Faith In The Budget
The Decision Dilemma Frank Lucas had on his desk two documents about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. Rep. Lucas was the U.S. House Representative for Oklahoma's 3rd District and was Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, which oversaw SNAP. One document was Paul Ryan's, "Path to Prosperity" budget proposal designed to eliminate a large and growing national deficit, a budget that was based on Rep. Ryan's faith. The other document was a letter from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) received on April 16, 2012 asking Rep. Lucas to oppose cuts to the SNAP program because of the impact that the cuts would have on the recipients of SNAP. Rep. Lucas needed to decide whether to support or oppose the proposed budget cuts to SNAP. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Federal expenditures for SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, were $78 billion for the fiscal year 2011. Participation in the program was the highest that has been recorded. On average, approximately one in seven U.S. residents received SNAP benefits. The program has grown dramatically in the last decade. In a report issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (http:www.cbo.gov/publication/43173), several characteristics of SNAP beneficiaries were listed: * In 2010, about three out of four SNAP households included a child, a person age 60 or older, or a disabled person. * The average income for SNAP beneficiaries was $8,800 per year. * On a monthly basis, the SNAP benefit per household was $287, or $4.30 per person per day. * SNAP benefits increased gross monthly income by 39 percent for all participating households and by 45 percent for households with children. * 85 percent of SNAP households live below the poverty line. An important issue that has impacted the SNAP program is fraud. The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) had a team of 100 analysis and investigators across the country who worked with state and federal government officials to identify and investigate SNAP fraud. SNAP fraud included the exchange of SNAP benefits for cash, i.e., trafficking, lying on SNAP applications, or retailer abuse of SNAP (FNS, 2013c). Approximately 38,000 stores were subject to FNS surveillance annually (FNS, 2013a). The most recently reported FNS information showed that as of 2011, 99 percent of those who received SNAP benefits were eligible and that payment accuracy was 96 percent (FNS, 2013b). The FNS's most recent trafficking report, which represented the years 2006-2008, said that payment errors had been reduced by $3.67 billion, which was reduction of approximately 50 percent. In addition, over a 15 year period, SNAP trafficking had fallen from 4 percent to 1 percent of the total SNAP dollars distributed. In other words, the $330 million in SNAP benefits that were diverted through trafficking represented 1 cent of each SNAP dollar distributed (FNS, 2013a). Taking fraud into consideration, SNAP had provided assistance for 45 million participants each month in fiscal year 2011, which represented a 70 percent increase over the roughly 26 million participants (or one of every 11) who received benefits in 2007. Total expenditures, excluding administrative costs, more than doubled during that period from about $30 billion to $72 billion. Approximately two-thirds of the growth in spending on SNAP benefits between 2007 and 2011 stemmed from the increase in the number of participants. Of course, there was a dramatic rise in the number of people eligible for the program after the economic slowdown at the end of 2008. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 added benefits for recipients, which increased expenditures by one-fifth. Benefits also increased because of higher food prices and lower incomes. The cuts in SNAP funding proposed by Rep. …
Capitalism and freedom
This essay tests Milton Friedman's conjecture that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom. For the decade around 2000 indices of the degree of capitalism and the degree of political freedom are highly correlated and provide plausibility for Friedman's conjecture. In looking at changes over time in the nineteenth century, however, the analysis refutes Friedman's conjecture. These apparently contradictory results are reconciled by showing that both capitalism and freedom are related to such variables as the educational level of the population so that, although not causally tied, they are correlated in a cross-national comparison.
[Proximal row carpectomy and replacement of the proximal pole of the capitate by means of a pyrocarbon cap (RCPI) in advanced carpal collapse].
The results of 5 patients suffering from advanced carpal collapse after proximal row carpectomy and replacement of the proximal pole of the capitate by means of a pyrocarbon cap are presented.5 patients with an average age of 40.2 years (23-66 years) suffering from advanced carpal collapse were treated by means of proximal row carpectomy and replacement of the proximal pole of the capitate between January 2005 and August 2008. Clinical and radiological follow-ups within an average post-operative period of 54.4 months (25-68 months) were conducted. For the assessment of the outcome the DASH score and the traditional Krimmer score were used.At the follow-up all patients were fully recovered and could expose the wrist to higher exertions. Radiologically the implants in 3 of 5 patients were found to be tight and at the original post-operative location in comparison with the post-operative X-rays. In 2 of 5 patients a mild seam of loosening was detected around the implant. In the traditional Krimmer score the patients reached 81 points (75-85 points) and in the DASH score 8 points (2.5-23.33 points).The described results of the present procedure define it as an alternative in treating patients suffering from advanced carpal collapse as far as evidence from this small collective can be considered. The small seam of loosening around implants in 2 of 5 patients suggests that we may expect further loosening of implants in the long run. Larger patient collectives are necessary to confirm these provisional results.