bobjots : redux

I recently read the findings from the Hunger in America 2006 study of the clients of America's Second Harvest; a charitable hunger-relief organization in the US that operates a network of more than 200 member food banks and food-rescue organizations. Apparently up to 41% of those surveyed mentioned that they have had to occasionally make the choice between buying food or paying for essential utilities, another 35% had to make a choice between buying food or paying the rent / mortgage, while up to 31% had to decide between paying for food or medical care (see table here).

This got me thinking as I do know quite a few people here (who are not on welfare or on any other form of external aid) who have to make such decisions every month. Come to think, I occasionally find myself in similiar situations as well. Of course, not everybody has the "privilege" of making such choices. A few weeks ago, I found myself holding on to my jaw when a friend casually mentioned that making a certain figure a month was definitely not enough to survive on. The reason I was quite surprised was because the figure mentioned was the highest drawn salary I ever made and my family and I were actually quite comfortable then.