Watch: US Olympic Speedskater Describes Having to Rely on Food Stamps

February 18, 2014 12:43 pm by: Omar Rivero Category: Economy



Yes, you’ve read that right. Things have gotten so bad in America that even our Olympic athletes are receiving “poverty stipends” in order to help them make ends meet as they struggle to represent our country in the Olympics while putting food on the table.
In this very telling video, Emily Scott, representing the United States in Olympic speedskating, fights back the tears as she recalls having to apply for food stamps due to her Olympic stipend being cut from $1950 per month to only $600 per month, less than the minimum wage.
Although she shares an apartment with a roommate and relies on a part-time job at a surgical supply factory, expenses amount to much more than her stipend.
Scott grew tearful as she discussed her food stamps application. “The last thing you want to be worried about in a year like this is being able to pay your rent and eat, and you want to eat healthy,” she said at lunch as she twirled a spoon in a bowl of soup. “That was pretty hard. … But I’m not the only one suffering.”
Sharing the plight of America’s millions of poverty wage workers, Scott has had to figure out how to make ends meet while paying a $500 rent and $350 car payment, not to mention food.
Even with the job, Scott is worried about this week and the coming season. The surgical factory is closed for the Fourth of July holiday. “No income,” she said. If Scott makes the World Cup team she’ll be gone for two weeks at a time. “Again no income,” she said.

Things have gotten so bad in America, that even our Olympic athletes are receiving poverty wages and expected to make ends meet with part-time jobs and government assistance such as food stamps and Medicaid.

Please watch the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8dlkpSBxfE


http://www.demonews.org/watch-us-oly...n-food-stamps/