Challenge - Day 2

Last night I attended a banquet for the National Immigration Forum at the Mayflower Hotel, where I was a guest speaker.  I had planned to eat dinner before hand -- knowing that a sit-down dinner was to be served.   Unfortunately, the Rules Committee hearing on the Defense Bill went extra long.  I didn't have a chance to eat.

I was extremely hungry.  The hors d'oeuvres looked terrific -- so did the red wine.  I settled for a glass of tap water.

Thankfully, my wife, Lisa, arrived at the beginning of the dinner with an egg and cheese sandwich on a tortilla.  I ate it in 3 seconds (people looked at me as if I were crazy). 

Luckily, the Rules Committee was called back into session and I had to leave before everyone was served.

This morning I attended a fundraiser in my honor at Bistro Bis restaurant at the Hotel George.  I brought a banana for breakfast.  Others were served eggs, bacon, potatoes, sweet rolls, butter, jam and great smelling coffee.  I had water with my banana.  I would have killed for one slice of bacon (too many people watching). 

Jo Ann, Jan and I had lunch together in Jo Ann's office.  I traded my lentils for JoAnn's salad of lettuce and chicken (it looked better and tasted better...besides I had lentils for lunch yesterday).

Lisa and I are trying to be careful not to eat too much.  Our groceries need to last 7days!  It is especially difficult to not want to eat at receptions, breakfasts and dinners.

Tonight I am going to a Hillary Clinton event at the home of Ambassador Elizabeth and Smith Bagely's house.  Once again, it's a sit down dinner.  I am bringing my own dinner -- chicken and rice in tupperware.

Comments

[RobInSanDiego]

I wish more in Congress were like you, trying to relate to their constituents rather than their contributors. Don't be discouraged by those who are calling this just a publicity stunt, because really that's what it is, to draw attention to the poors' needs. Keep up the good fight on behalf of real values, taking care of the poor, the sick, the hungry. God bless you.

[Connie H.]

Seriously, you might go to a soup kitchen-type place one night. (Next week, you can give them a donation so you're not abusing their charity in the bigger picture.) This, too, is part of the reality of getting by on public assistance.

There are also organizations like SHARE that will supply a box of basic foodstuffs, like flour and frozen chicken parts for low or no cost. The sad part is that you have to have use of a kitchen to really make use of it, which makes it useless to too many.

[Rob Relish]

BRAVO Congressman McGovern! Let the naysayers complain that this is a publicity stunt (for a good cause, it is!) or that you should move to a ghetto for a week to really get a sense of what is going on (some people believe you can never do enough, don't they?). Well, we all know that it's far easier to kick down a barn than to build one, as my friend Grace MaRay used to always say. Bless you, and all the very best.

[DG]

I've been a community organizer in low-income communities for years now, and I have to say that one of the comments made over and over by people I work with with is "why don't politicians try living on this budget?" As others have pointed out, this is not a perfect experiment, but it is a great start. We would all like to see everything change all at once, but that is not going to happen.

As a next step, how about a group of legislators living on minimum wage for a month? Eating for a week on $21 is hard, but when you don't have to worry about anything but your next meal it is certainly doable. Paying for housing, transportation, food, incidentals, etc. on minimum wage inserts a whole new level.

Just a quick suggestion on how to get needed protein while living on a small budget...
As a vegetarian on a budget, this is always a concern. Luckily, by eating beans, rice and corn together you get a complete protein at a low cost. And as others have mentioned, go for the dry beans and brown rice. They are cheaper, and have more nutruents in them. Also, if you live near an asian supermarket, tofu is usually MUCH cheaper than meat, and soy is a complete protein by itself.

[Christine]

I am happy to see politicans doing this, even for a week which is not an especially long time. I suggest a month, will power will get you through a week.
Having lived on $20/week (as a student) I do know how difficult it is to do so and applaud our lawmakers for ever trying this. I had talked about this with friends. I beleive President Kennedy did this back in the 60's to try to raise awareness. I hope that this truly ispires some politicans to have a greater understanding of poverty and the effects of poverty. Making budget conscious food chioces flies in the face of health conscious choices often times. Fresh fruit and vegtables are much more expensive than pasta and canned foods.

[Barbara]

For several years I worked in the local food stamp office. I became acutely aware of how unfair it is for s 35 year old single man, for example, who is perfectly capable of working to receive $150+/month in food stamps. A 75 year old woman, on Social Security,however,with no job possibilities, receives only $10.00 oer month. $10.00 a month is an insult, a slap in the face, and a disgrace. How in the world is a senior citizen supposed to eat a healthy diet on only $10? The healthy, capable 35 year old man, in many, many cases, chooses not to accept a job that would require him to work each and every day for 8 hours, clean and sober. The jobs are there - just look in your local classified ads in the newspaper. My suggestion is to give income-qualified senior citizens over age 60 $2 in food stamps for each year of their age. Give the 35 year old $1 for each year of age, or just $35. See how fast he'll go to work after he goes hungry for a few days. Families with children would qualify under different guidelines altogether.

God bless you for taking this challenge and bringing the stinging reality of hunger in this country to the forefront.

[Zina Isa]

Hi congressman I Applaud you and your other congressmen what you did. I read in the Washington Post which I read daily, and was delighted what you did and appreciate your endeavours.

I PROPOSE TO AND TO LET THE OTHER 431 CONGRESSMEN AND CONGRESSWOMEN PLUS THE 100 SENATORS TO TAKE ALL OF THEM THE SAME CHALLENGE YOU TOOK ALL OF YOU 4 CONGRESSMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GOOD EXAMPLE YOU GAVE.
There are people these days who,especially, a single mother whose children grew up and independent or another who have a lot of children and whose salaries stagnated, healthe insurance, even the best one, yearly premium keep growing and emplyers ask participation on that plus never lasting copays for doctors' visits and prescription
drugs add to that housing problems especially renters whose rent increase yearly even if i.e.g: if they live in an affordable housing state and rent controlled municipalities which is very rare and those are going to disapear.
So see with us in good eyes and feel what the real people live.

Again thank you very much.
I am sorry I have suspended my internet service for hardship therefore, I have no email and I do not like the free emails.

[Zina Isa]

Congressman you are doing great, this let you feel how many people can not cope with the price hike even of the food these days.
I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL 431 CONRESSMEN AND CONGRESSWOMEN AND THE 100 SENATORS TAKE EACH ONE OF THEM THE SAME CHALLENGE YOU TOOK ALL OF YOU FOUR.

THERE ARE SINGLE PARENTS WHO RAISE KIDS AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO WELL EDUCATED, BUT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO VERY GOOD PAYING JOBS AND HOUSING PRICES HIKE WHETHER IT IS RENTAL OR OWNED.

I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.

I do not have in the present any email addres but
I am not sure the one of my university of which I took a break does function.

Thank you Congressman.

By the way I cam to the knowledge of what you did through the Washington Post, I read a lot of newpapers but I only saw it in this one.

Zina