Austerity nation – 45 million Americans on food assistance programs. Americans shopping at discount dollar stores confronting the realities of a shrinking dollar and disappearing middle class.

"One of the troubling aspects of this recession is the hidden aspect of the financial pain that it is causing. Many people have no idea their neighbor is in foreclosure until the home is taken back by the bank. It is hard to see this in action and people don’t speak up because of embarrassment. Also with the media thumping its chest about recovery many blame their own failings for their misery. And with the movement of food stamps from embarrassing paper coupons to debit cards, many have no idea how many of their fellow Americans are receiving food assistance"