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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

Food is a bargain

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dear Editor,

Most Americans have seen their food bills increase this past year, primarily because of increased energy costs. But despite these increases, food remains very affordable in the United States.

It takes just 36 days for the average American to earn enough disposable income to pay for their food supply for the entire year -- a little more than five weeks' labor.

That's why Farm Bureau celebrates Feb. 3-9 as Food Check-Out Week.

By early February, the year's food bill is paid. In contrast, it takes 52 days of work to pay for health and medical care, 62 days for housing and household operations and 77 days for federal taxes.

On average, Americans spend about 10 percent of their disposable income for food at home and in restaurants. If that percentage seems low, consider all the nonfood items you buy at the grocery store. The percentage is much higher in most other countries.

Americans enjoy the world's most varied and affordable food, thanks to farmers and ranchers and their business partners in the food chain.

Sincerely,

Susan Ladenburger,

Nebraska Farm Bureau State Board Director

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  • No matter the percentage of income that goes for food, sharp increases in cost must come from somewhere. That somewhere usually is already spoken for in things like payments for home, auto, insurance, utilities, etc. No matter the percentage, the increase has to be found by reduced spending somewhere else (some items do not allow immidiate reduction in spending), as most families spend a minimum of their 'net' monthly income. Perhaps, it would be better if government officials considered the entire life picture, before telling the constituency how good everyone has it.

    Yes, we do spend much more on miscellanious, non-esential items than do people in other countries, too much, in fact. Perhaps we should be receiving counceling on how to simplify, and reduce the cost of, our lives. Then, and only then, can we call ourselves the 'Richest Nation' on earth.

    Oh-yes, the other side of the coin: Americans donate more money, material, and service, to the needy, worldwide, than any other nation in the world.

    Sorry, I got on my box again.

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Tue, Feb 5, 2008, at 2:58 PM
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