Food Stamp question

[SenecaWolf]

Apparently, I'm one of these ignorant people. So why don't you go to your grocery story and pull the hamburger out of people's cart, replace it with a steak and pay the difference. At least at that point you'll realize whose paying the bill...you. Right now we are paying the bill of food stamps and what is happening out there isn't right in alot of cases

I suppose in a way I do that...

The $10 of non-discretionary spending out of the $90 I pay per week in federal taxes is going to be spent on some program, medicare, social security, welfare, etc... Even if the food stamp program was eliminated I would still pay the same amount of federal taxes because I know darn sure the gov't would find another use for it. So in that sense, I do not see it as MY money. What about the people who are working and receiving food stamps, they're paying the same federal taxes so isnt that them just getting their own money back?

MY money goes to the monthly donation I make to the local food bank and the volunteer time my kids and I put in. I have been on the receiving end of both cash and food stamp assistance and gladly do what I can in return now. Perhaps having been on that side of the fence allows for me to be a little more open minded and forgiving to the person that is getting judged for having an EBT card with no one knowing their circumstances.

 

[momto2inKC]

Deleted...decided explaining myself is not worth getting points here LOL I can see where this is going

 

[ccgirl]

I know exactly what we are discussing, but you cannot decide that we can dictate what someone feeds their child unless you are going to dictate what EVERYONE feeds their child. Unhealthy eating is unhealthy eating regardless of how it is paid for.

Let, me give you a clue. As a single mom with two jobs, I received food stamps. I bought fruits and veggies, but I also bought frozen pizzas and chicken nuggets. Less healthy food is cheap and makes the allotment stretch further. The other side to that was when you have 45 minutes from the time you come home to the time you have to leave for the second job, you don't have time to cook a meal. You pop those nuggets in the microwave, make them a salad or cut up some fruit.

THAT is how many, many, many people on food stamps live. And until you have walked a mile in their shoes, you have no idea what its like.

If the powers that be decide that mom on food stamps can't buy chicken nuggets or pizza or hot dogs, would you rather her kids didn't eat or had sanwiches every night because mom doesn't have time to cook?

Its simply not as cut and dried as those who have never had to live it would like to think.

And, if people feed their children unhealthy food it does end up costing us all in the long run regardless if they are using EBT or not. It costs us in the form of higher insurance premiums for all. So, if people are going to tell those that get EBT funds, we should be telling everyone how to eat.

I just see some posters looking down their nose on those at those that get EBT like they are less worthy than them somehow. For example, not good enough to eat steak because they are getting food stamps. Sorry but, I don't agree. Maybe it is because I was laid off twice and although I did not have to rely on food stamps, I did have to rely on the assistance of the food pantry to supplement our food and if I hadn't received a job when I did that I may have had to rely on food stamps.

People that rely on public assistance are not second class citizens. They are just as worthy as everyone.

 

[natfrac]

Having been on both sides of this debate, I have to comment. As a single mom of 2, who received no child support, I received food stamps and other public assistance. I worked part-time, raised two kids on my own, and carried a more-than-full-time course load at a university. I managed to get a 4-year degree in less than 3, so I could fully support my kids. Did I buy an occaisinal steak with food stamps? Yes. But we also ate a lot of casseroles. Just because I might have purchased a steak with food stamps, no one knows how much food I also bought out of pocket.

Today I'm fortunate to earn a good salary and I'm confident I'll never need assistance again. But if I did, I would hope the checker (and others) would not judge what's in my grocery cart.

 

[cwasil]

I guess it's not enough that people on food stamps be able to eat healthy food...they should be able to buy whatever they want. It's their right. I keep hearing every situation is different...don't judge. There isn't any good reason any of you could give me where it's a good idea to buy excessive items with FS's. None. The program is to keep you fed with healthy food. That's it...nothing more. Not steaks, not lobsters not the excesses.

So for those of you that think this is fine and that people are entitled to these luxuries. Congratulations. You win. I'll keep hoping our government gets smarter, before it's bankrupt, and gets rid of this program and installs a WIC type thing. If you want luxuries you should have to work for them as many of us did...I doubt there are many silver spoon folks hanging around the budget board.

This whole thread sickens me about what people feel they are entitled to. I thought those people I saw years, ago as a cashier, were outside the norm...apparently not. There's more abuse going on than I thought.

 

[wvjules]

I guess it's not enough that people on food stamps be able to eat healthy food...they should be able to buy whatever they want. It's their right. I keep hearing every situation is different...don't judge. There isn't any good reason any of you could give me where it's a good idea to buy excessive items with FS's. None. The program is to keep you fed with healthy food. That's it...nothing more. Not steaks, not lobsters not the excesses.

Steak and lobster are healthy.

You seem to be very angry.

 

[cwasil]

Naw...people want to spout their opinions I'll share mine. As we slowly turn into a socialistic European society, you guys will win anyway...that is until the whole country goes broke. Soooooo...pass the A1.

 

[wvjules]

Naw...people want to spout their opinions I'll share mine. As we slowly turn into a socialistic European society, you guys will win anyway...that is until the whole country goes broke. Soooooo...pass the A1.

A good steak should NEVER need A1!

 

[momto2inKC]

A good steak should NEVER need A1!

 

[SenecaWolf]

A good steak should NEVER need A1!

