Sanders: ’5 million seniors face the threat of hunger’

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

WASHINGTON – A 12-page report http://sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SeniorHungerReport.pdf
released Tuesday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) found that about 5 million senior citizens are threatened by hunger in the United States.

"It is estimated that 5 million seniors face the threat of hunger, 3 million seniors are at risk of hunger, and 1 million seniors go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food," Sanders said Tuesday during a Senate hearing, summing up the findings.

According to the report, the average cost of a meal brought to a senior's home is just over $5. By contrast, the average cost of spending a day in the hospital is more than $1,850, while the average yearly cost of care at a nursing home is over $77,700.

The tone of the Sanders hearing -- called the "Senior Hunger and the Older Americans Act" and held by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health & Aging, which Sanders chairs -- provided a stark contrast to the political debate on Capitol Hill about cutting programs for the elderly like Social Security and Medicare.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/21/sanders-5-million-seniors-face-the-threat-of-hunger/

[fascisthunter]

1. Americans right wing losers don't give a shit about Americans

all that matters is Capitalism and greasing the wheels.

[madrchsod]

2. every day richard nixon gets just a little more redemption...

[wilt the stilt]

3. wet dream for conservatives

"where are the debtor prisons and the poorhouses"- Newt Gingrich

[kestrel91316]

4. There! See? Proof that Social Security is a complete failure and we need to

get rid of it!!!! (insert froth and spittle here)

[EvilMonsanto]

5. I Gotta Be Honest

This isn't only about free healthcare guys, healthcare requires money

We should all be more anti-war before being pro-free healthcare
The wars are immoral and economically devastating, the should be our focal point
my two cents

[No Elephants]

11. Where did you get the impression that Sanders was talking about free health care?

And why can't folks be for both accessible health care and peace at the same time? It isn't either or---except maybe for Libertarians.

[dorksied]

6. When the hunger riots start, then perhaps the brainwashed public will stop voting Republican

but until that day, expect things to get worse and worse and worse.

By 2025, when this country is fully in the grip of the right, I wonder if they'll be selling suicide kits to the starving poor?

[No Elephants]

13. A brainwashed public doesn't riot and barely even demonstrates. Surely, you've noticed.

[John Paul Jones]

7. According to the World Heath Organization, obesity is a far greater problem in the US.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Healthy Food is More Expensive

[No Elephants]

12. It's quite possible to be obese and malnourished, but I suspect Sanders

is currently concerned primarily with those seniors who would not have a decent meal but for organizations like meals on wheels.

Many seniors are unable to shop or cook for themselves, yet require special diets for health reasons. For example, unless you make everything--including bread--from scratch, it's almost impossible to follow a really low sodium diet.

[Nossida]

8. The republicans

The republicans in DC must be thrilled.
Being the sadistic sellouts that they are.
It must give them much satisfaction knowing
just how much pain they are causing real
people. Inflicted pain and agony, like Iraq,
makes them swell with pride.

[No Elephants]

14. Do you believe Republicans are the only ones in D.C. who have sold out?

[ej510]

9. This excites republicons.

They are figuring out a way to harm more people, make a lot more people suffer.

[classysassy]

15. "Oh what fools we mortals be"

Hello out there along the hi-ways and by-ways,both major parties are making fools out of the ill informed citizens in this bountiful land,there is enough food,health care,clean water and everything else for a wonderful and long life for all our citizens,greed,hate,and stupidity are the thin gs that prevent all of us from enjoying the American dream.When we let 2% of the population control over 50% of the money in this country that is shameful.We need to start asking our elected officials about the problem and what are they going to do about the tax breaks for the wealthy,we need to double our efforts to bring about change in the tax laws.Any politician taking money (AKA bribes) from the people they assist in robbing the poor should be impeached and sent to jail.Until Bush/Chaney are indicted American justice is still on a holiday.

[totodeinhere]

16. Question - are they hungry in spite of food stamps, do they not qualify for food stamps,

or do they qualify but choose not to apply, or what? Excuse my ignorance but I thought that the food stamps program was designed to keep people from going hungry.