Disconcertingly, there are an increasing number of hungry Americans in the United States. It remains unclear as to whether the government completely oblivious of the creeping problem or have just decided to trivialize it. Ironically, the fact that America is one of the richest countries in the world, with cutting-edge technological innovation, a vibrant economy that is presumed to be the pillar of the world’s financial system, unparalleled military dominance and most surprisingly, with an estimated $32billion in foreign aids in the year2013 alone makes this deplorable reality little difficult to to grasp.
Statistical findings reveals that a large number of Americans contend with the unsavory reality of hunger with a significant number of affected people belonging to minority groups. An estimated 48 million Americans contend with food deprivation. Food deprivation is the inability of a household to get regular healthy food. The increasing pervasiveness of food deprivation offers a harsh reality for many American families that needlessly struggle with unstable and irregular meals.
Comparative speaking, America has a higher gross domestic product per capita above $20,000 which is significantly higher than other developed countries like the UK and Germany. Contrastingly, these countries have lesser rate of food deprivation with the extent food deprivation in America being twice as much as what is obtainable in these countries. While this is a quite unsettling, the irony extends further by the fact that there is an abundance of food production in America which goads the inescapable question; where does all the food go?
The extent of food wastage in America is unbelievably shocking and is a major contributory factor to the pervasiveness of food deprivation. 40% of food production goes to waste in America. The inability of the country to look for relevant and practical ways to ensure that all this food is channeled to ameliorate the harsh conditions of many Americans who are constantly faced with the uncertainty of hunger still remains a mystery. The value of this staggering food wasted is set at approximately $165 million. Many initiatives have been introduced to help appropriate all of the food that constantly go to waste with the view of directing all this food to meet the pressing need of many disadvantaged families. While many largely charitable organizations are irrevocably committed to redirecting food to affected families, their efforts do not seem to address the underlying cause of hunger; poverty
The American economy has since passed the recession and continues to enjoy incremental economic progression. While this is a good thing, there is the challenge of inequitable distribution of resources which leaves cross- sections of the American society extremely disadvantaged without means of survival. With constantly decreasing wages for the low 60% of male worker, the threat of hunger and poverty continues to confront a growing section of the American society. While there has been a five percent decrease in the earnings of low income workers, unfavorable conditions are further exacerbated with the introduction of rigid measures by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that enforce stringent work requirements and compulsory drug testing have reduced the number of qualified applicants making conditions austere.
With the continuous reduction in the earnings of low income workers and the inability of the government to adopt a practical approach with the introduction of relevant policies and programs that can help ameliorate the increasing hardship created by the stark unequal distribution of wealth, poverty and food insecurity may continue to be a reality for many minorities in America. Many low income earners are unable to find the money for healthy and nutritious meals, while they are imperiled by low cost junk which constitutes obesity and other concomitant health problems.
Although the extent of food deprivation and hunger in many underdeveloped countries is exceedingly great when compared to a developed countries like the the United States of America, the undeniable fact remains that food deprivation is an emerging challenge with very dire ramifications for the American society. It would be appropriate for the federal government to initiate and implement policies and programs that would conclusively eradicate this threat. While the government may be complacent about the many difficulties engendered by hunger, awakening public consciousness on the extensity, crippling consequences and harsh realities of food deprivation would sensitize the people while prompting an overwhelming unanimity of purpose necessary for tangible improvements that would transform the lives of affected Americans.