CNN

The American turkey population is going to increase.

It says the rich get richer at Goldmine Sachs and the poor go hungrier by the day. And apparently not too many people give a damn!

Instead of printing food stamps, President, work on creating jobs so people can earn thier way out of poverty. Stop sending jobs overseas and stop mounting national debt, this is what makes us poorer as a nation.

Just saw on CNN last night that 45,000,000 turkeys will be
cooked this Thanksgiving, so lets hope those 1 in 6 will have a
good meal.

It says straight forward how incompetent we are when it comes to vote for our politicians, and how mess up are our priorities. We are more concerned about fixing other countries, legalizing drugs and gay-marriages, etc,etc, than taking care of our people as a whole. Sad, Jack. Really sad.

We spend billions on insurance executives, while forcing people with chronic illness to choose between medicines or food. Let's thank the Republican congress clowns for their actions in making certain that the big insurance company executives will continue to collect the money that could save the lives of Americans. Neither Republicans or CEOs will go hungry this Thanksgiving.

Oh its going to get worse too, as we exchange positions with China, we are turning into what China was when we were growing up, and China is turning into a super power. This is all thanks to our Politicians. Jerry/ Iowa

it says that the last 8 years have been an utter failure in more ways than we initally knew. Think of all the billions that were spent to prosecute wars that were wrong in the first place and for huge bank bailouts. its laughable if it weren't so sad. America is a 3rd world country by almost any measure (except the measure of who is super richest of the richest). we are lagging in education, healthcare, food/nutrition, energy and science. basically if we had nothing but republican majorities and presidents this would be a 3rd world country. (we are also one of the few 'superpowers' to still discriminate against gay people also).

food and nutrition is just the latest in a laundry list of fail that goes beyond even just repubs trying to run this country into the ground.

So much for the "land of plenty".

You can bet your last dollar, Jack, that no one in Congress is in that statistic. Can you imagine if their salaries were drastically cut, how many cans of food we could collect? We could feed all the hungry children in the U.S. and have some left over. But while we are gorging ourselves on Thanksgiving, I guarantee you that no one will be thinking of the hungry.

Jack,

It says that the Republican and corporate Democrat plan for America is working just fine. The Wall Street recovery is just about complete. Bonuses are way up. Our global companies are enjoying a renaissance, and the military economy is booming. For the workers, pay is being cut, hours are being cut, insurance premiums are going up, interest rates for savings are way down, interest rates for credit cards and loans are way up. A few more hungry people, Jack, is the price we have had to pay to rescue the rich in America. Our work is just about done.

Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal

Someone should pose this question to Liz Cheney, Bill Kristol and the other neocons who are still gung ho about spending money on foreign wars. After all, the Iraqis are trying to take away our freedoms.

It says we need to fix our economy. Fast. It's great that the President is spending money on food banks, food stamps etc, but what we need are jobs. It's the old saying about giving someone a fish vs. teaching someone to fish. I wish he would have sent a tenth of the time contemplating his economic policies as he has spent on Afghanistan. We need to go in an entirely different direction for the sake of our country. Create real jobs that create income and these people will be able to feed their families.

It's nothing short of a disgrace when you consider all the giant churches in this country who are constantly begging for more money for their so called outreach programs, missionary work (in other countries) and overhead. I.e. large buildings, schools, recreation, etc. over tending to the needs of our own people. They should be ashamed! If churches would help the poor rather than see who can have the biggest sanctuary and the largest attendance, things in America would get better fast for those who are hungry.

Apparently the basic unwritten tenet of American capitalism is that each of us should have the chance to acquire as much money as possible, way more than any human could possibly ever need. It appears that socialism is based on an idea that our government has an obligation to try to see that Americans - especially children - have roofs over their heads, food on their tables, clothes on their backs and basic health care. A little socialism would help feed, clothe and shelter those who are without. But those with money (and health insurance) cry out against socialism. So to answer your question, what it says about Ameica is that there is too much of "I got mine, s***w them."

Jack, we need an all-out Civilian Conservation Corps-type clean energy jobs program putting the country to work building its future.

We're awfully selfish, aren't we? It's so sad when you consider how many leftovers there will be, how many people will get to eat endless plates of seconds and thirds, and how many people will complain about the turkey sandwiches they are still eating a week after the fact. It would be nice if donations to food pantries were up this year. Are they? I'd venture to guess the answer to that question is "no."

what is really bad about the whole things is that we send money to other countries to help from their starving people. We can not seem to help our own people. Why is that cause we are such a christian nation with values above all other countries out there. Jesus said this on his last day, "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me." and yet as this christian nation heads into the holiday season we stand not what I can do for my neighbor but he is turing us into a socialist country.
Happy Holidays Jack
I hope you do not shop after the holidays and make it a red friday to tell the american business we not going to take it no more.

no one in america should have to go hungry not with all the food we produce and waste.feed the hungry people in the u.s. 1st and then give food to other countries.I t's a national disgrace for anyone here in the richest country in the world to go hungry

Jack – you forgot to mention that over 2 in 6 Americans are considered obese. Put that number in with the 1 in 6 that are going hungry and you have a pretty good illustration of what's wrong with the American economy.

It says that this country isn't thinking right. Our politicians are hurting all of us with their endless bickering, they had the gaul to give themselves raises, yet millions are going hungry. We help out other countries, and do nothing for our own people. It is sad and very pathetic. Our government should be ashamed of itself.

let's get our troops home and take care of our own before we try to save the world from all it's evil,,that's sad as much food as we have and people here go hungry,,should not be happening

USE some of the TARP money that has NOT YET been disbursed...probably a better use of OUR money ( not the Government's ) than it has been utilized for so far! No body should go hungary...but who knows what the REAL number really are...could be just some administration's FUZZY MATH you know. We have seen a WHOLE LOT of it lately and not doubt will see a WHOLE LOT MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Although we all know there are some "able bodied" individuals who COULD work...but WHY when there is a GOVERNMENT HANDOUT waiting for most. Mercy Mercy Mercy

They need to get the 30% who are obese to share with them! We have so many haves and have nots in many issues in the US.

Hi Jack
The sad part of this report is that many of these people have extenuiating circumstances like mental illness.Could the people who care change those bought idiots in Washington.The US needs true representation of their elected officals and not the ones who got the most money from large Corporations.

