  Stockman, set out to prove that even with the 12% cut in spending, he, as he states “was able to buy enough food to eat well for a week on just $27.58, almost four dollars less than the $31.50 provided"

In a press release, Donny Ferguson said “I wanted to personally experience the effects of the proposed cuts to food stamps. I didn’t plan ahead or buy strategically, I just saw the publicity stunt and made a snap decision to drive down the street and try it myself. I put my money where my mouth is, and the proposed food stamp cuts are still quite filling,” Ferguson said in the statement. “We can cut the proposed benefits by an additional 12.4 percent and still be able to eat for a week.”

“Not only am I feeding myself for less than the SNAP Challenge, I will probably have food left over,”

As a part of the press release, Ferguson included a list of the groceries that he purchased for his $27.58:

Two boxes of Honeycomb cereal

Three cans of red beans and rice
Jar of peanut butter

Bottle of grape jelly

Loaf of whole wheat bread

Two cans of refried beans

Box of spaghetti

Large can of pasta sauce

Two liters of root beer
Large box of popsicles

24 servings of Wyler’s fruit drink mix

Eight cups of applesauce
Bag of pinto beans
Bag of rice
Bag of cookies

Gallon milk

Box of instant oatmeal

So again, there is no doubt that one can survive a week on foods that total less than $30 dollars per week, my question would be, is there any parent out there that would consider this a healthy, balanced diet? The whole idea of doing something for a week is critically flawed from the start. I'm a fan of the Discovery Channel's show "Survivorman," where Les Stroud spends a week in a remote, of the map, location where he "Survives" on maybe a handful of berries a few leaves off some tree and maybe, if lucky, a rabbit he trapped. And JOHNNY DEPP reportedly lived on a diet of green tea and low sugar fruit to prepare for the role of the vampire in Dark Shadows. The point is, what one can do for a week, or even a month, is very different than what one can do for years. When I look over his list, I understand that while anyone could could make it on that diet, it clearly is not healthy long term. I assume I'm not the only one that noticed a lack of fresh fruits or vegetables. I wonder if he is aware that many children has an allergic reaction to peanuts. This list is pretty much a path to diabetes, with almost every item featuring processed refined sugar such a high-fructose-corn-syrup. I can also assume that he eat instant oatmeal for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly every lunch and pasta 7 nights in a row for dinner. I think what Donny Ferguson proved is that it is NOT possible to have a vaguely healthy sustained diet on $4.50/ day.

 SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:

Hot foods ready to eat,

Food intended to be heated in the store,

Lunch counter items or foods to be eaten in the store,
Vitamins or medicines,

Pet foods,

Any nonfood items (except seeds and plants),

Alcoholic beverages,

Tobacco

Is it Time to Leagalize Pot?

Americans have always had a reluctance to institute laws that limit our freedom, at the same time we feel we have a vested interest in taking steps to protect our citizens from harm. Both instincts are reasonable, and well meaning. In resent years an increasing number of Americans have questioned the wisdom of incarcerating millions of our fellow citizens are simple drug charges; especially Marijuana.

There is no valid medical reason why Marijuana is illegal, and alcohol legal.
When you compare the death tolls associated with each you see alcohol connected to nearly 100,000 deaths per year, while Marijuana Mortality, " Epidemiological data indicate that in the general population marijuana use is not associated with increased mortality."* While there was not a single death directly caused by pot; the leading causes of death in 2000 was tobacco accounting for 435,000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths that year.

We have been fighting a war against drugs for 100 years, with nothing to show for all of the tens of billions we have spent. Instead we should be fighting a war against addiction, that is the real problem and a war I believe we can, if not win, at least make progress. No parent ever says "Oh, I'm so happy my daughter is an Alcoholic, but gave up pot." I have seen people's lives ended, or greatly complected by many different forms of addiction, from pills to inhaling the fumes from spray-cans.

Addiction comes at a high price, and I'm not suggesting that we should ignore the impact that any drugs have on our loved ones or society at large. I only stating that putting someone in jail for smoking a joint is an insane waste of our money an resources. The truth is, we are letting child molesters out of jail early to make room for some 19 year-old who got caught getting high watching Jack White play with the Raconteurs.

It seems that the cost to our society of imprisoning pot users is greater than the value that protection brings. We should just legalize it, and then sell it in stores the same way we do vodka or cigarettes. That will take a big bit out of organized crime and street gangs, while raising large amounts of money in taxes that can be used to fight addiction and provide treatment.



*Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999), p. 109.

What is needed to get an Auto Insurance Quote

Getting an Auto insurance quote is the first step in determining which company you choose as your insurance provider. Before getting a Chicago auto insurance quote, its advisable to gather together the variety of information needed to make the process go smoothly, and to guarantee an accurate quote.

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Personal information

As an Insurance agent I don’t like peppering you with questions, and that’s why we at Urban, ask the minimum number of personal questions to needed to determine how much your insurance will cost. Be prepared to give your date of birth, address, occupation, and marital status.

*The questions are designed to assess risk, as well as our attempt to search for every possible discount. For example, many carriers offer a discount if you own your residence. You will be asked for your zip code. Your zip code plays a significant role in your insurance rate. People living in rural areas will often pay less for auto insurance than those living in cities, based on statistical data.

* You may balk at some of this information, but there is a reason that professionals ask these questions; but all questions are part of the insurance estimate calculation.


Current insurance

Statistics show that people that have had continuous insurance over several years have a lower loss rate; so agents will ask about your current auto insurance situation. Usually this includes your current insurance provider, how long you have been insured with that company, and what bodily injury limits you carry.If you are not currently insured, do not be embarrassed, it is quite common and it is in your interest not to misstate information. It is possible for insurance company to check and getting caught can lower your chances of obtaining auto insurance, and even more scary, if not discovered until after you have had a claim, it cant be used to “Null and Void” your policy, leaving you with no coverage for the claim. Remember honesty is your best policy when obtaining free quotes.


Driving information

Chicago auto insurance regulators require you submit driving information as part of the free quote process. When asked if you have any recent traffic violations or accidents, answer honestly. Once again, the information can easily be checked against the state’s insurance database. Fabricating factors may hinder you from getting auto insurance coverage, result in you receiving an additional bill to reflect the accurate information..


Vehicle information

All insurance agencies, including the Chicago auto insurance company you are dealing with, will need your vehicle information to determine your coverage rate. Be prepared to give your car’s make, model, and year to the representative. You will need your VIN # (vehicle identification number) in some cases you could be asked your car’s current odometer reading. The odometer reading is your car’s mileage. If you state that you are interested in “Full Coverage”, You also will be asked how much of a deductible you want. $250, $500 or $1,000 are the most common, its’ great to keep in mind- a Higher deductibles results in lower premiums.


Other Drivers

Insurance companies have a clause in their contracts that draws a distinction between “Regular Customary Drivers” and others that might drive your car.Insurance companies require that you list all residents age 15 years and older residing in the household, or any other driver who is a regular customary driver. Be careful in include, or at least ask guidance from your agent.

Getting an auto insurance quote requires a bit of preparation, research, and organization. This process is not to be taken lightly. Making a list of all potential questions and answers will save time and frustration for all parties involved. Putting all your information in one place will make the process go as fluidly as possible. By providing the needed info for an Auto Insurance Quote, You can save time and money. Urban Insurance has been helping customers navigate through the lists of insurance requirements, and we are happy to answer your questions.



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