Towards the end of last year, I did a blog entry looking at how one in four American children was on food stamps. Extraordinary to think that this is happening in the richest country in the world.

Now we have alarming reports that one in five Americans now say they didn't have money to buy food at one point last year. It's affected every part of the United States.

The New York Times reports: "The unusually large survey, which covered more than a half-million people, offers the most recent snapshot of hunger-related problems. And it is the first survey big enough to provide data on each of the nation's 435 Congressional districts and Washington, D.C. Indeed, its most interesting finding may be just how broad a problem food affordability has become. In 45 states and 311 Congressional districts, 15 percent or more of those surveyed said they had recently lacked money to buy enough food. 'While there is certainly more hardship in some areas than in others, the data also show that this is a nearly universal problem,' said James D. Weill, the hunger group's president."

Then there is the other group in America, the bankers rolling in bonuses. The Wall Street Journal reports that banks are creating ways to boost overall employee compensation while maintaining the appearance of pay cuts to ease political pressure. >br />
The huge gaps that have opened up in US society are getting bigger with the downturn. That's a big concern because the chasm will not disappear when the recovery comes.