If you can seriously assert that the safety nets that currently exist in this country insure that poor families do not lack food or healthcare, then I don't know what thoughts we are trying to generate. You must be extremely fortunate to live in a city and state where the safety net is so strong.
The reality of the rest of this country is that many children, adults, and elderly go to bed hungry. And lack basic healthcare. And in the richest country in the world, this is an ethical and moral disgrace. There is nothing to debate about these facts. The only question to debate is, what do we do about it?
Please check this site for statistics on hunger by state for the period 2004-2006:
Hunger Statistics
The US average is that 11.3% of all households experience 'food insecurity' and 3.9% experience 'hunger'. There are 11 states, led by Mississippi, where 5% or more of the households experience hunger. The state which has the lowest rate of hunger is New Jersey, at 2.1%