CNN Reporter Sean Callebs Plays At Living On Food Stamps For One Month

I'm not mad at the story idea, I think it's actually a good one that could have really made a significant impact if Mr. Callebs had actually put some real thought into his experiment. He made numerous errors that could have been averted with a little more research and planning. His blog raises many interesting questions from the people that e-mailed him, more than his actual participation in this experiment did. My personal opinion is that Mr. Callebs comes off like a very privileged man playing at being poor.

The main difference of course is that Mr. Callebs ALWAYS knew he was living an experiment. An experiment that would end. I would be willing to wager for the majority of people living on public assistance that for them one of the most disconcerting aspects is having no idea when they will be able to stop relying on public assistance, if ever. He faced none of the feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, and bewilderment that the average person receiving public assistance must be feeling on varying levels on a daily basis.

Another major difference is that Mr. Callebs also has a job, a job that he clearly enjoys. Lots of folks on public assistance are either unemployed or working in an environment that making daily living all that much harder. Instead of working at CNN, I would have loved to see Mr. Callebs working at Walmart or Target for his 30 days. Since he was in the Big Easy, how about 30 days working at Jiffy Lube or Popeye's Chicken while living on $176 dollars for the month for food? I'll bet the house that would have made a big difference in how he felt about munching on oatmeal, peanut butter, and tuna, everyday for a week.
Further, he didn't have to suffer the public humiliation or the personal shame. Calleb didn't have the stigma of having to carry and use the S.N.A.P. (welfare) debit card. He didn't have to face his regular store clerk in his neighborhood grocery store with the consistent reminder that he was receiving public assistance. He didn't have to suffer the rolled eyes of folks who can afford to pay for their shopping and resent folks on "the county." He walked with a dignity that many people who receive public assistance are not always allowed.

One last thing, folks who work at menial labor jobs and rely on public assistance, don't have or spend their free time running 20 miles or so a week. They are too damn tired trying to survive.

One final note - The more I think about it, it really troubled me that most his segments featured black folks in a predominantly black neighborhood. With one in six folks in post-Katrina Louisiana on food stamps, the face of folks living on public assistance was more than black.

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