I'll have the delmonico please....




with ketchup ...

 

[momto2girls]

Naw...people want to spout their opinions I'll share mine. As we slowly turn into a socialistic European society, you guys will win anyway...that is until the whole country goes broke. Soooooo...pass the A1.

It is disheartening, isn't it?

 

[luvsJack]

I guess it's not enough that people on food stamps be able to eat healthy food...they should be able to buy whatever they want. It's their right. I keep hearing every situation is different...don't judge. There isn't any good reason any of you could give me where it's a good idea to buy excessive items with FS's. None. The program is to keep you fed with healthy food. That's it...nothing more. Not steaks, not lobsters not the excesses.

So for those of you that think this is fine and that people are entitled to these luxuries. Congratulations. You win. I'll keep hoping our government gets smarter, before it's bankrupt, and gets rid of this program and installs a WIC type thing. If you want luxuries you should have to work for them as many of us did...I doubt there are many silver spoon folks hanging around the budget board.

This whole thread sickens me about what people feel they are entitled to. I thought those people I saw years, ago as a cashier, were outside the norm...apparently not. There's more abuse going on than I thought.

If you receive $200 in food stamps per month and you spend all $200 of it on beans, ground beef, rice and ramen noodles it equals $200. If you spend it all on steak and lobster, it STILL equals $200.


They don't get more when the amount they are alloted runs out. Its up to them how they choose to spend it.

If you are worried about the government going broke, dictating what someone buys in the grocery store isn't going to keep that from happening.

The family who qualifies for food stamps and buys steaks is NOT abusing the system. They may not be using their allotment in the best way, but they are not doing anything wrong. Abuse comes from those that lie or tell half truths to get the food stamps and that is where there needs to be change.

and since so many of those families pay into the system just like you and I do, before and after whatever is happening to make them qualify, then YES they should be able to buy what ever food items they want.

 

[tlmdisney]

And this is why I love self-checkout lines! No waiting behind gossiping cashiers discussing things which are none of their business and holding up the line.

Yup!!!

 

[Hannathy]

It is disheartening, isn't it?

past disheartening, down right scary!!!!!

 

[kt_mom]

If you receive $200 in food stamps per month and you spend all $200 of it on beans, ground beef, rice and ramen noodles it equals $200. If you spend it all on steak and lobster, it STILL equals $200.


They don't get more when the amount they are alloted runs out. Its up to them how they choose to spend it.

If you are worried about the government going broke, dictating what someone buys in the grocery store isn't going to keep that from happening.

The family who qualifies for food stamps and buys steaks is NOT abusing the system. They may not be using their allotment in the best way, but they are not doing anything wrong. Abuse comes from those that lie or tell half truths to get the food stamps and that is where there needs to be change.

and since so many of those families pay into the system just like you and I do, before and after whatever is happening to make them qualify, then YES they should be able to buy what ever food items they want.

If the amount they are getting is enough to cover expensive purchases such as steak and lobster then they are getting too much and their amount of FS should be decreased.

 

[SenecaWolf]

Thought this thread had died a nice peaceful death after an 18 hour break but I see the snarking continues .....

 

[auger]

Here we go...
The OP didn't say anyone was judging anyone being on asistance..just wondering how it got determined who got what since some seem to have alot of money on thier card and some struggled. And yes, the ballooning use of food stamps and higher and higher income to qualify is all of our business and no, not a discussion topic for the DIS

For clarification, my statement was not about OP, but about the cashier who is sticking her nose into her customers' business and making judgments about people when she really has no clue.

 

[leahjade]

I would just like to see more fiscal EDUCATION in our schools and homes. Educate our youth that no owes them a trip to Disney World, an IPOD or new car. No one owes them money that they do not EARN, and that THEY are responsible for the consequences if THEY SPEND more than THEY EARN. And most importantly, the government is not there to take care of them from the moment they are born until the second that they die.

 

[Hannathy]

I would just like to see more fiscal EDUCATION in our schools and homes. Educate our youth that no owes them a trip to Disney World, an IPOD or new car. No one owes them money that they do not EARN, and that THEY are responsible for the consequences if THEY SPEND more than THEY EARN. And most importantly, the government is not there to take care of them from the moment they are born until the second that they die.

Heck after! Some of them think the Government should bury them to.

 

[PebblesMom]

I try hard not to judge what other people are doing...but I was at the store the other night and was behind a lady that had two carts. In one cart she had bread, eggs, milk and a few other things. In another cart she had a couple of bottles of wine, flowers, steak, make up and some solar powered lights. I could not figure out why she would be struggling with two carts. Then we got up to the register and the first transaction she paid with an EBT card and the second transaction she paid cash. I noticed the looks she got from the cashier. I really try not to judge, but I did think it was odd. I paid for my stuff and was walking out. She was fighting to get two carts accross the parking lot.
I offered to help her. We got to her van and inside was a lady about 50 who was in her PJ's. We started to load the stuff into the van and she said she does the shopping for the other lady because she was disabled and could not do it, so she tries to keep everything seperate, because it is easier to unload when they get home. She said that they usually go in together, but the lady in the front was feeling sick and could not go in that day. Sometimes appearances are not always what they seem and cashiers at stores only see part of the story. I agree that the system needs to be looked at, just as with all government waste, but I also think that people should reserve judgement until they know all of the facts.