USA 2008: The Great Depression

This is a foreign newspaper account of what's going on in the US. So it's probably a little sensational, but the facts speak for themselves.

USA 2008: The Great Depression - Americas, World - The Independent

What strikes me is two things
1 - how many people are on "food stamps"
2 - how easy it has become.

People are dependent on this and it's so easy that they is little need to get off of this assistance. I'm sure there are many people that really need this, but making it easier and making it have less of a stigma associated with it, is just asking for abuse.

So is this increase due to increase need? or better advertising (making more people aware of it), or making it easier, or making it stigmatizing. Leave comments with your views..