My best friend just went to the doctor. He had been in the army, came home and worked in a factory for less than $10.00 an hour, which he used to help take care of his mother, who is struggling with cancer. He was recently laid off, so he went to the doctor before his benefits ran out.
He hadn't been feeling well for a while, but no one could tell him why. When he got out of the army about 3 years ago, he got a terrible case of pneumonia and almost died and lost a bunch of weight. Since he got out, he's lost 30 pounds. He had constant headaches, chest pains, constant thirst combined with peeing every ten minutes. He never sleeps.
His doctor just told him, he's been systematically starving to death over the last three years. He is suffering from acute malnutrition.
His mom gets food stamps, but because he was working, he didn't qualify and actually lowered his benefits. He's now applied for himself, but even an additional $30 a month isn't going to cut it for two people.
I suppose there is no real point to this story, other than to lament the sad state of affairs when people are left no economic choice but to give up eating, and starve.