meeciteewurkor

The daileeeee paper states that food stamp recipients are up in Oklahoma.  The author left out something that I really wanted to know, though.  Just exactly what does it mean when you say 450,057 people in Oklahoma are on food stamps?  And when you say that number is up, what are you comparing it to besides last month’s numbers?

Well, the estimated population of Oklahoma in 2008 was:  3,642,361

What percentage of Oklahomans are on food stamps.  That is what I wanted to know, but didn’t find in the daileeee’s article.  Ok, remember your junior high algebra?  (45,057/3,642,361) = x/100

Solve for X and that number is the percentage of Oklahomans on food stamps.  It comes out to 12.36%  We’ll just say 12 to make it easy.

So, let’s put it into perspective:

Every 12 people out of 100 receive food stamps.
Or every 6 people out of 50.
Or every 3 out of 25
Or every 1 out of about 8.

About 1 out of every 8 Oklahomans receive food stamps.

Now, go walk down the street in downtown during rush hour.  Every 8th person you pass receives food stamps.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t help people that need help, but seriously… Tulsa World.  Give us numbers that help us understand the magnitude of the issue.

meeciteewurkor politics food stamps, oklahoma, welfare