Opponent To Food Stamp Cuts

Life is strange. When I was young and healthy growing up in the south poor folk had to eat fish, crab, shrimp, venison, coon, etc. Now you need a fortune in permits etc just to go fishing that's cause them rich folk with all their expense gear done et up the good fish etc!

 

It is strange, because back then, the fish and game were healthy too...

 

I can't argue with that. But just because something isn't the biggest fish doesn't mean it shouldn't be fried

This is all pretty cheap. Both of you understand the difference between luxury and necessity.

I don't think the government should be in the business of providing luxuries for the public at the expense of those who do not consent.

The government should guarantee the Pursuit of happiness. That doesn't include luxuries that people don't need.

 

The point is, when you see people selling their food benefit card, don't be so quick to think it's for drugs, etc.

I've had to use my food benefit card to buy food for someone else in exchange for them buying items not covered for me.

Yeah, that's illegal.

 

Simply not the role of the federal government. If states wish to offer revenue sharing social programs ; then so be it. Watch their populations and businesses dwindle.

 

:2thumbsup:

 

I think very few people will not say that it does need reform that is a far sight different than simply cutting benefits.

As far a buying a steak and lobster dinner, I would imagine that is an exception rather than the rule. Possibly the person was celebrating something, perhaps finally finding a job.

As a point of interest did you happen to speak to the retailer in question regarding their advertising? Where in all of this then are they accountable.

Perhaps not judging so quickly is a good thing as there by good fortune we all do not have to go.

 

I agree

I have no interest in the reason behind someone wanting a nice dinner. I'd love one myself but I don't indulge on expensive foods very often.

You're right about it being the exception though. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be addressed.

I don't see why I would have. I hold accountable those who make and enforce the rules. Allowing such luxuries to be purchased with food stamps helps to entrap people into poverty. They spend a weeks worth of food stamp money on a single meal and are then forced to shell out money they could be saving on food at the end of the month. I blame the stores about as much as the consumer, which is nowhere near as much as the puppeteers.

My judgements have not been made without caution. Drugs is not just some kind of guess. This is a issue that I've been close to by no choice of my own.

 

As to toilet paper they soon will find it cheaper to use those green papers with 'In God We Trust' and prez's pics.

 

In NJ - once you go from SSi to SSD your food allowance is cut -( for 1 person w/o any kids ) almost 70 %- -Go figure??
I guess they figure that with Disability you get more cash, so you can spend it on the food that you were getting on your family first card - Its a set amount, and sure people use it to get 70% on the dollar illegally or to get smokes - but it aint as easy as it use to be when they used the stamps-
Unfair- sure... but with any social service you get to keep your medical (prescriptions,doctors, ...etc..)- -that's probably more important for older folks- (I know we still gotta eat- -but its easier and cheaper to get food than it is to get your medicine
Just another social service that needs to be fixed!

BTW-toliet paper, toothpaste ,any paper products ,,etc,,cant be bought on the card- -and you cant use it to go out to eat- -only can use at special bodegas or grocery stores that accept the card - sometimes you have to look around for a place that even takes the card- -a drag!!

 

My husband received his "disability award" (they actually call it that) in August of 2011 and still any medical coverage will not kick in until Jan. 2014. You are told that you will have to wait 24 months after your "award" to be eligible for Medicare. No one said anything about the additional 5 months.

It's the same with me I suppose. I received my "disability award" in May of 2012. God only knows when Medicare will kick in for me. I haven't had any medical insurance since April of 2009.

The doctor I most recently paid out of pocket seemed surprised to learn about the waiting period. She asked me, "What do they want you to do, just die?"

 

I will grant that some people may make poor choices but that is across our population not only those who are getting assistance. Possibly they were the same before and have never been shown how to budget or plan. We can not police people as that for a person trying is even more degrading.

Who are we to address this? Me, in line with no literal budget because I am able to purchase what I want. I should be inspecting their baskets and telling them to put back an item? If I was frugal does that mean I should be then telling them to only eat what I would purchase?

I think not.

