Freedom from Want
November 24th, 2006
At this time of year, I like to recall the famous Norman Rockwell painting, “Freedom from Want,� which portrays a grandmother placing an enormous roast turkey on a dinner table surrounded by a happy extended family. America truly is a nation of amazing blessings and abundance. And the holiday season is always a wonderful time at which to reflect on and give thanks for our prosperity and freedom.
But even amidst such prosperity, many Americans continue to struggle to have enough to eat, mainly because of an economy that has left many behind. In fact, the number of Americans experiencing hunger has increased in recent years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found the number of “food insecure� Americans – those who go hungry or cannot afford a nutritious diet – rose from 31 million in 1999 to more than 35 million in 2005 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). Many of the “food insecure� are single mothers and children. They are forced to skip meals or substitute cheaper but less nutritious foods. Sometimes they simply go to bed hungry.
We also know that government has an essential role in helping alleviate hunger and promoting good nutrition. Millions of children enjoy nutritious federally-supported breakfasts and lunches each school day.  The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides nutritious food to at-risk mothers and young children. And the Food Stamp Program provides a modest benefit to help low-income children, working families, and seniors obtain an adequate diet.
We also need to attack poverty by raising the minimum wage (which has been frozen for nearly a decade) and writing tax policy that benefits all Americans, including those of modest means. Though the economic struggles of working families are a challenge, they aren’t insurmountable. Sustained partnership between generous Americans and a compassionate government can make a difference.
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