What happend to all those jobs NAFTA was supposed to bring us?

keep buying made in china and the numbers will be 7 out of ten maybe trickle down isn,t working,the only manufacturing job,s in USA is war jobs

thank you capitalism, thank you deregulation, thank you george bush.

"Experts say these numbers are even worse than what they expected..."
REALLY??? Experts cannot see that the economy for the working poor has been growing worse for decades?
Experts cannot see that the "middle class" has been shrinking for decades"
Experts can't see that homelessness, including for children is at or near epidemic proportions, and that the few of us who can still help have less resources to go further?

What are they experts in??? I'm just askin'

It my have different meaning for the americans, but as a Canadian I see one of the third world countryies life style growing up at right next door to my country.
It's a time totighten up the borders, and make sure the starvation stays where it is now. at least my be one of the so called"greed and patriotic" leaders of theirs will invite them in his backyard every thanks given.

Toront,ON

It says that no matter how much we say that we are a Christian nation, and no matter that we say our government was founded on Christian principles, we constantly prove ourselves wrong. People go to bed hungry all the time, and as a nation we don't do anything about it. We say that we pray for them, but how many of us pray to be used as tools to do God's work?

It goes hand in hand with unemployment, Jack. That's why there were soup lines during the Great Depression. But I'm confused, weren't we talking about obesity just last week? I guess it really is feast or famine! It's a disgrace that the richest nation on earth can't do better by it's citizens! But you shouldn't be surprised! We rank below Costa Rica and just above Cuba when it comes to health care.

Of course it is. Every western civilized nation has it. However, if you so no, does this now mean that they should abolish Medicare, SChip, Medicaid? It's time for America to grow up. It is mind boggling that we cannot seem to understand that health care for all is the price you pay for living in a democratic society. This attitude of rugged individualism has to stop. My family does not require a government option, but we are more than willing to support it for those who do.

We are supposed to be the richest country in the world?!? We see hundreds of commercials to feed every other country in the world but we don't feed our own people. I am concerned when the best our gov't can say is it is unsettling. There is no urgency for them because most of these people probably can't vote or pay taxes. Rob in NC

Jack,
You say "The reason for this shift is unknown...."

Perhaps its the fear mongering and the millions of dollars spent per day to promote skepticism by those who profit under the current system.

This is a sad commentary on just how dysfunctional our society has become. Why should there be people in America be going hungry when there are people who are making millions at the expense of the taxpayers.
Aux barricades.
KCLaw in KCMO

Jack, it says 1 in 6 Americans don't know how to prepare their meals!

My family has fallen on dire straits the last couple years, and we have had to go on a government food program. We've had to give up steaks, sushi and other luxuries, only to be given basic staples like milk, rice, vegetables, eggs and breads.

And you know what? We had to diversify. We went on the internet and found recipe after recipe to accommodate our needs. We don't eat like kings, but we eat enough to keep our bellies full and we are thankful for it.

Want some Gazpacho, Jack?

It says we all need to step up to the plate, and not wait for the government to solve this problem. If you live in a big city, donate to the food pantries. If you live in a small town, you know who needs help. Help them out. In this situation, ordinary people can do more to solve the problem than any administration can.

It says we didn't learn much from the kindness and generosity of the Wabanaki Samoset, of Squanto, or any of the other Indians from our first Thanksgiving.

It says that America has hit a rough spot in the road, due primarily to greed. There will always be the hungry, Jack – the sad part is to see how funding for helping them has been consistently cut, that programs that feed the poor and the homeless have gone begging as state and federal agencies' budgets have been cut, then cut again during the last Administration.

You want to know where the most support for feeding the poor comes from, Jack? Those who are just barely above the level where they need assistance themselves. They know what it is like to see their kids cry because they are hungry, so they are more generous than the wealthy. The $20 I sent to the local food bank represents 10-15% of my food budget for a month. If the rich would even contribute just 1/2 of 1 percent of their income to support programs for the hungry, we could feed the country.

How much have you given, Jack? Have you served food at a shelter lately? Have you seen the rising number of homeless due to job loss? Why not give thanks in a way that means something – give thanks for your kids who are healthy by supporting a clinic for those who are not so lucky? Why not give thanks for your continued sobriety by supporting programs that help the veterans who turn to alcohol and drugs to dull the pain of four tours of duty in Iraq?

Or will you spend your Thanksgiving like too many Americans – overeating to excess, watching football games with your pals, and throwing out enough food to feed a family of four?

Jack
Just think about AIG and the crooks that broke our nation's back..Porking down huge bonsus and choaking on 500 dollar wine.
All with our money.While our do nothing congress can't wait for more
money to waste on pork projects.And we have folks going hungry.........
on this truly American Holiday...................
Does that just rub'ya raw or what?? Don't know about you Jack but it breaks my heart as does children with no winter coat.
David

It says that we Americans need to stop sinking all our money into those bottomless pits known as Irag and Afghanistan and start using it to feed our own, to ramp up our healthcare and to improve our education system.

It is shameful and embarassing to be the largest food producer in the world and at the same time have so many of our own people go without food. Maybe we need a 50% "junk food" tax to fund food banks and nutrition education. Even a 100% tax would be acceptable.

It says that americans no longer look out for their fellow man. What happened to the america where everyone pitched in and the job got done. Well it went out the door just like our money in the economic debacle to someone who really could afford to do it themselves.

It shows the failure of a free market system without regulations. The greedy business men and bankers have stolen our money, shipped our jobs oversees and turned our country into a third world country. I say let's have "Pay China Off" bonds, paying U.S. buyers the same interest we pay China. Pay China off, create our own products and our people will have jobs and can feed themselves.

When you have the party of NOthing obstructing every policy for improvement, regardless of merits, it is hard to get anything
accomplished. They held off the extension of unemployment
benefits for weeks, sacrificing many by allowing theirs to run out.
When you have a party who cares nothing about middle class,
senior citizens, the less fortunate and disabled, sacrificing the
American people for big business and win at any cost priorities.
And, this from a party who is responsible for creating all these
diasters.

