Food Insecurity A Bill Moyers Program March 29, 2002
1.	Life on the Edge asked "What it means to be a working American?" "What it means to earn a living wage?" It focused on "food insecurity." 650,000 people in Oregon, at the time of this filming, were receiving food assistance. Forty-three percent of the households requesting emergency food assistance had a member of the family working. These families are paying as much as 60% to 70% of their income on housing. After paying insurance, etc. there is little left for food. Some of the interviews were with advocacy outreach workers who help needy people cut through the red tape. In Oregon, while welfare roles went down 50%, the demand for emergency food went up 50%. The Oregon Food Bank warehouse had food packed to the ceiling in 94,000 square feet, yet the demand is so great that the Food bank is able to provide only one box of food per month. That box of food is enough to last three to five days. Those on unemployment insurance receive only $93/week. Actually the Food Bank spends 98% of its time on advocacy. Another scene showed an advocacy worker telling an anti-tax, talk show host why people living on the edge need assistance. At one point a narrator said that President Clinton's "End of welfare as we know it" has led to "Poverty as I see it." Even the title of the Personal Responsibility Act of 1996 discourages people from asking for assistance when they need it. In "tight times" social services are more important than ever, but that is a time that government is cutting services. Opposition to tax increases comes from middle and lower income families who feel they can't take any more taxes. Talk show hosts mobilize anti-tax protests. Those earning $7/hour have to pay for child care, transportation, and electricity. Can't get a job if you don't have a phone. Little is left for food. 0:02:18 to 0:33:07
2.	The last segment we watched was from the author, Barbara Ehrenreich. Her best best selling book, Nickel and Dimed, is recommended. See also Chrisler et al. (2004) pages 36-39. 0:52:52 to 0:55:26