An Attempt to Make A Change

Although it might seem like this "Great Recession" has made alot of things worst in our economy, one thing that has been ongoing for years is child hunger. In 2008, 16.6 million children (about one in every five) lived in homes that lacked the funds to provide a sufficient amount of food. The number of children suffering from food insecurity hasn't changed much over these 4 years, because as of right now it sits at around 17 million. Even though it's not that much of an increase, in my eyes that is still a VERY BIG DEAL! And thankfully it is also a big deal in the eyes of President Obama (see image below text), because even though I might have a loud voice (literally speaking), his voice houses power over our nation and can also make things happen with just an appearance.

 

President Obama has partnered with the USDA, or U.S. Department of Agriculture and has set a national goal to end childhood hunger in the United States by the year of 2015.  While researching this proposal, I also found out that by ending childhood hunger, the poverty level of the United States would be reduced by half within 10 years.  This is ABSOLUTELY wonderful because by ending childhood hunger and reducing the rate of poverty by half, we are kind of knocking out two birds with one stone by taking care of the primary goal for the "Half In Ten Campaign" as well as providing the proper nutrition for our children.

 

Even though the outcome of the proposal sounds wonderful, the process to getting there will be long and painstaking considering that the budget proposal includes an additional $1 billion extra for a total of 10 years.  The proposal also argues that in order to end childhood hunger by 2015, the government will also have to make the child nutrition programs more sufficient by reducing the paperwork and bureaucracy associated with applying for the programs.  Obama also suggest that incentives be given to the states who have improved performance of reducing child hunger.

I personally feel like the dishing out of an additional $1 billion per year could definitely be a struggle amongst Americans who are already feeling pretty roughed up around the edges as is, but it could also on the other hand be worth the struggle if it means ending child hunger and cutting poverty in half.  This proposal could also save us alot of money in the long run if the meals the children were offered were strictly healthy because that could cut down on obesity and health care cost so that the money being saved could be put toward the "Half In Ten Campaign", allowing for poverty to hopefully be eliminated altogether one day near.