We are not the nation we used to be! Today we spend more money coming up with new ideas than actually attacking the problems in society. If the U.S. government can invest almost a trillion dollars into the economy, it shouldn't be that 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry, especially on Thanksgiving day.

What we need to alleviate hunger in America is jobs. We need real and productive jobs, not beauracratic government jobs. But even those will do in a pinch. But for long term solutions, we need JOBS!

It means that the self-professed greatest country in the world has delusions of grandeur. WWWooooo. Go figure.

In Canada, 1 in 10 go hungry. What that means is...Canada also has similar delusions...if these are two of the supposedly greatest countries in the world, what the hell does that say about the state of the world?

We promote starvation. We send the best of our young blood to be murdered in senseless wars. We pollute our land, seas and air. We reward corruption and greed. We're not really civilized are we?

Happy Thanksgiving Jack.

So much for capitalism and Christianity.

It says we should do away with money altogether, Jack.

How many hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on gambling, cigarettes, alcohol, and pornography?

Yet as Americans we leave tens of millions without health care and without proper food.

This is America's problem, we are Americans, this is yours and my problem. When will we ever come together where the higher level of consciousness lay in you and I becoming as one?

America has lost its guiding light. America is spending "trillions" in Iraq and Afghanistan trying to protect oil for oil companies and to rebuild those countries, yet Congress in America continues to argue about extending unemployment and other programs to help Americans who are out of work and the poor without food, shelter, etc.
Greedy American capitalism has ignored the less fortunate and has only helped companies by deregulating entire industries such as airlines, phone companies, electric companies, trucking industry, who now "oursource" and send jobs and tax revenue out of America and helped the rich with huge tax breaks, now working Americans have less and less. So the 1 in 6 does not surprise me.

Doesn't surprise me. It supports the statistics that the US has the highest poverty level per capita amongst First World countries. Why? An inadequate health care system, a weak in many areas public education system, and a very high crime rate (especially violent crimes associated with weapons). Our current President has been taking steps to catch up on things long neglected. Things will start to improve once politicians and lobbyists put the long term health and welfare of the USA above their personal desires.

"like additional spending on food stamps, food banks and school lunch programs."

It is so odd that we voted for "change" and we get a carbon copy of past policies. We are still spending billions on Iraq, Afghanistan, billions for Israel, a billion to fight AIDS in Africa but we Americans go hungry.

Is Obama a puppet of the military-industrial-Wallstreet complex?

One CANTELOUPE costs $3 world. The minimum wage is $7.
4 apples costs $2. Kids eat a lot.

It says we have a real problem in this country along with a lack of concern for our fellow people. Why can't we plant vegetable/country gardens at each school? It looks like this skill will be very important in the future. My family went through the Great depression and the only way they could feed themselves,their "city" relatives and anyone who needed help(there were many) was growing and canning the food grown on the farm in Texas and sharing. It saved all their lives.

U.S.A. often leaves out people who need to eat!

Our candifdate of hope has become a person presiding over fear and he seems comfortable with that. This country used to rise to such occaisions but it is unable to rise and now our countrymen and women are starving. Not a proud moment...'UNSETTLING'...where did the leaders go?

We have money for wars but we can't feed the poor; that's called favoritism! This is a sad and unfortunate turn of events.

It says once and for all that trickle down economics does not work.

Jack,

It says our priorities are really messed up. I think the government spends too much time doling billions of dollars out to large corporations that are deemed too big to fail while leaving everyday Americans to scratch and claw just to put food on the table. I say this as unemployment hovers around 10% nationally and I see very little the current Administration is doing to solve the overall problem other than playing the blame game.

Tim F.
Danville, CA

Hey Jack, it means that Americans are greedy gluttons that are unwilling to help those less fortunate than themselves. I am so thankful to be in the "5" that have enough to eat; isn't that what this holiday is about, counting one's blessings? I am sure that some of the other in the "5" group have more than enough to feed those in the "1" group, but refuse not to because they do not want those "welfare queens" getting a piece of their "hard-earned" pie. That is just plain wrong. The fact that there is anyone in this country, the supposed best and richest in the world, is unacceptable. We should be doing all that we can to make the quality of life better for all Americans, not just those lucky few at the top.

Emily in Baltimore

It says that the Govt needs to continue to step up and not just help these people get food for their families, but find ways to get them into situations where this won't happen again. The most effective way to end welfare based programs is to get employment to the people who are on it. Cancelling programs that are humanitarian based in an effort to lower the taxes on the rich is a Noblesse Oblige attitude that is just as damning as the want to allow the Govt to carry some people in perpetuity. Get these people the help they need, then get them working.

Why don't we stop paying farmers NOT to produce? Instead why can't we (the government) buy wheat,corn etc. from American farmers and use it for food banks, shelters etc?

I hope I hear from you. Thanks.

We have food stamps that should be used for food, not sold for drugs or alcohol .We have children having children, We have fathers who have no idea what it takes to raise a child because they are in jail. Government can only do so much ;God help those that help them self . Are their 1 in 6 that go hungry in China or Japan ? They should thank God they live in this great country

If the US gov't didn't inflate the cost of food or divert crops like Corn and Sugar to useless things like E85, food would be cheaper and more readily available to all!

Middle class people go hungry, I see people in here in South Texas from Mexico that live here and all of them automatically get food stamps and people who work don't qualify. What about the people who already live here

Hey Jack, it means that Americans are greedy gluttons that are unwilling to help those less fortunate than themselves. I am so thankful to be in the "5" that have enough to eat; isn't that what this holiday is about, counting one's blessings? I am sure that some of the other in the "5" group have more than enough to feed those in the "1" group, but refuse not to because they do not want those "welfare queens" getting a piece of their "hard-earned" pie. That is just plain wrong. The fact that there is anyone going hungry in this country, the supposed best and richest in the world, is unacceptable. We should be doing all that we can to make the quality of life better for all Americans, not just those lucky few at the top.

Emily in Baltimore

With Thanksgiving nearly a week away, news of 1 in 6 people in the United States going hungry is nothing short of despicable. Regardless of the fact that we are slowly recovering from a crippling recession, and joblessness is nowhere near cut off at the knees, there is simply no excuse for Americans, most likely a next-door neighbor, to be going hungry, economic situations aside.