I find no logic in this as the puppeteers have no control over the consumer or the retailer. My point was that you have power with your dollar then to not shop there and make it known why.

Again we do not have the right to dictate to people because they are at the point of being in need.

There will always be a percentage of those who will have dependency issues and they will find a way around the system to meet that need. There is also the remainder of those on the system that are just trying to get by the best they can.

People who never thought that they would be in a position of needing help today are doing so due to the economy. Food banks are now used by working poor. People who use to give now need to use them. There will be those who abuse the systems but if the help gets to those who really need it, then that also matters.

Reform is needed but until then cutting benefits is not the answer.

 

The food cannot be purchased prepared with EBT, perhaps the sign was just displaying a suggested way to serve the meal?

Far more tax dollars wasted bombing then rebuilding innocent middle eastern country's but I guess it's just easier to turn and look for a poor neighbor to blame for wasting your hard earned tax dollars huh?

 

I haven't thought of that. That could have been the case. Or the store could have found a way around the system to be reimbursed for something they shouldn't be selling. Either way I don't think luxury foods should be available through food stamps.

This was already brought up in this thread and I agree that a dramatic slash in the defense budget would go a lot farther than making welfare systems more efficient. If you would like to make a thread about excess military spending I would gladly discuss that there. However the topic of this thread is food stamps and that is the reason why I'm talking about them and not other ( perhaps more important) issues.

 

I think that if you're recieving government assistance because you cannot afford your own food, you should have no other choice but to be frugal when it comes to spending tax dollars.



[/QUOTE]
I find no logic in this as the puppeteers have no control over the consumer or the retailer. My point was that you have power with your dollar then to not shop there and make it known why.

Again we do not have the right to dictate to people because they are at the point of being in need.



There will always be a percentage of those who will have dependency issues and they will find a way around the system to meet that need. There is also the remainder of those on the system that are just trying to get by the best they can.

People who never thought that they would be in a position of needing help today are doing so due to the economy. Food banks are now used by working poor. People who use to give now need to use them. There will be those who abuse the systems but if the help gets to those who really need it, then that also matters.[/QUOTE]

You make some valuable points. Sometimes I'm in need of a reminder that my experiences in life have been very different than most, and they have a tendency to make me biased.

I agree wth this, as I've already stated. Blind cuts are not the answer when people in need are already being turned away while others who don't need are getting accepted.

 

States don't nearly get enough funding to implement the social safety net programs they need to run for those who need it in their states.

I also agree with the others who say "blind cuts" are not the answer when it comes to food stamps.

I especially feel this way, since a lot of the people who rely on food stamps are children, and military families.

As for the steak comment, I think it depends on the type of cut it is, would determine if it was luxury or not.

I don't think it wise to condemn, poor families who use food stamps, to feed their children cheap quality food, because that indirectly affects healthcare costs to the country as a whole if all everyone is eating is fast food type quality.

Certainly, local grocery stores and community governments can strike a deal so that good produce that isn't purchased on time can be donated to shelters to those who need it for a food stamp dollars in a quantity that would make those who are on food stamps go for more healthy options just because they'll get MORE in bulk food for their food stamp $.

 

Do you think that if seeds and gardening supplies were available to those who are eligible for assistance it would do any good?

There is a large push for urban gardening in my area, and I'm seeing more and more yards used as gardens instead of normal landscaping.

 

I'm seeing that too in my community as well, I am part of it.

Sad thing is, it's beholden to the weather, and the weather patterns have been extreme lately.

No point in gardening much if tornados, floods, or severe wind screws up your garden.

In some places it'll work, in others it won't it just depends.

 

If memory serves me, you can buy food seeds with Food Stamps.

 

I know the people that were once use to buying their regular products. lost their jobs and tried to buy the same things with stamps. its impossible. this is because they dont know how to shop.

example $200 snap benefit. can buy

40lbs of chicken 40.00
10lbs of rice 10.00
10bags frozen veggies 10.00
1lb sugar 4.00
1lb of coffee 7.00
8gl of milk 25.00
12 generic cereal 13.00
1dozen eggs 3.00
112.00
last one month
with left over.

give or take.