Michigan Governor Lives on Food Stamps

Frequently policy making and analysis happens from afar by people in Washington or state capitols or institutions of higher learning. In our detached way, we try to make lives easier for low-income Americans, but too often individuals who need assistance become nothing more than a faceless data point or benefit recipient.

That’s why I was so pleased to read today that Michigan governor, Jennifer Granholm is taking the food stamp pledge. According to the AP article:

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm this week is doing something millions of her constituents are being forced to do year-round; she’s living on food stamps.

“She is one of 300 people who are taking a pledge” to eat like a food stamp recipient, including executives of Michigan-based auto giants General Motors, Ford and Chrysler and dozens of legislators, said the state’s human services department chief Ismael Ahmed.

“It’s my second day on 5.87 dollars a day,” Ahmed told AFP by telephone. “I’ve already calculated that I’ll be out of bread by Thursday.”

In July, the number of food stamp recipients increased to 29 million, an increase of one million new recipients since April. As the financial crisis continues to loom, we can expect this number to increase.

Today is Blog Action Day and bloggers across the globe have united to discuss the issue of poverty. As we collectively work to reduce poverty, we should applaud Gov. Granholm and other Michigan leaders as they try to come up with solutions by walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.