It says that the Rich got Richer and the Poor don't matter. Blame it all of the Bush Administration with all his Tax Cuts to the Rich.

I think America is in real trouble; 12 trillion dollar debt; now hungry people; no jobs; terrorists. What went so wrong?

No money to eat , no food to feed the people in USA?? but we have money so keep sneding shuttles into the space??

it says that the unemployment is much higher then 10.2% and the stimulus did not work.

Maybe since the Olympic venue has been announced the President will get busy working on the rest of the countries problems.

It means that we need to stop spending so much money on wars and start spending it on our neighbors that need help right here in our own boarders. Earlier you talked about the 12,000,000,000.00 dollar debt that America hold's, but I wonder how much of that went towards helping the hungry and homless.

It mean our leaders are more interested in what is going on in countries like Iran & Afganistan than taking care of our own people.

I'm far from rich. Live on the poorer side of town and don't know of anyone that is starving. Haven't these people heard of WIC and food stamps? Oh... I guess this explains why 75% of Americans are over weight! Give me a break!

We'll feed a Donald Trump but won't feed a homeless family living on the streets.

Jack; What it say, is that 1 in 6 Americans doesn't know where to go to get free food in America.

A more meaningful discussion would be the disconnect between 1 in 6 hungry and obesity rates skyrocketing!?

What does "saying food was scarce" even mean...food is scarce at my house, because we are very cautious about not snacking, only eating healthy, fresh food–which translates to complaining teenagers who want fattening, easy to grab junk food.

What it says is that instead of bailing out crooks on wall street, we should be using that money to create jobs and feed our own people. We need to vote the bums out of office – ALL OF THEM, limit their time in office to 8 years in a lifetime (just like the President), give up political correctness and start doing the RIGHT THING – for a change.

What it says is that those of us who can, should provide the makings of a nutritious Thanksgiving meal to a family who is going hungry. Then, repeat it at Christmas along with pairs of warm socks for each family member. As well, we should provide food supplies to these families all year long. I did this a few years ago for my son and his wife. I also included recipies for the ingredients I had purchased. Don't forget to include all spices and seasonings necessary for a delicious meal!

it says that the "united states of america" are actually "the divided states of america", between the "haves", and the "have nots". the "haves" want more , more, more...and the rest be damned.

It merely illustrates the values we have in our leadership. We give billions of dollars to unethical borderline corporations because they are "to big to fail". Yet poor children go hungry while the CEO's of these corporations complain they can't pay themselves excessively with taxpayer's money.

And this is happening with the blessings of a Democratic administration.

FDR must be turning over in his grave.

In 1964 Lyndon Johnson launched a War on Poverty. Forty-five years later we are fighting a War in Iraq, a War in Afghanistan, a War on Drugs – all of these resulting in a War on Those in Poverty. We need a War on Militarism, and a major change in priorities from guns to butter.

"MINE!" is the new American dream. No one is willing to give even 1% more on their taxes to provide healthcare and food for our citizens. We call ourselves a "Christian" nation, yet we ignore the main teachings of the religion. Give us your poor and hungry, and we will tell them to get a job (but not provide any means to do it).

Before you say "Proud to be American" ask yourself why.

Josh in Dallas, TX

WIth four of the same six being probably overweight the problem certainly isn't a shortage of food. We just have to figure out how to get the excess food the overweight people have to the ones going hungry.

Sorry Jack,
But I don't believe it. I would like to see what the survey asked. Most Americans don't know what hungy is... is it that you couldn't supersize your number 3 double cheeseburge and fries... I am sure there are a some families and children who are missing some meals and going hungry... just don't believe we have this number of people really experiencing hunger. If we did.. the next story on CNN wouldn't be about obesity in America.

It says that America still has much work to do in terms of fulfilling its promise. I am just glad that Emma Lazarus didn't include "hungry" when he wrote the New Colossus.

Round up all the Bankster CEO's bonuses, put it in a fund and they could all eat well for 10 years possibly 50.

I want to be a Conservative Republican when I grow up.

Like the whacko phoney evangelical ultra-right apitalists might say, " Hey ! It's not my job to feed my brother. The government's supposed to give you an opportunity...and it's up to you to improve your lot and go feed yourself and your family." Sounds Scrooge-like – hey! It's the holiday season – the same people that say, "Happy Thanksgiving!, " and complain when some leave the word "Christ..out of Christmas"

Jack- this report seems to be a little bit of a farce. Can't anyone else see this report capitalizing on people's fear to continue supporting government subsidies of crops, benefiting Tyson, cargill, and monsanto–each with a former associate working for this government? Smells fishy to me that these companies boast huge profits and people are starving.

The answer is very simple. REVERSE ROBINHOOD !!! that started with tax reductions on the very wealthiest of us all. The past nine years have been devastating and there is no relief in sight, hence no food in sight. Why are we having this conversation in the richest country in the world?

It says to me that its time to stop feeding foreign countries with our tax money. Private charities contributed to by citizens with an interest insupporting those causes with their own funds should be the only aid leaving this country.

It says we are becoming just another third world country where the few rich are wealthy and the many poor starve to death with nothing in between. The middle class is rapidly being split into those with enough to get by and those that have nothing. Our politicians, the ruling class, of course are among the wealthy thanks to lobbyists. It’s really sick isn’t it?

This is no more disgraceful than is the fact that about one in four Americans live without health insurance.

Hungry? and so many obese people trying every diet.
THere is something really wrong in our country.
Goldman Sachs is trying to decide how to divie
up $20 billion in profits from this year alone to their top
partners and miscellaneous employees. Where is the
justice, where is the "equality for all"????? Yes, raise taxes
on the very rich and cut waste and create JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
for one and all. Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, Germany,
Korea , etc. Let's grow out own country, build roads, bridges,
factories, drill for oil, change to electric cars, come on, let's do it, time is wasting.

With over half the population being "obese", and record numbers of children being obese, I'd say doing without a meal or two wouldn't hurt.

Jack,

Warren Buffet the other night flatly said that the most wealthy do not pay enough taxes and that the disparity between the haves and haves not is a danger to American democracy.

When so many people are not secure in having food, even for children, this is dangerous now and dangerous to our future.

Richard
Charleston, WV

Americans are going hungry and we are focused on healthcare?
This country needs to come to grips with what it can afford and set expectations. Our kids will have even less as the economic balloon continues to deflate.

It says that the people who say they are against re-distributing the wealth are quietly being very successful in re-distributing the wealth!

Jack,

Yes, you know and all of us know why 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry.

It is unfair distribution of nation' s wealth that we all Americans contributed to create. When top 2% takes 21% of national wealth, it is a natural that 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry. Let's not pretend we don't know why. Hioshi

It says that although the United States was born in a revolt against tyranny, it is now incapable of revolting against the tyranny of the obscenely rich. A tiny minority of the population is allowed, even encouraged, to amass ridiculous fortunes while the U. S. has turned in a few decades into a country whose urban streets are scarred with the homeless, whose citizens cannot count on food, the jobs that provide it, and the health care every other civilized country in the world provides. It says that the majority now live in a despair that allows them to accept this. I am a U. S. citizen and a permanent resident of Canada.

Quathiaski Cove, B. C.

The usda guy is a jerk, he needs to go hungry. Why is one person hungry? The fat cats get fatter and the little guys go hungry.
WHY?

One thing IT says, Jack, is that tighter restrictions need to be placed on what is allowed to be purchashed with FOOD STAMPS. I'm sick of seeing people buy junk food, steak, shrimp and other high end items only to find at the check out there is not enough on the card to get everything in their cart. Then they set aside the juice and baby food. Personal responsibility Jack, personal responsibility.

People are being forgotten in the private sector because the country's leadership is focused on matters that have little to do with job creation and other things that matter urgently. They don't feel the pain since they receive their incomes and benefits from the nation's taxpayers....from those with jobs, not the 15 million who wonder how they're going to feed their families on a day-to-day basis. Forget Thanksgiving.

How many of the people going hungry have a color tv, cell phone, video game, or other non edible luxury in their homes? How many of them smoke tobacco products, drink alcohol, or do illegal drugs? Sometimes going hungry is a bad choice or in the case of the children of these morons a dreadful choice!!!!!

1 in 6 Americans going hungry and single mothers struggling to feed their families? Did I just hear that correctly? All we here about is how obesity is such and epidemic and how we should eat less and exercise more! The last thing we need is more of our hard earned money going to more government handouts like food stamps. STOP STEALING MY MONEY!

This is very easy to understand. Paul Wolfowitz has sent us to wars we do not understand. We are spending billions of dollars killing Muslims. Those 50 million Americans do not have the lobbying power of Israel. Even the people in other nations are saying the bombings are the job of Mossad. We have to wake up. Otherwise, we Americans deserve this.

LA, Ca

Karl

Jack,

What is enough to eat and what does hungry mean?

The irony of this report is that at the same time that we are reporting 10% are experiencing a shortage of food in the home, a majority of Americans are considered to be overweight or obese.

Should we consider nutrition stamps in place of food stamps?

Regards,

Richard

If one in six American kids are going hungry, then it's time to pull back on U.S. foreign aid, and give more aid to our own citizens. ("Charity begins at home.")

50 Million hungry Americans? 30 Billion dollars of bonuses to the geniuses of Wall Street? ... bad capitalism!!

1 in 6 are suffering from hunger ?
In this country 88% have a cell phone... that is about 7 in 8
Should we understand that there are at least 12 millions people that rather pay for a cell phone than eat ?

I don't understand how Congress can bail out the greed on Wall Street but can't find a solution to feed hungry Americans. I think that the
Republican party doesn't identify that Latino's and African-Americans are part of our great country.

Jack, it is simple class warfare has been going on but the rich are very good at hiding it. In 1999 the top 2% of the population combined had the same level of wealth as the bottom 50%. Today the top 1% has the combined wealth of the bottom 95%. They have and we don't, it is that simple! Oh, but if we try to do anything to balance things out they say we are picking on them!

The wealthy don't think we need health care, education, food, or anything else. After all we didn't earn it did we? I am sure on average the top 1% did as much if not more work than the bottom 95 right?

In the past 8 years we have given tax cuts, tax benefits, and tax breaks to the wealthy. We bailed them out, and paid them well over $600 billion dollars to move jobs over seas. Why can't the bottom 95% give even more to the top 1% they earned it!

A lot of those people are there because of bad life style choices made. A lot of peole have no desire to work but feel the rest of us should take care of them. A lot of people keep pumping out babies with no way to take proper care of them.

Don't get me wrong, I feel for the one's that are there for reasons beyond their control, but in many cases that is not the reason.

the real problem is population. With parenting comes the responsibility of being able to providefor your offspring. Other animals on the planet, such as birds, have the common sense not to reproduce when their aren't enough resources for their young... and we call them bird brains.

American Idol raised millions of dollars to send to Africa last year.
Church members raise money to send missionaries to foreign countries to help feed, clothe and medicate poor people.
Our government sends countless dollars to countless countries to do the same.
I'm all for helping, but do we have to step over the homeless, hungry and poor right in our own neighborhoods on our way to the airport?

You don't understand it? When the split in Americans' incomes mirrors that in traditional banana republics, you can expect an increasing number of hungry citizens. It's long past time for Wall Street folks to remember the concepts of compassion and charity– give ALL of their bonuses to food banks around the country.

In a country as great as ours, there will always be pending issues. However, lately many of our decisions have been farsighted. We should attack issues like hunger which are clearly correctable rather than pay attention to a controversial healthcare bill that no government official is ready to run into to. For some, food is a necessity and free healthcare is a luxury. Start small and simple!

How did they arrive at these statistics? What was the definition of hungry? Can they pinpoint where these hungry people are located? Good-hearted Americans would help a lot if they just knew how.

food and water should be given to everyone on the planet. i,m no rocket sceintist but I would think it would be cheaper to give every person the basics in food and water for free than the costs incured by hunger. i,m not talking steak here, the basics so at least NOT ONE person goes hungry. the gains in humanity alone would be worth the cost.

1 in 6 Americans goes hungry is a disturbing statistic. But the pessimist in me is skeptical. I wonder, how many of these people choose to pay their cell phone bill instead of going to the grocery store? Shame, shame on those 1 in 6 who have children. Lord have mercy.

Jack, the time has come for every citizen to make sure that our citizens are fed, I do and always have dedicated all of my giving to the Salvation Army, because for every dollar they recieve they use 83 cents to help our citizens, I would like to see some of the other charitable organizations get to a place that most of their contribution go to help our citizens. The food shelves of most of our places that help provide extra food stuffs for our citizens are running bare, we need to step up our efforts to fill these shelves. thank you for bringing this to light Jack. CJ

Jack, you likely wont mention this but I will try one more time to get a point of view on your question. What needs to happen is get over the notion the U.S. is rich--it is not. How could it be when every man, woman and child each owe $40,000 toward the debt. How could it be when the top 5% of the people have 95% of the wealth. How could it be when the country wont look after those who need health care. Just a thought from a Canadian who is a big CNN fan, especially you Jack, and congrats on your daughters wedding.

This just shows more and more the development of an American underclass. With making money,anyway possible, as the driving ethic in America, those left by the wayside starve. Our jobs have been farmed out, our savings destroyed,our principles subverted and our religions turned into venues of hate, its little wonder Americans are starving. Many families can't cope with the change from a factory economy to a service economy and fall thru the cracks. A sizable portion of those who lost jobs in the recession aren't going to be re employed without retraining. America needs to focus on eduction to end this kind of poverty.

Baloney that people are hungry. They want fast food, junk food and expensive food. ANYONE can eat all they want if they choose wisely and aren't too lazy to cook. Many get food stamps and WIC for their kids but buy junk. YES they are "hungry" for what they want, but not what they need. Their kids come to school with processed foods that cost 10 times what a good sandwich would cost. Sorry, they do not get my sympathy.

The more we hand out free, the more will get into line. How many of these hungry have cell phones with texting and all the other features? How many have cable or dish network? How many have beautifully manicured nails, nice clothes, flat screen tv s? Is this more a question of priorities in America, or is there really a food shortage? I've worked in the public schools for many years and have seen what the "hand out free culture" has created in our children and their families. America's favorite four letter "f" word is "free".

Set price goals for private grocery stores and if they insist on continuing their rape of the American people set up public option grocery stores. And then set the prices of the public stores below those of the private and drive the sons of bitches out of business.YOU KNOW JACK – JUST DO WHAT THE DEMS PLAN ON DOING WITH THE MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANIES. Bet that sends a joyous shiver up your leg.

Jack,

In over 40 years of providing medical care to the public it matters not the race or color but it seems that these folks have no problem buying cigarettes, alcohol or illicit drugs.

I'm sure that there are legitimately hungry people that cannot afford or have access to food or medication but for the majority the cigarettes, alcohol and drugs come before the children or family.

we may be the richest country in the world but only a very few make us that way. it is the capitalist idea of MINE that keeps people hungry. even with a high rate of unemployment there is enough food and money to feed everyone if those with the means would share. but that's not how it works here. in a capitalistic society, for some to have more others must have less.

Jack, I work in a school that has not made the 'Grade" in FCAT testing, we have over 85% of our children living below the poverty level. Think these two facts are related? You bet! Our kids come to school on Monday morning very hungry, they put cheese sticks and fruit in their backpacks to take home rather than eat it themselves. I know that when we break for Thanksgiving, some children will not have food every day. How can I, a teacher, enjoy my own Thanksgiving? I have donated money, food etc. but the problem is so big, it takes a real commitment from our government to solve. How can anyone read these reports and go to sleep at night? If the story was about starving children in a third world country, there would be a huge outcry. BTW we had testing last week and the breakfast served to our kids was primarily high fructose corn syrup! Yum.

Jack,
I'd love to know how many of these hungry people have expensive cell phone bills and the like but can't afford food for their lfamilies!

It has nothing to do with Thanksgiving. It has everything to do with obscene greed at the top one to three percent of "those in charge" - in Congress or other Government, on Wall Street, in corporate boardrooms ad nauseum. It has to do with billionaire bonuses. NOBODY is worth that! NOBODY! It has to do with Congress enriching itself on Other People's Money and no accountability.

As political activists on both sides have lost ALL perspective, it seems Americans in general have lost all tolerance, all compassion, all sense of community responsibility. It's on both sides. [For instance, a conservative talk show guy in Denver refuses to believe there are any hungry children in America, while our Democratic governor has just taken 33% of one rural nonprofit's budget (earmarked funds), no comprehension that this nonprofit feeds hundreds of people monthly; Gov. Ritter leaving these children and families and elderly without an essential resource. ]

It ain't your grandma's world anymore! Is this the "sins of the Fathers" from the 60s drug culture? Or is this just Rome Burning "Bread and Circuses"?

The American consumer has been automated, down-sized and outsourced. Until a real solution is found for Main Street, everything is going to spiral downward. One-in-six hungry people in the US might become a statistic that doesn't seem so bad.

Part of the hunger problem is the blase' attitude many people have about conceiving children they cannot support. Birth control is the answer. You must qualify to buy a house, a car etc. but no thought is given to a person's ability to support the most precious among us.

These things are all connected/. Deregulation leads to capitalists ELIMINATING competition, running to cheap labor countries while still enjoying US military protection or outright using it to intimidate these governments into allowing them to poison their enviornments like they did here for so long. People here left without jobs to afford housing , food, and healthcare. They were making big profits while operating here, but they never have enough, so here we are.

It says our government is failing. Maybe we should just give things back to the Native Americans.

Jack, Wolfe said it all America is the richest country in the world for the top 5% who are doing quite well. The rest of America is suffering, the middle class is disappearing and America's values are strange. We don't care how much it cost to fight two wars, pay mercenaries better than we pay our on soldiers, and rebuild foreign countries that are at the epicenter of our war on terrorism. But talk about feeding hungry Americans or making sure they have health care and the most important factor is cost.

As long as people are unethical with money,
their will always be hunger in the U.S
despite being the greatest country on earth.

This is what happens with the erosion of women's right to choose and the erosion of sex education especially in the prevention of pregnancy. Right-wingers want to save every zygote by denying morning-after pills. They want to deny preventing pregnancy by restricting education about condoms. You have these crazy people who think babies should be the punishment for having sex running things and you wonder why so many children are starving. But those right-wingers don't care about children–they only care about keeping women in bondage to their wombs. Everyone who is against a woman's right to choose should be double taxed to feed the children their policies have brought into the world.

Harsh I know,...But it means 5 of 6 Americans are taking responsibility for their lives and well-being. How many handouts, food banks, etc. did our pioneering forefathers have?

How can we simultaneously be so hungry and so obese? Saw a food drive giving away food to the needy in my hometown and almost every person in line was 30-80 pounds overweight. I know not every poor person is that way, but it definitely makes me question these statistics. 1 in 6? I'm far from affluent and live in a state with one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, but can't say I know a single person so destitute they can't eat.

I could not believe the number of AMERICANS in the good U S of A that are going hungry. This should not be, how can this be? I understand that we as nation are dealing with great job loss and economic hardships; and I know that we will always have the poor with us, but this many??? I also know that groceries are always increasing too; I mean a can of Pilsbury dough biscuits went from $1 to $1.19 to a $1.39 – Outrageous!!! Somewhere we as a nation have missed it. I am pledging, as a concerned American, to donate to my local food bank. It might not feed the 50 millions of hungry americans, but it's a start. Let's all do what we can to help those in need.

Shan
Minden, LA

Most Americans don't look like they miss too many meals

Jack, like all problems of social justice, the real issue is not what it seems. Hunger is not about food. Hunger is about priorities. Here in Minnesota our Republican governor, presidential aspirant Tim Pawlenty, recently gutted food programs for the sick and poor in an effort to balance the state's budget. Major supermarkets do not locate in our inner cities, thus depriving lower income people of fresh fruits and vegetables. Homeless shelters, food banks and other social safety nets are always the first to be cut when the budget gets tight. Instead of giving the H1N1 vaccine to Wall Street moguls and giving war profiteers no-bid government contracts, our society needs to look at how it treats the weakest among us.

I find it odd that 1 in 6 American children go hungry yet , we are also concerned with our obesity rates, not to say this is wrong, I am all for healthy children, but we should be looking at the obese families out there and asking them, what do they think when they gorge and feast like there is no tomorrow. What is wrong with this country that we have either too many fat kids or too many skinny kids. It seems the balance is way off here. I think the best thing that could be done is have a Robin Hood type figure come to these obese families and take food from them to give to the starving. That or go these overweight kids and show them these underweight kids face to face.

I'm lucky and can afford decent food for myself and my boyfriend even if it's not fancy. I like to keep my food help close to home though so I invite my broke friends over now and then, whip up a big batch of something and feed everybody. Last week was linguine with shrimp alfredo with a side of gossip and good music.

With two wars which should be ended immediately and the CEO's, big corporations, lobbyists and politicians having all the money they need we no longer have a middle class that can afford food, shelter and health care.
We have very, very rich and very very poor. No health care for everyone and so many internal problems. We should stop interferring in other countries, get rid of greedy rich and start taking care of the people in this country.

Am I the only one who can't understand how this could possibly be true if 2/3 of Americans are overweight and 1/3 are obese–particularly because because the risk of being overweight is supposed be lower at higher income levels? It doesn't really all seem to add up to anything that could be true.

It says that when a well-meaning liberal government over-reaches to provide home ownership for everyone regardless of ability to repay the loans – things can eventually destabilize private capital and bring the world's economy to it's knees. The resulting devastation destroys the livelihood of the very people the liberal policy was designed to help. It says Barney Frank should have listened when the Bush Administration asked his Fannie and Freddie over site to look into the dangerous loan practices encouraged by liberal government regulation. It also says that it is easier to blame "business and capitalism" because people think their problems are cured easily by handfuls of freshly printed dollars from the US Mint that pay for short term unsustainable government help programs. It also says that when in these straits – you are going to see enormous giving this season from PRIVATE individuals to help those who are in dire straits.

Who's got a Mr. Kool Aid hangover? What ever happened to peace, love, and change?

it means that those who produce the wealth and create jobs, which allow people to be self-sufficient have been utterly discouraged be those who confiscate and redistribute that wealth for "the common good"... National reading assignment for December: Atlas Shrugged!!!

It says that Americans allowed it to become an epidemic. We allowed the Republicans to start 2 wars that our nation could ill afford. Americans stood by while Republican politician spents our money and allowed Wall Street to steal our money. So Americans should suck it up and learn from this...are you going keep allowing corporate America to steal from us, are going to allow the status quo that has leveled our nation to third world status to continue or will you stand up and let the Democratic party know that they will lose their seats but not to the Republican party...A Democrats will sit in their seat who will carry on the message that "Yes We Can" and we will. We voted for Obama and they just got a free ride to make his position stronger against the "Status Quo", hear us now, hear us loud.

So how is this "Hope" and "Change" working for ya?

It says that free market capitalism with no constraints does not work for the good of society. Yes we have the "wealth of a nation," but we have a nation of a few wealthy people and a lot of poor people. Adam Smith wrote in "Moral Sentiments" that people's self-interest would motivate them to empathy - because they would perceive the needs of others and this is how distribution of wealth would to some degree be equalized in a free market system. Clearly, given that Wall Street bankers are making million dollar bonuses while children go hungry, Smith was wrong about human nature - which is at the core of any economic system. The government must redistribute wealth in order to sustain a free market system that works in a democracy.

Yeah, right! The purveyors of food stamps are telling us that America is full of hungry people. What a surprise! Solution is of course to increase the food stamp budget and hire a ton of new bureaucrats to administer the program thereby expanding the footprint of an already excessive agency. Man, when will you people ever learn that Uncle Sam has been scamming you since FDR.

How many billions to give Iraq health care and the freedom they didn't even ask for.

Thanks W

So I read all the whiner comments here about he government not doing enough. What are you doing? Personally! You say the government can't solve all problems, and it can't Go volunteer. Donate money or food to your local food bank. Plant a garden and give excess to the food bank. That is what my neighbors did. Fresh vegetables are in great demand. Plant a fruit tree. We can all help. This Thanksgiving spend time in a food kitchen before you enjoy your feast. It's east to say, too bad no one is fixing this problem. So fix it. Get off the web and go out and do something !

CBS Evening news is running a story tonight about the explosion of obesity in this country. I volunteered at a food bank this summer and 90% of the people that came in for food were at least 40 lbs overweight. Add to the fact that people just eat too much, stretching their stomachs so that they feel hungry, and then not budgeting their dollars properly, they are "running out" of food at the end of the month.

I'm 40 years old and I've never met anyone in America who goes hungry....
People shouldn't have kids they can't afford or provide for.
How come no one ever mentions all the cats and dogs that go hungry and homeless? They are the innocent, helpless ones who truly need our help!

Somehow, I find this hard to believe considering over 60% of us are overweight, 30% of which are obese. Supposedly, lower income families are at the highest risk as well because they can't afford the healthier foods. Are they telling us our poor are both hungry and obese?

What is their definition of hungry American anyway? Below 10000 calories a day?

If young women (and men) cannot afford to provide food, shelter, and care for their offspring, they should not have them...it's a NO-BRAINER...Shame on us for enabling them!

It says that we (Americans) are yet to comprehend the total impact of the damage caused by the Bush administration. With an astronomical spending of over 1.7 billion dollars a week in Iraq, and Uncle sam's forth-coming bankruptcy, i'd suggest we buckle-up Jack. This ride is about to get rough-er.

It's so dissapointing to learn that people are suffering with hunger even in the developed nation like America. If thats true imagine the situation in countries like AFRICA and other poor nations. Its high time people start thinking before wasting/throwing away FOOD. May god bless AMERICA.

I’m retired military and to be honest life is good—financially—for me and my family. I would also like to say that my views are conservative but something happened the other day that really bothered me. I was at a superstore in Virginia with my eight year old son and a woman walked up to me and asked for help “Sir. Can I have some change I have no food and my son doesn’t know how bad it is”. She showed me something and said something that I don’t what to reveal because I think there are those that would use this information to take advantage our others but this information that she revealed strongly pointed to that fact that she was telling me the truth and in bad need of help.
You see I have quite literally traveled a good part of the world and have seen women beg in places that you and I would never consider visiting. But to see a woman in America asking for help like that shook me to my core. I was speechless for a few seconds because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing/hearing and I was wondering have we slipped so far. BTW: I did help her.

I think a few of you are unfairly blaming capitalism. How about all those women having babies out of wedlock without a committed father and all those deadbeat dads?
How about the millions of Americans that are lazy and don't value education to achieve something in life.
How about the 40% of the population that is obese and costing us billions that could be used for other puproses?
How about letting in the country too many immigrants that are not educated or don't value education then have kids that don't value education.
How about all those entitlement programs that reduce the incentive to work and be productive?
How about those Americans that spend all they make in the "good" times and then suffer in a downturn?
A lot of this problem is due to a lack of personal responsibilty which is America's biggest problem?

Why don't we quit taxing the crap out of big business and forcing them to go overseas? We need the jobs here. Why can't we drill here and reap the financial independence and spread it around here instead of spending billions a year buying oil from countries who would like to see us cease to exist? There is no reason anyone in the USA should go hungry. They are going hungry because there are no jobs for those willing to work.

I wonder how many of these "starving" people have cell phones and sattelite tv? People just don't know how to prioritize.

The really shocking thing about this is how many people believe this story at face value.

Jack: After working for or with the government for over 40 years, I can tell you that the Government, and those that own the Government, wastes more money that that which would be required to feed all the poor. It is now the Government of the Government, for the Government, and by the Government. Hunger in America cannot be excused. Then again, how many of these people have SUVs, cell phones, etc. Ken

What does obese people have to do with people going hungry? Those are two separate issues. Obese people got food, let's take care of those that are going hungry. What is so hard about that?!?!

You would think that the US companies that are so profitable they can pay their executives tens of millions in salary and bonuses would consider being more charitable. The fact that anyone is going hungry in this gluttonous country is a national disgrace. We live in a country that has lost its conscience.

You can get a cheeseburger for $1. If you are unable to figure a way to make $3 a day in this country, and are mentally healthy, I have no sympathy.

It says that we need to stop associating hunger with laziness. A large percentage of our population is UNDEREMPLOYED. This means that people cannot find a job that will pay living wages and decent benefits. It is not for a lack of trying, it is for a lack of job availability. A recent article suggested that finding a full-time job with benefits is comparable to getting into Harvard. As long as we keep shipping our jobs overseas to China, while our population keeps on growing, we've got a big problem! WAKE UP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT and AMERICAN BUSINESSES. THIS MODEL IS NOT SUSTAINABLE!

This doesn't surprise me at all. I was a single mother back in 1986 (before the government kept track of hungry people) and even then the majority of people I knew had problems keeping food in the house. Blame it on whatever you want but the problem has been around a lot longer than everyone thinks.

What do you expect? The US system needs an update. We're not living during the Revolutionary War (militia not required), we're not living in the Wild West (lawlessness). It is the year 2009 and our population is over 300,000,000 and we, as a nation have not grown with futuristic remedies for our concerns. 300,000,000 people and no national i.d card? No medical protection for everyone? No further education available to everyone? Not enough financial regulation in the interest of the citizens of the nation or the world? OK for kids to go on shooting sprees? Ok to use automatic weapons and call it "self- defense? It would be great if US citizens would learn that they have a lot to learn. Just look at the international First World education, health (including life expectancy), prosperity, standard of living levels; the US does not have proud rankings. We do rank highest in the violent crimes category, I guess we can be proud of that. Wake up and get with the times! Unless serious updates are made, this country will become an international disaster.

Yes there are alot of people that go hungry in America but I have also seen alot of people in shelters where I have volunteered on cellphones.Many people claim that they do not have food yet they have the latest sneakers and are texting someone while waiting in the free food line at the shelter.If my children had nothing to eat I wouldn't be on the phone I would be working day and night to correct the situation.

Jack,
When 1 out of 6 citizens go hungry, it is an indication that we neet to immediately stop funding foreign countries with economic and military aid. Turn our government foreign aid inwards to assiting the people who need it. What is our company coming to? We need a large scale social revolution, demanding that the will of the people be strictly followed. Not the will of big corporations and fat cats on capital hill. Both democrats, republicans and independents!!!!